The ancient collection of Indian fables “Panchatantra” (“Five Books”) was compiled in the earliest version in the 3rd–4th centuries CE by an unknown author. Originally, it served educational purposes—“a science of everyday wisdom,” by which young men were taught.
Each of the five books of this monument is a self-contained story, whose characters, as the action unfolds, tell fables that usually illustrate a particular moral lesson.
The text abounds with poetic insertions. The collection is written in good literary language and is one of the best examples of prose in classical Sanskrit.
Created more than fifteen hundred years ago, “Panchatantra” is an outstanding monument not only of Indian but also of world literature.
Translation from Sanskrit by S. Lipkin; interlinear translations by O. Volkova and O. Zakharyin (“Mahabharata”).
The text of the “Ramayana” is printed in the translation by V. Potapova, with interlinear translations and prose introductions by O. Zakharyin.
Introductory article by P. Grintser. Notes by A. Ibragimov, Vl. Bykov, and O. Zakharyin. An index/dictionary of proper names is included (O. Zakharyin, A. Ibragimov).