Essay name: Panchatantra: A reflex of Arthashastra
Author:
M. N. Indrani
Affiliation: Karnatak University / Department of Sanskrit
The essay studies the Panchatantra in relation to the Arthashastra by proposing that that Indian fable literature divides into educative and entertaining narratives, both traced back to the sacred Vedic texts. It highlights the 'Pancatantra' and its kin as representative of educative stories.
Chapter 1 - A survey of the Niti-Katha-Sahitya
10 (of 28)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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10 2
. Sukasaptatikathā : This is a collection of seventy clever
stories of erotic nature but of ultimate didactic import. It is said
that Nārada related the stories to Indra in his assembly in the
form of parrot and that any one who hears the story attains all
ends. Once Devadāsa kept a parrot and when the king sent him
away to a distant country with intent to seduce his wife, the
parrot to whom Devadāsa entrusted the care of his family began
to relate each night one story to her, keeping her interested in it
till dawn, and by the end of seventy stories the husband
returned and all was well.
There are three recensions of this work, ornator and
simplictor of B.Schmidt (who has edited a Marathi version), the
first by Cintāmaṇi Bhaṭṭa and second later by a Svetāmbara
Jain and a third by Devadutta, son of Purusottamadeva.
3. Vetālapañcaviṃśati : This is a series of twenty-five
stories, very old in origin. Kṣemendra and Somadeva relate the
same stories in their poems. Independently, we have versions by
Śivadāsa in prose and verse, and by Jambhaladatta in prose and
one anonymous in prose.
Vallabhadāsa's work is an abbreviation. There is also
Vetālavimśati of Venkatabhaṭṭa.
Tales relating to Vikrama are found in Ananta's Vīracarita
and Śivadāsa's Śālivāhanacarita in the anonymous
Vikramodaya, in the Jain work Pañcadaṇḍachatra-prabandha
and Nandisayāgnika's Vikramārka-carita. Vikramasenacarita is
Sniversit
