Book I - The Loss of Friends
Mitra-bheda
A merchant's two bulls befriend a lion, but a scheming jackal sows discord between them - a timeless lesson in how trust can be destroyed by cunning and manipulation.
Frame Story
The opening narrative that sets the stage for the entire book
The Wedge-Pulling Monkey
A monkey meddles with a wedge and suffers the consequences of unnecessary interference.
The Jackal and the War-Drum
A timid jackal finds courage after investigating a frightening sound from a war-drum.
Merchant Strong-Tooth
A clever merchant navigates the difficult balance between serving the king and the people.
Godly and June
A holy man named Godly is tricked by a rogue named June who steals his treasure.
The Jackal at the Ram-Fight
A jackal is killed while greedily lapping blood between two fighting rams.
The Weaver's Wife
A weaver's wife teaches her husband a lesson about trust and appearances.
How the Crow-Hen Killed the Black Snake
A clever crow-hen uses strategy to kill a snake that has been eating her chicks.
The Heron That Liked Crab-Meat
A deceitful heron is outwitted by a crab and meets his end.
Numskull and the Rabbit
A wise rabbit tricks a ferocious lion named Numskull into jumping into a well.
The Weaver Who Loved a Princess
A weaver uses his craft to win the love of a princess.
The Ungrateful Man
A Brahman rescues a tiger, monkey, snake, and man from a well, but only one shows gratitude.
Leap and Creep
A flea named Leap and a louse named Creep get into trouble in a king's bed.
The Blue Jackal
A jackal dyed blue becomes king of the animals until his true nature is revealed.
Passion and the Owl
A swan named Passion is betrayed by trusting an owl who pretends to be a friend.
Ugly's Trust Abused
A camel named Ugly is betrayed by the jackal and crow despite the lion's protection.
The Lion and the Carpenter
A lion's friendship with a carpenter is tested by his hungry hangers-on.
The Plover Who Fought the Ocean
A small plover bird defies the ocean itself after its eggs are stolen by the tide.
Shell-Neck, Slim, and Grim
A turtle named Shell-Neck and two ganders named Slim and Grim work together to survive a drought.
Forethought, Readywit, and Fatalist
Three fish with different attitudes toward planning meet different fates when fishermen arrive.
The Duel between Elephant and Sparrow
A sparrow seeks revenge on an elephant who destroyed her nest.
The Shrewd Old Gander
A wise old gander's warning about a creeping vine is ignored by his flock with disastrous results.
The Lion and the Ram
A lion is initially afraid of a strange ram but discovers his true nature and kills him.
Smart, the Jackal
A clever jackal schemes to have the camel Spike-Ear killed to feed the starving lion.
The Monk Who Left His Body Behind
A scheming monk uses astrology to manipulate the king but meets a fitting end.
The Girl Who Married a Snake
A Brahman's daughter is married to a snake who turns out to be a handsome prince in disguise.
Poor Blossom
A parrot named Blossom tries to escape death but learns that fate cannot be avoided.
The Unteachable Monkey
A stubborn monkey refuses to listen to advice and kills the bird trying to help him.
Right-Mind and Wrong-Mind
Two friends find treasure but greed and deceit lead one to ruin.
A Remedy Worse than the Disease
A heron seeking help against a snake is given advice by a crab that makes things worse.
The Mice That Ate Iron
A merchant's iron balance-beam is allegedly eaten by mice, leading to a clever judgment.
The Results of Education
Two parrot chicks with different upbringings show very different behavior when meeting a king.
The Sensible Enemy
A prince and his friends leave their kingdom after mistreatment and plan a wise return.
The Foolish Friend
A king's pet monkey causes disaster through foolish actions despite good intentions.