Book IV - Loss of Gains
Labdha-pranasam
The monkey and the crocodile frame story explores how carelessness and poor judgment cause us to lose what we have earned.
Frame Story
The opening narrative that sets the stage for the entire book
The Jackal Who Read the Scriptures
Handsome and Theodore - the frog who trusted a snake and regretted it
The Weaver's Sin
Flop-Ear and Dusty - the donkey who was lured to his death by a jackal
The Crocodile's Secret
The Potter Militant - a potter who pretended to be a warrior
The King Who Learned to Believe
The Jackal Who Killed No Elephants - a jackal raised among lions learns his true nature
The Brahman and the Goat
The Ungrateful Wife - a Brahman who gave half his life to revive his faithless wife
The Stepmother's Dream
King Joy and Secretary Splendor - the foolish things men do to appease their wives
The Thousand-Witted Fish
The Ass in the Tiger-Skin - a donkey disguised as a tiger who gave himself away
The Self-defeating Greed
The Farmer's Wife - a tale of greed, betrayal, and foolishness
The King and the Poor Wife
The Pert Hen-Sparrow - the danger of giving unwanted advice to a fool
The Unfaithful Wife
How Supersmart Ate the Elephant and The Dog Who Went Abroad - tales of trickery and homecoming