The Hitopadesa

by Unknown

• ISBN13: 9780140455229
• ISBN10: 0140455221
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-07-31
• Publisher: Penguin Classics

Summary

Widely read and beloved for more than a thousand years, the Hitopadesa(Book of Good Counsels) is an anthology of folk wisdom that offers humorous and profound reflections on human lives and loves, philosophies and follies. Drawing on traditional sources, Narayana presents classic tales as narrated by animals, resulting in a work that is a fascinating blend of fable and satire.

Author Biography

Narayana is thought to have lived in eastern India in the ninth century.
A.N.D. Haksar was educated at the universities of Allahabad and Oxford and has translated various classics from Sanskrit.

Table of Contents

Mitralabha / gaining friends	p. 13
The traveller and the tiger	p. 17
The deer, the crow and the jackal	p. 29
The cat and the vulture	p. 30
The monks and the mouse	p. 44
The old man and the young wife	p. 45
The greedy jackal	p. 57
The merchant's bride	p. 65
The elephant and the jackal	p. 67
Suhrdbheda / splitting partners	p. 75
The meddlesome monkey	p. 84
The intrusive ass	p. 85
The cat which became superfluous	p. 99
The canny procuress	p. 102
Our faults redound on us	p. 108
The woman with two lovers	p. 112
The cunning crow	p. 114
The lion and the rabbit	p. 115
The lapwing and the ocean	p. 123
Vigraha / war	p. 135
The birds who tried to help the monkeys	p. 139
The ass disguised as a tiger	p. 140
The rabbit and the elephant	p. 142
The swan and the crow	p. 146
The crow and the quail	p. 147
The fool who was easily satisfied	p. 148
The blue jackal	p. 158
The faithful servant	p. 169
The greedy barber	p. 173
Sandhi / peace	p. 189
The foolish tortoise	p. 192
The three fish	p. 193
The quick-witted wife	p. 193
The short-sighted crane	p. 195
The hermit and the mouse	p. 198
The crane and the crab	p. 199
The priest who fantasized	p. 201
The two ogres	p. 203
The priest and the three rogues	p. 211
The credulous camel	p. 212
The cunning old snake	p. 215
The hasty priest and the loyal mongoose	p. 223
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.