The Hitopadesa

Synopsis

Composed between 800 and 950 ad, narayana's hitopadesa is one of the best-known of all works in sanskrit literature. A fascinating collection of fables, maxims and sayings in verse, it combines a wide variety of writings from earlier authors in one volume - a 'garden of pleasing stories' created to provide guidance, wisdom and political advice to the reader. With elegance and great humour, narayana weaves a framework for the classic tales, here narrated by animals who quote from and reflect on stories from the pancatantra and other traditional sources.