eat the monkey’s heart! Read the complete story here.

Moral of the story: Choose your friends wisely.

Kids love the monkey who saves his skin from a deceitful friend through quick
thinking. The story teaches kids the importance of choosing the right friends and
also possessing presence of mind. Both of these are valuable lessons for your
toddlers as they set out to meet their first friends at school.

2. The Stork and the Crab

the stork and the crab panchatantra
An old stork finds an easier way of hunting fishes. He promises them that he will
take them safely to a bigger lake, with lots of water; but instead carries them to
a rock where he kills and eats them. However, he soon meets his match in the form
of the crab. How? Read it here.

Moral of the story: A sharp mind is the greatest strength.

Another story that teaches the importance of choosing the right friends and also
the importance of the presence of mind. Kids will love the crab that turns a hero
for all the fish in the tank by killing the bad stork.

3. The Loyal Mongoose

loyal mongoose stories from india panchatantra
The Loyal Mongoose which was killed by a woman Panchatantra Story

“Think before you act” ! Once a loyal mongoose is left to guard his master’s
sleeping infant. When the mongoose sees a snake coming to bite the infant, he
attacks and kills the viper. The farmer’s wife, who has not seen the snake and
mongoose fight, sees the blood on the mongoose’s mouth on returning home and
expects the worst. She kills the mongoose in a fit of anger, only to realize her
mistake later. [Complete Story]

Moral of the story: Think before you act.

The message is conveyed in a brutal yet effective manner. Although kids rarely
think before they act, it never harms to start teaching them this habit early.

4. The Brahmin’s Dream

Building castles in the air never gets you anywhere. Once a poor Brahmin (pious
man) is gifted a pot of flour. He returns home and daydreams about all that he will
achieve with a pot of flour. Only to wake up in the end, and find himself
surrounded by broken pieces of the earthen pot and covered in flour!

Here is the complete tale.

Moral of the story: Do not build castles in the air. They will fall.

The story is full of actions and sounds; enact it to your kids and they will love
it. On a serious note, it will remind kids that hard work is more important than
day-dreaming.

Buy the Complete collection of 365 Panchatantra short stories in English from
Amazon (IN) and Amazon.com.
5. Union is Strength
Long ago, there lived a flock of pigeons in a dense forest. One day all the pigeons
were caught in a hunter’s net. How did they get out? By being united of course.
Flap, flap your wings and fly away! Read the complete story here.
Moral of the story: Unity is strength.

This story is as much for adults as for kids, serving as a reminder that the
greatest obstacles can be overcome by staying united. Kids at this age have their
first encounter with the outside world. You can stress how important it is to stay
together and not discriminate.

6. The Cat’s Judgement

The Cat's Judgement panchatantra story
A partridge and a rabbit get into an argument. They decide to find a third person
to settle their argument and come across a praying cat…Read this story to find out
what happened next (Hint: It’s not so difficult to guess!)

Moral of the story: Never trust a stranger, even though he may seem very friendly.

7. The Tiger, The Brahmin and The Jackal

The Tiger brahmin and jackal panchatantra
Once a tiger promises a brahmin to set him free from his cage, promising him no
harm. But once free, the tiger tells the brahmin that he is hungry and would he
should prepare for death. When the brahmin pleads the tiger to spare his life, the
tiger agrees to abide by the decision of the first three things the Brahmin chose
to question as to the justice of the tiger’s action. The brahmin asks a tree, a
buffalo and a jackal. Find what happens next.