("useful
instruction") A well-known moralistic tale derived from Panchatantra, a
collection of moralistic stories intended to communicate practical and worldly
knowledge.
In the twelfth century, the Hitopadesha was written as an
introduction to Sanskrit.
The framing tale for each of these works depicts a monarch
who is concerned about his sons' lack of education and moral character; these
concerns lead to profound questions about their ability to reign in a decent
and fair manner after his death.
He overcomes the issue by employing a teacher who educates
the boys via fables, frequently incorporating multiple shorter stories into a
greater story.
The Hitopadesha was written to provide practical guidance on how to succeed in the real world, and it emphasizes that self-interest and prudence are the keys to success.
You may also want to read more about Hinduism here.
Be sure to check out my writings on religion here.
