The Panchatantra (also spelled Pañcatantra, Sanskrit पञ्चतन्त्र "Five Chapters",is a collection of Sanskrit fables in prose and verse. The original version, now lost, was written around 200 BC and is attributed to Vishnu Sarma.

It is a collection of attractively told stories about the five ways that help the human being succeed in life. Pancha means five and tantra means ways or strategies or principles. Addressed to the king's children, the stories are primarily about statecraft and are popular throughout the world.

The work illustrates the central priniciples of Raja neeti (political science) through animal stories. The five principles/strategies illustrated are:

- Mitra Bhedha (The Loss of Friends)
- Mitra Laabha (Gaining Friends
- Suhrudbheda (Causing Dissension Between Friends)
- Vigraha (Separation)
- Sandhi (Union)


If you're interested in hunting up buried treasure, be sure to search for The Panchatantra, a collection of stories from Ancient India. These tales, written in Sanskrit and compiled in 500 AD, have become classics in the heritage of world-literature.