Naráyana's best-seller gives its reader much more than "Friendly
Advice." In one handy collection--closely related to the world-famous
Pañcatantra or Five Discourses on Worldly Wisdom --numerous animal
fables are interwoven with human stories, all designed to instruct
wayward princes. Tales of canny procuresses compete with those of
cunning crows and tigers. An intrusive ass is simply thrashed by his
master, but the meddlesome monkey ends up with his testicles crushed.
One prince manages to enjoy himself with a merchant's wife with her
husband's consent, while another is kicked out of paradise by a painted
image. This volume also contains the compact version of King Víkrama's
Adventures, thirty-two popular tales about a generous emperor, told by
thirty-two statuettes adorning his lion-throne.
Co-published by New York University Press and the JJC Foundation
For more on this title and other titles in the Clay Sanskrit series,
please visit http: //www.claysanskritlibrary.org