Analytical Account of the Pancha Tantra. 157 



the little likelihood that exists, of a translation of the entire work being now 

 published, it has been presumed that a more minute account of the Pancha 

 Tantra, than has yet been given to the world, will not be an unacceptable 

 communication to the Royal Asiatic Society of London. 



In offering a detail of the contents of the Pancha Tantra, it was of course 

 desirable to collate them with those of the Hitopadesa, and Kalila Damana, 

 which has been accordingly effected; and to relieve the dryness of analytical 

 detail, as well as to convey an idea of the merits of the composition, it has 

 been thought advisable to introduce translations of a number of the stories. 

 Some affinities have* also been pointed out between the narratives of the 

 Pancha Tantra, and those met with in popular works in Europe ; but the 

 want of access to books has necessarily limited this part of the inquiry. 

 Some illustrations of national or literary peculiarities have also been occa- 

 sionally, but sparingly, added ; lest the paper should be rendered too volu- 

 minous, and under the impression that many members of the Society are 

 better able to appreciate the extent to which such illustrations may be 

 needed, and better qualified to supply them. 



The Pancha Tantra is so called from its being divided into live Tantras, 

 or sections, and is referred to under that name, in the Hitopadesa. It is 

 better known, however, in common speech, by the denomination oi Panchopd- 

 khydna, which may be rendered the " Five (collections of) Stories :" and 

 under this appellation, the work may be met with, in most parts of India. 



The ensuing analysis is founded upon an examination of three copies of 

 the work ; one of which was procured in Calcutta ; the others, in Benares. 

 These copies agree in all essential points, although they present, abundantly, 

 the variations to be expected in compilations of such a character ; where 

 stanzas, and even stories, are often omitted or inserted, at the pleasure of the 

 transcriber. 



The invocation, with which, like all Hindu works, the Pancha Tantra 

 commences, differs very importantly from that of the Hitdpadesa. In the 

 latter work, it is addressed to Siva, in the former to SaraswatI. One 

 manuscript, indeed, calls upon all the Hindu Pantheon, on Brahma, 

 RuDRA, KuMARA, Hari, Indra, Yama, &c. &c., the elements, the planets, 

 the Munis, Rishis, and all the other objects of Hindu reverence, to be 

 propitious to the reader; but this is a solitary reading, and a probable 

 interpolation. The homage to Saraswati is followed by a tribute of respect 

 to the authors of ethical compositions, of whom are named, Menu, Vacha- 



Y2 



