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Hitopadesha is a collection of Sanskrit fables in prose and verse; it is similar to, though distinct from, the Panchatantra.

The Hitopadesha is known to be more than a millennium old. Originally written in Sanskrit, its stories have travelled to several parts of the world.

The work has been translated into most of the major languages of the world. An english translation, rendered by Sir Edwin Arnold, then Principal of Puna College, Pune, India, was published in London^[1] in 1861.

One of the most widely read Sanskrit books in India, Hitopadesha tales are short stories that have the priceless treasure of morality and knowledge. After Bhagwad Gita, Hitopadesha is considered to be the best seller in India. The tales from Hitopadesh are written in a very logical and clear way and one does not have to make much effort to figure out what moral a particular story is implying. The stories are inspired by the Panchatantra and are simple stories that involve birds and animals.

Hitopadesha has been derived from two words, Hita and Upadesha. It basically means to counsel or advice with wisdom. The author of Hitopadesha, Narayana Pandit says that the main purpose of creating the Hitopadesha is to instruct young minds in a way that they learn the philosophy of life and are able to grow into responsible and mature adults. The stories are very interesting and youngsters not only find it interesting, but also accept it easily.

It is said that this literary work was written almost a millennium ago by Narayana Pandit. Though it has been inspired from the Panchatantra, the variety of tales in the Hitopadesha is very vast. It has been translated into many languages and has been circulated all around the world. It is surprisingly popular in many countries and one of the most widely read children's book. Even in today's world, it continues to amaze people with its simple but meaningful stories and many people are still inspired by the tales of Hitopadesha. Its simplicity and logic is what makes it a favorite among children and their parents.

The Hitopadesa may thus be fairly styled "The Father of all Fables"; for from its numerous translations have come Esop and Pilpay, and in later days Reineke Fuchs. Originally compiled in Sanskrit, it was rendered, by order of Nushiraván, in the sixth century, A.D., into Persic. From the Persic it passed, A.D. 850, into the Arabic, and thence into Hebrew and Greek. In its own land it obtained as wide a circulation. The Emperor Acbar, impressed with the wisdom of its maxims and the ingenuity of its apologues, commended the work of translating it to his own Vizir, Abdul Fazel. That minister accordingly put the book into a familiar style, and published it with explanations, under the title of the Criterion of Wisdom. The Emperor had also suggested the abridgment of the long series of shlokes which here and there interrupt the narrative, and the Vizir found this advice sound, and followed it, like the present Translator. To this day, in India, the Hitopadesa, under other names (as the Anvári Suhaili/1/, retains the delighted attention of young and old, and has some representative in all the Indian vernaculars.

• Panchatantra
• Kathasaritsagara
• Kalilag and Damnag

1. ^ Hitopadesa translated by E. Arnold on the Net