'Kalila wa Dimna' is an Arabic translation of which Indian work?

"Kalila wa Dimna" is the Arabic version of the Panchatantra, the ancient Indian collection of animal fables. It was translated by the Persian scholar Ibn al-Muqaffa in the 8th century CE (around 750 CE).

About Kalila wa Dimna:

Its title comes from the names of two jackals, Kalila and Dimna, who appear in the first book of the Panchatantra. In Sanskrit, they are called Karataka and Damanaka.

Ibn al-Muqaffa did not translate directly from Sanskrit. He translated from a Middle Persian (Pahlavi) version, which had been made in the 6th century by Burzoe, a physician at the court of the Sasanian king Khosrow I (Anushirvan).

The Arabic version became very popular and was later translated into Persian, Hebrew, Greek, Latin, Spanish and many other European languages.

Through these translations, Panchatantra stories reached Europe and influenced writers such as the French fabulist Jean de La Fontaine. In Europe, the stories were sometimes known as the "Fables of Bidpai" (or Pilpay).

The Panchatantra is said to be one of the most widely translated works of Indian literature.

About the Panchatantra:

• It is traditionally attributed to Vishnu Sharma.
• According to the frame story, he composed it to teach practical wisdom ("niti") to three foolish princes, sons of King Amarashakti of Mahilaropya.
• It is divided into five books ("pancha" means five): Mitra-bheda (loss of friends), Mitra-labha (gaining friends), Kakolukiyam (crows and owls), Labdha-pranasha (loss of gains) and Aparikshita-karaka (hasty action).
• It dates from about 300 BCE to 300 CE.
• In 2024, it was added to UNESCO's Memory of the World Asia-Pacific Regional Register.

Other Indian story collections:

• Hitopadesha: by Narayana Pandit; based largely on the Panchatantra.
• Jataka tales: Buddhist stories of the Buddha's previous births.
• Kathasaritsagara: by Somadeva (11th century, Kashmir).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Hitopadesha was written by Narayana Pandit.
• ✗The Jataka tales are Buddhist stories of the Buddha's earlier lives.
• ✗Kathasaritsagara was written by Somadeva.