Who is traditionally regarded as the author of the 'Panchatantra'?

The "Panchatantra" is an ancient Indian collection of animal fables in Sanskrit, traditionally attributed to the scholar Vishnu Sharma. It was probably composed between about 200 BCE and 300 CE.

How the Panchatantra came to be written:

• According to its introduction, King Amarashakti of Mahilaropya had three foolish sons who could not learn anything.
• The wise Brahmin Vishnu Sharma promised to teach them the art of practical wisdom and statecraft (niti) in six months.
• He did this through entertaining stories in which animals behave like humans, with stories within stories.

The five books (tantras) of the Panchatantra:

• Mitra-bheda: "The Separation of Friends" (the lion and the bull, and the jackals Karataka and Damanaka).
• Mitra-labha (Mitra-samprapti): "The Winning of Friends" (the crow, mouse, tortoise and deer).
• Kakolukiyam: "Of Crows and Owls" (war and peace).
• Labdha-pranasha: "Loss of Gains" (the monkey and the crocodile).
• Aparikshita-karaka: "Ill-considered Actions" (the Brahmin and the mongoose).

Spread of the Panchatantra around the world:

• In the 6th century, it was translated into Pahlavi (Middle Persian) by the physician Burzoe for the Persian king Khusrau I.
• In the 8th century, Ibn al-Muqaffa translated it into Arabic as "Kalila wa Dimna", named after the two jackals.

From Arabic, it spread to Greek, Hebrew, Latin and many European languages. It is one of the most widely translated works of Indian literature, and some of La Fontaine's fables were influenced by it.

Other Indian story collections:

• Hitopadesha: by Narayana Pandita, based largely on the Panchatantra.
• Kathasaritsagara: by Somadeva (11th century, Kashmir).
• Brihatkathamanjari: by Kshemendra.
• Jataka tales: stories of the previous births of the Buddha.
• Vetala Panchavimshati and Simhasana Dvatrimsika (Vikram-Betal and Singhasan Battisi stories).

Why not the other options?

• ✗Narayana Pandita wrote the "Hitopadesha".
• ✗Somadeva wrote the "Kathasaritsagara".
• ✗Kshemendra wrote the "Brihatkathamanjari".