Panchatantra
Mitra Labha
Mitra-lābha (Winning Friends)
After showing how friendships can be broken in Book 1: Mitra-bheda (The Loss of Friends), the Panchatantra turns to the art of building lasting friendships in Book 2: Mitra-lābha (Winning Friends). Through engaging animal fables, this section teaches that trust, loyalty, cooperation, and wisdom are far greater strengths than wealth or physical power. Its stories remind us that true friends stand by one another in times of adversity, and that unity and good counsel can overcome even the greatest challenges.
Stories
The Hunter's Net and the Pigeons 1 Near the ancient city of Mahilaropya stood a great banyan tree. Among its branches lived a crow named Laghupatanaka. One morning, as he set out in search of food, he saw a... Hiraṇyaka, the Faithful Mouse 2 Bearing the hunter's net together, Chitragriva led his flock without delay to the dwelling of his friend Hiranyaka. Beneath the roots of an ancient tree lay the mouse's burrow,... The Crow Seeks an Unlikely Friend 3 After the pigeons had departed, Laghupatanaka did not return to the banyan tree. The conduct of Hiranyaka had remained in his thoughts. The mouse had hastened to rescue a friend... Mandharaka, the Gentle Tortoise 4 As the days passed, the friendship between Laghupatanaka and Hiranyaka grew stronger. Each morning the crow visited the mouse's burrow, and together they spent many hours in... Chitrāṅga, the Frightened Deer 5 Several days had passed since Laghupatanaka and Hiranyaka had come to live beside the lake with Mandharaka. The three friends had settled into a quiet life. Each morning the... Tamrachuda and the Mouse's Secret 6 One day, as the four friends sat together beside the lake, their conversation turned to the strange ways of fortune. After listening for a while, Mandharaka said, "My friend,... Shandili and the Exchange of Sesame Seeds 7 Brihatsphika smiled and said, "Listen, and I shall tell you. In a certain village lived a woman named Shandili. One day she washed a quantity of sesame seeds with great care and... Hiranyaka Loses His Treasure 8 After telling the story of Shandili, Brihatsphika turned again to Tamrachuda. “No ordinary mouse could leap to the height of your alms bowl,” he said. “If my judgment is right,... Chitrāṅga in the Hunter's Snare 9 Several peaceful days passed beside the lake. Chitranga had now become one among the friends, and life settled into its familiar rhythm. At daybreak Laghupatanaka flew across... The Rescue of Mandharaka 10 As Laghupatanaka warned that the hunter was drawing near, Hiranyaka bit through the last strand of the net. Chitranga sprang free and disappeared into the forest. The crow flew...