Swaveda

Translation

Hitopadesha (The Book of Good Counsels)हितोपदेशः

By Nārāyaṇa. Translated by Sir Edwin Arnold, 1861. Public domain.

A 12th-century Sanskrit retelling and condensation of the Panchatantra, organised in four books — winning friends, parting friends, war, and peace. Composed by Nārāyaṇa, probably for a Bengal prince, and widely used as a primer for young royalty in pre-modern India. Arnold's prose-and-verse translation is the most widely-read English public-domain version.

Source scan →

Chapters

  1. Chapter 1

    Book I — The Winning of Friends (Mitralabha)

  2. Chapter 2

    Book II — The Parting of Friends (Suhrdbheda)

  3. Chapter 3

    Book III — War (Vigraha)

  4. Chapter 4

    Book IV — Peace (Sandhi)