Stories from Panchatantra and Jataka Tales are a treasure house of wisdom and teach valuable life lessons. Most of these stories are a part of Indian tradition and culture and have been handed down from generation to generation in the form of verbal storytelling. These stories talk about almost every aspect of life. Most importantly, they lay stress on the importance of relationships, both good and bad, and on the value of working hard and working smart.
Here we list 8 such stories from Panchatantra and Jataka Tales that teach the importance of friendship and having good friends:
Unity is Strength
What cannot be solved alone can often be solved with the help of friends. This story teaches how important it is to have good friends who can help you out anytime to get you out of trouble. It also carries a lesson on how standing with your friends in the hour of need is the mark of a good friend.
The Hawks and Their Friends
This Jataka tale of the hawks and their friends – the tortoise, kingfisher and lion, is another example of how good friends will come to your rescue even at the worst of times, and will not hesitate to risk their own lives for you.
The Elephant and The Dog
Friendship is what brings joy and cheer to lives. Kids love the story of this unlikely friendship between a dog and an elephant, otherwise known as sworn enemies, and even brings a smile to grown-ups.
The Elephants and The Mice
Friends can be found in the most unlikeliest of places and in the most unlikeliest of ways. This Panchatantra story about a herd of elephants who find friends in the form of mice living in an abandoned city shows how one good turn can make a friend for life.
The Four Friends and The Hunter
Yet another story that shows why good friends are important. This Panchatantra story about the friendship between a tortoise, a deer, a crow and a mouse carries an important lesson on why you should stand by your friends.
The Lion Makers
This is a Panchatantra story about four friends who decide to bring a lion back to life from mere bones. Due to their pride and ego, the first three friends lose their lives. The fourth friend refuses to listen to them and manages to save himself. This story tells you not only about the importance of friendship, but also why it is important to choose your friends carefully. A lesson that both kids and grown-ups find equally useful.
The Thief’s Sacrifice
True friends make sacrifices for each other without worrying about their own self. The story of the thief who sacrifices his life to save those of his fellow travelers demonstrates the act doing selfless deeds.
The Wind and The Moon
A Jataka story about the friendship between a lion and a tiger, who have a argument about when the moon makes the weather colder, only to make up, that shows that friendship is more important than minor arguments.
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