Here is a new Clay Sanskrit Library translation of The Five Discourses on Worldly Wisdom, well known also by its Sanskrit title as the "Pancatantra." The king despairs of his idle sons, so he hires a learned brahmin who promises to make their lessons in statecraft unmissable. The brahmin's lessons are disguised as short stories, featuring animal protagonists.<BR>The Five Discourses on Worldly Wisdom is the book of India's folk wisdom, teaching the principles of good government and public policy through the medium of delightful stories and pithy proverbs. Its positive attitude towards life and its advocacy of ambition, enterprise, and drive counters any preconception of passivity and other-worldliness in ancient Indian society.