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came to the river and at last reached the spot where Sāma stood. Seeing Sāma taming the wild animals, the King was wondering whether the creature was a god or a Nāga? To find out, he decided to wound and disable him, and then ask. The King shot a poisoned arrow and wounded Sāma, who fell to the ground. Sāma spoke: “I have no enmity against anyone. Who has wounded me?” The King went to Sāma and asked him his name. Sāma then told the King the story of fostering his blind parents. The King thought to himself, “I have done evil to such a holy being; how can I comfort him?” He decided to bring the blind parents to their son. In the meantime the goddess Bahusodari decided to help Sāma and his parents. In the end Sāma recovered from his wound and both of his parents’ sight was restored. Hitopadeśa Hitopadeśa is a book of worldly wisdom presented through the characters of birds, animals and humans. The purpose of the book appears to encourage proficiency in Sanskrit - expression and the knowledge of wise behaviour (niti-vidya). The stories are elaborate, ending with moral messages. However, very peculiar to its style, it has condensed and crisp verses in between the stories to illustrate the points made by the characters. Hitopadeśa is structured in four books with a preface (prāstāvika). The four books are as follows: • Mitralābha • Suhṛdbheda • Vigraha • Sandhi Here is a sample of a story from the bookSuhṛdbheda The Story of the Black Snake and the Golden Chain “A pair of crows had their abode in a certain tree, the hollow of which was occupied by a black snake, who had often devoured their young. The hen-bird, finding herself breeding again, thus addressed her mate: ‘Husband, we must leave this tree; we shall never rear young ones while this black snake lives here! You know they say— ‘From false friends that breed thee strife, From a house with serpents rife, Saucy slaves and brawling wife— Get thee out, to save thy life.’ ‘My dear,’ replied the crow, ‘you need not fear; I have put up with him till I am tired. Now I will put an end to him.’ ‘How can you fight with a great black snake like that?’ said the hen-bird. ‘The Lion proud died by the hare so meek.’ ‘How came that about?’ asked the hen-crow. Knowledge Traditions aPractices ondia— ClassXI 14 Reprint 2026-27