10 Popular Panchatantra Stories in English – PDF

The Panchatantra is a timeless collection of moral stories that teach wisdom through simple yet engaging tales. Originally written in Sanskrit over 2,000 years ago, these stories have been passed down through generations and are loved by children and adults alike. Each tale features animals and humans facing challenges, solving problems, and learning important life lessons.

In this post, you will find 10 carefully rewritten Panchatantra stories in simple English, making them perfect for English learners, children, and storytelling sessions. These stories use short sentences and easy vocabulary, ensuring everyone can enjoy them.

Additionally, we offer a free downloadable PDF of these stories so you can read them offline, print them for kids, or share them with students. Scroll down to enjoy the stories and download your free Panchatantra PDF today!

Panchatantra Stories in English

1. The Monkey and the Crocodile

On the bank of a big river, there was a tall tree. A clever monkey lived on that tree. He was happy because the tree gave him sweet fruits every day. He had no worries in the world.

One day, a hungry crocodile came to the riverbank. He looked tired and weak. The monkey saw him and felt sorry for him. “You look hungry,” the monkey said. “Here, take some of these fruits.” The crocodile ate the fruits and felt better.

The next day, the crocodile came again. The monkey gave him more fruit. Soon, they became good friends. Every day, they talked and laughed. The crocodile told stories about the river, and the monkey told stories about the forest.

One evening, the crocodile took some fruits home for his wife. She ate them and liked them very much. But she was greedy. She said, “If these fruits are so sweet, the monkey’s heart must be even sweeter! Bring me the monkey’s heart!”

The crocodile was shocked. “The monkey is my friend,” he said.

But his wife was stubborn. “If you love me, you will bring me his heart,” she said.

The crocodile was sad, but he had no choice. The next morning, he went to the monkey. “My friend, my wife wants to meet you. She has cooked a special meal for you. Come with me,” he said.

The monkey was happy. “That sounds wonderful!” he said. He jumped onto the crocodile’s back. The crocodile swam across the river. But when they reached the middle of the river, the crocodile said, “My friend, I am sorry. My wife wants your heart. I must give it to her.”

The monkey was clever. He thought fast. Then he laughed and said, “Oh, my dear friend! Why didn’t you tell me earlier? I left my heart on the tree!”

The crocodile was confused. “What? You left your heart on the tree?”

“Yes!” the monkey said. “Take me back, and I will bring it for you.”

The foolish crocodile believed him and swam back to the tree. As soon as they reached the shore, the monkey quickly jumped up the tree. He laughed and said, “You are not a good friend! You tried to trick me! Now go away and never come back!”

The crocodile felt ashamed. He swam away, and the monkey lived happily on his tree again.

Moral: Think fast to escape danger.

2. The Lion and the Clever Rabbit

In a deep forest, there was a fierce lion. He was big and strong. Every day, he hunted animals and ate them. The animals were scared. If the lion continued like this, soon there would be no animals left in the forest.

One day, all the animals gathered for a meeting. A wise old deer said, “If we send one animal to the lion every day, he will not hunt us all.” The animals agreed and went to the lion.

The lion was happy. “I don’t have to hunt anymore? Good! But don’t forget to send an animal every day,” he said.

Many days passed. Every day, one animal went to the lion and became his meal. One day, it was a rabbit’s turn. The rabbit was small and weak. “If I go, I will die. But maybe I can save myself,” he thought.

The rabbit walked very slowly. He reached the lion’s cave late. The lion was angry. “Why are you so late?” he roared.

The rabbit bowed and said, “Oh great lion, I was coming early, but another lion stopped me. He said he is the real king of the forest!”

The lion’s eyes burned with anger. “Another lion? Where is he?”

The rabbit took the lion to a deep well. He pointed inside and said, “He is in there!”

The lion looked inside the well and saw his own reflection in the water. He thought it was another lion. He roared loudly, and the roar echoed back. The lion became furious. “How dare you challenge me!” he roared and jumped into the well.

The well was deep, and the lion drowned.

The clever rabbit ran back to the other animals. “The lion is gone! We are safe now!” he said. The animals cheered. From that day, they lived peacefully.

Moral: Intelligence is stronger than strength.

3. The Blue Jackal

One night, a hungry jackal entered a village to find food. The dogs saw him and started barking. The jackal got scared and ran. He accidentally fell into a big pot of blue dye.

When he came out, he was completely blue!

The jackal ran back to the forest. The other animals saw him and were surprised. “Who is this strange blue animal?” they whispered.

The jackal saw their fear and got an idea. “I am a special animal sent by the gods. I will be your king!” he declared.

The animals believed him. The lion, tiger, and elephant bowed before him. The blue jackal became the king of the jungle.

For many days, he enjoyed his new life. The animals brought him food. He did nothing but rest.

One night, the jackal heard other jackals howling in the distance. Without thinking, he howled too.

The animals were shocked. “He is not a special animal! He is just a jackal!” they shouted.

The lion roared, “You tricked us!” The animals chased the blue jackal out of the forest.

Moral: Lies do not last forever.

4. The Tortoise and the Geese

A tortoise lived near a small lake. He was always talking. He loved to talk so much that he never stopped!

One day, two geese came to the lake. They became friends with the tortoise. One summer, the lake dried up. The geese said, “We will go to another lake. Come with us!”

“But how?” the tortoise asked. “I cannot fly!”

The geese had an idea. They found a strong stick. “Hold this stick with your mouth. We will carry you in the sky. But remember, do not open your mouth!”

The tortoise agreed. He held the stick tightly. The geese lifted him up.

As they flew over a village, people below saw them. “Look at that funny tortoise!” they laughed.

The tortoise felt angry. He wanted to say something. But when he opened his mouth… he fell!

He hit the ground hard and died.

Moral: Silence is sometimes better than words.

5. The Blue Jackal

One night, a hungry jackal entered a village in search of food. He ran through the dark streets, looking for something to eat. Suddenly, some street dogs saw him and started barking loudly. The jackal got scared and ran as fast as he could. The dogs chased him.

While running, the jackal accidentally fell into a large pot of blue dye. The pot was full, and the jackal was completely soaked. He tried to climb out, but it was slippery. Finally, he managed to get out and ran into the forest.

When he reached the jungle, he saw his reflection in a pond. He was completely blue! His fur had changed color. “Oh! I look different now!” he thought. He suddenly got an idea.

The next morning, all the animals saw him and became afraid. “Who is this strange blue creature?” they whispered. The lions, tigers, elephants, and deer all stood far away.

The jackal saw their fear and spoke loudly, “Do not be afraid! I am a special animal sent by the gods. I will be your king. From now on, you must obey me!”

The animals believed him. Even the mighty lions and tigers bowed before him. The blue jackal became the king of the jungle. He gave orders, and the other animals followed them. They brought him food every day. He did nothing but eat and rest.

For many days, the jackal enjoyed his new life. But one night, he heard the cries of other jackals in the forest. They were howling at the moon. Without thinking, he howled too.

The moment he did that, the lions and tigers looked at him in shock. “He is not a special animal! He is just a jackal!” they roared.

The animals became angry. “You lied to us!” they shouted. The lions chased the blue jackal and drove him out of the jungle. He ran for his life and never returned.

Moral: A lie cannot last forever.

6. The Tortoise and the Geese

A tortoise lived near a small, peaceful lake. He had two good friends—two geese. They often talked and played together.

The tortoise loved talking. He talked all the time, and once he started, he never stopped. The geese often laughed, “Friend, you must learn to be quiet sometimes!”

One summer, the lake started to dry up. There was very little water left. “We must leave and find another lake,” the geese said.

The tortoise became sad. “I cannot fly! How will I come with you?” he asked.

The geese thought for a moment. Then one said, “We have an idea! Hold this stick in your mouth. We will carry you in the sky. But remember, do not open your mouth!”

The tortoise agreed. He held the stick tightly. The geese lifted him into the air. They flew high over the land.

As they passed over a village, some people saw them. “Look at that funny tortoise!” they laughed. “He thinks he is a bird!”

The tortoise felt angry. He wanted to say something. But the moment he opened his mouth… he fell!

He hit the ground hard and died. The geese felt sad and flew away.

Moral: Silence is sometimes better than words.

7. The Mice and the Elephants

A group of mice lived near a big lake. They had a small village underground. Life was peaceful.

One day, a herd of elephants came to drink water from the lake. They walked over the mice’s village and crushed many homes. Some mice were killed.

The leader of the mice went to the elephant king. “Oh great elephant, we are small, but we are also your friends. Please take another path. You are destroying our homes.”

The elephant king felt sorry. “We did not see you. From now on, we will take another path,” he promised.

One day, hunters came to the jungle. They trapped the elephants in big nets. The elephants tried to escape, but they couldn’t.

The mice saw this. “Our big friends need our help!” they said. They ran to the nets and started biting them with their sharp teeth.

Soon, the nets were torn, and the elephants were free.

The elephant king smiled. “You are small, but you saved us! Thank you, little friends!” he said.

Moral: A kind act is always rewarded.

8. The Foolish Lion and the Clever Hare

A lion lived in the jungle. He was very lazy. He did not want to hunt. Instead, he made a rule: “Every day, one animal must come to me as food!”

The animals were scared. They had no choice. Every day, one animal went to the lion’s cave and became his meal.

One day, it was a hare’s turn. The hare was small and weak. “If I go, I will die. But maybe I can save myself,” he thought.

He walked very slowly. He reached the lion’s cave late. The lion was angry. “Why are you late?” he roared.

The hare bowed and said, “Oh great lion, I was coming early. But another lion stopped me. He said he is the real king of the jungle!”

The lion’s eyes burned with anger. “Another lion? Where is he?”

The hare led him to a deep well. “He is inside!” the hare said.

The lion looked into the well and saw his own reflection in the water. He thought it was another lion. He roared, and the roar echoed back.

The lion became furious. “How dare you challenge me!” he roared and jumped into the well.

The well was deep, and the lion drowned. The clever hare ran back to the other animals. “The lion is gone! We are safe now!” he said.

The animals cheered. From that day, they lived peacefully.

Moral: Cleverness defeats arrogance.

9. The Crow and the Pitcher

A crow was very thirsty. He searched for water everywhere. Finally, he saw a pitcher.

The crow flew down and looked inside. There was a little water at the bottom. He tried to reach it, but his beak could not touch the water.

He thought for a moment. Then, he picked up small stones and dropped them into the pitcher, one by one.

Slowly, the water rose to the top. The crow drank and flew away happily.

Moral: Intelligence solves problems.

10. The Bird with Two Heads

A strange bird lived near a river. It had two heads but shared one body.

One day, the first head found a sweet fruit. “This is delicious!” it said. The second head said, “Give me some!”

The first head laughed. “We share the same body. It will go to the same stomach!” The second head felt sad.

One day, the second head found a poisonous fruit. “If I cannot eat the sweet one, I will eat this!” it said.

It ate the poison, and soon the whole bird died.

Moral: Fighting among yourselves brings harm.

Panchatantra stories in English PDF – download