The Panchatantra is a compilation of inter-woven series of tales in prose and poetry, mostly animal fables. It was compiled in Sanskrit (Hindu) and Pali (Buddhist). The compilation, attributed to Pandit Vishnu Sharma, is considered by most scholars to be dated around 3rd century BCE, and to be based on older oral civilization. Through cross-border mutations, adaptations and translations, the Panchatantra remains the most popular work of literature, especially amongst storytellers. Tales of this ancient Indian work, the original texts of which is now long lost, portray the origins of the subcontinent's language and primitive lifestyle - apart from its objectives, according to its own narrative, to illustrate the primary Hindu principles of nïti - the wise conduct of life. 

The Panchatantra consists of 5 parts, apart from a brief introductory narrative. Each of the five parts revolve around a frame story, which further contain nested stories, sometime three to four levels deep. These nested stories arise from each other, unexpectedly and irregularly at times, to sustain attention. The 5 parts are:

1. Separation of Friends

2. Gaining Friends

3. Of Crows and Owls

4. Loss of Gains

5. Ill-considered Actions

Listen to the recitation of Panchatantra - Mitrabheda verses along with their translation. Here then begins Book I, called "The Loss of Friends." 

The first verse runs:

The forest lion and the bull

 Were linked in friendship, growing, full: 

A jackal then estranged the friends 

For greedy and malicious ends.

And this is how it happened ...

(Read the book: The Panchatantra English - AW Ryder )

The Panchatantra is a series of inter-woven fables, many of which deploy metaphors of anthropomorphized animals with human virtues and vices. Its narrative illustrates, for the benefit of three ignorant princes, the central Hindu principles of nīti. While nīti is hard to translate, it roughly means prudent worldly conduct, or "the wise conduct of life".