1) Translated into 50 different languages with over 200 different versions before before 1600 AD - A tale of how ancient Indian collection of animal fables - "PANCHATANTRA" became the best seller of medieval world from Java to Iceland (& how it has been appropriated by Arabs) 
2) Story telling is very ancient Indian art & animal fables appear in some of our most ancient Vedic literature. Panchatantra written around 3rd century or before by Vishnusharman to impart knowledge of governance on princes was but the product of the same millennia old legacy.
3) Since its inception Panchtantra has entertained & imparted wisdom of our ancestors upon countless generation of Indian kids as bedtime story. And penetrated each & every corner of India & each & every language of India.
4) But lesser known story is the spread of Panchatantra throughout the known medieval world. A proud legacy which we have completely chose to ignored This thread celebrates the fascinating story of migration of Panchatantra throughout the known world.
5)One of the earliest translation of Panchtantra outside India was done in Pahlavi. Story goes that Iranian physician named Borzuya traveled to India in search of the plant giving immortality which turned out to be the Panchtantra - a book which granted immortality frm ignorance!
6) However reading in between the lines suggests that Borzuya secretly translated/copied Panchatantra along with other Indian literary works probably at Royal library at Kannauj itself and then sent it to the Sassanian royal court of Iran along with other souvenirs from India!
7) Various middle eastern manuscripts narrating this story 1) Borzuya living for India 2) Borzuya meeting Indian sage who revealed the secret of the plant of immortality 4) Borzuya presenting Panchatantra & other souvenirs from India to Khusrau Anushirvan.
8) With the Islamic invasion of Iran & large scale destruction of their manuscripts & libraries this original Pahlavi version has been lost. The book was however translated into old Syriac by Bud around 570 CE & in Arabic by Abdallah ibn al moquaffa around 750 CE.
9) The Arabic version was named Kalilah wa Dimnah which is basically Arabic rendering of Karataka and Damanaka - names of the two jackal ministers - frequently recurring characters of book I of Panchtantra. It is this name that subsequently became popular in Middle east.
10) The Arabic version was re-translated into Syriac in the 10th or 11th century, into Greek around 1080, into modern Persian by Abu’l-Maʿālī Naṣrallāh Munshi in 1121.
11) Around 15th century at the request of Timurid Sultan Husayn Mirza Bayqara Persian version was further simplified known as Anwar-e-Sohayli (the lights of Canopus) which ironically became popular in Mughal elites of India itself!
12) Around 1500 this Persian was also translated into Turkish where it became known as Humayun namah (?)
13) Around 1251 AD Panchatantra had already reached Spain when Castilian prince Alfonso X (& later on King of Castile & Leon) ordered the translation of Arabic version into old Castilian known as Calila e Dimna.
14) Around 12th century it was translated into Hebrew by Rabbi Joel which through its Latin translation spread throughout the Europe where it was popularly known as The Fables of Indian sage Bidpai/Pilpai (probably corruption of Sanskrit word Vidyapati or Vajapeyi).
15) Between 1263 - 1278 The Hebrew version was translated into Latin by John of Capua - an Italian Jewish convert to Christianity and published under the title of "Directorium Vitae Humanae" (Directory of Human Life) which later on spread through rest of the Europe.
16) This beautifully painted Latin Manuscript of Panchtantra with image of the french Royal Family as front piece was commissioned at the request of Jeanne de Navarre, Queen of France and wife of Philip IV the Fair around 1305!
17) Around 1483 German translation of Panchatantra, Das Buch der Beispiele was put to the print, making Panchtantra one of the earliest books to be printed by the famous Gutenberg's press after the Bible. It shows the widespread popularity of the Panchatantra among the Europeans!
18) The Latin version was translated into Italian by Antonfrancesco Doni in 1552 which became the basis for the first English translation, in 1570 - "The Fables of Bidpai: The Morall Philosophie of Don".
19) Some of its stories transformed & penetrated in local life to such an extant that they became part of popular European folk tales. Perhaps it won't be an exaggeration to say that Panchtantra was probably one of the most popular book in Europe after Bible.
20) Beyond the translations itself, Panchtantra also influenced Arabic & European narrative literature of middle ages such as The Arabian night & La Fontaine Which infact specifically mentions fables of Indian sage Pilpay as source of inspiration.
21) But its spread to the west is only half of the story For In East Asia, where impact of Indian culture was already strong stories of Panchtantra had already arrived at an earlier date as this stone relief from the ancient temple from Java shows.
22) Such a proud legacy of ours to be celebrated widely! But unfortunately we have forgotten our own heritage and now Arabic rendition of Panchtantra - Kalilah wah Dimnah has been projected as the original version...Islamic heritage as they claim it! Perhaps we deserve it!
23) Also read about this another fun legacy of India
⚡️ “Snakes & ladders - Learn about dharma with fun in this ancient Indian game!”
twitter.com/i/moments/9346…
⚡️ “Snakes & ladders - Learn about dharma with fun in this ancient Indian game!”
twitter.com/i/moments/9346…
