Gems from Hitopadesh

Hitopadesh is a nitishastra book just like Panchatantra. In fact it is inspired by and based on that book. Most of the stories are the same with different wording but some are new. Here also words of wisdom are dispersed throughout the stories and this booklet is a collection of those. Hitopadesh is of course a Sanskrit word and is a combination of two words – hita and upadesh. The first means benefit and the second means advice. The combined meaning is beneficial advice.