Two Tantri Stories
Summary
This paper presents and analyses two narratives from the Tantri corpus of Indian fables. These stories—well‑known in Indian and Javanese tradition—illustrate moral lessons through animal characters and clever plot twists. The author summarises the tales, one involving a king misled by appearances and the other featuring transformations of ghee, curd and buttermilk that teach the value of discernment. He traces their origins to Sanskrit collections like the Dharmaparikṣa and points out parallels in the Javanese Tantri and the Jātaka literature. By comparing versions, the paper shows how motifs migrated across regions and were adapted to local culture. The author emphasises that the stories were used in didactic contexts and that their survival in different languages underscores the shared narrative heritage of South and Southeast Asia.
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Conclusion
Through close reading and cross‑cultural comparison, the article highlights the pedagogical role of Tantri stories. Their transmission across centuries demonstrates the adaptability of Indian fables and their enduring appeal as vehicles of ethical and philosophical teaching.