Sara Bubber & Dr. Rachana Bhangaokar
The aim of this paper is to unearth the wisdom frameworks on friendship given in Mitrabheda and Mitra-prāpti sections of the Pañcatantra through a review. Stories from the Pañcatantra are an important part of childhood in India. Pañcatantra stories, especially those with unusual animal friends, are inclusive in spirit and depict friendship as a voluntary relationship transcending differences of human-nonhuman species, generation, caste, class and gender. Mitrabheda illustrates good conduct in interpersonal relationships with friends and enemies, Nítiśastra, critical thought, strategy building and the Dharma of a friend and Mitra-prāpti explains how friendship among even natural enemies has to be based on the principles of Dharma. The paper discusses the significance of these overarching wisdom frameworks from Pañcatantra in relation to experiences of real and virtual friendships for children in contemporary times. From an applied perspective, the paper suggests how Pañcatantra stories can be used to design reflective workshops for children of different ages.
Find the article: https://sanskrit-ai.com/threads/mitrabheda-and-mitra-pr%C4%81pti-from-the-pa%C3%B1catantra-being-and-becoming-friends.11510/
