NCERT Class 4 Arts Bansuri: Chapter 1 — Panchatantra
This chapter introduces the Panchatantra, a collection of Sanskrit stories written over two thousand years ago by Vishnu Sharma. The name 'Pancha' means five and 'Tantra' means codes or principles, with stories categorized into five groups. These tales aim to teach morals and values in a friendly manner, particularly to children. The chapter highlights the global popularity and extensive translations of these stories. It then presents one such story, 'The Hare and the Lion,' which illustrates themes of fear, strategy, and consequences, as animals devise a plan to manage a ferocious lion's hunger. This chapter helps students understand the value of wisdom and collective action in overcoming challenges, aligning with CBSE's focus on character development and critical thinking.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 4 |
| Subject | Arts |
| Book | Bansuri |
| Chapter | Chapter 1 — Panchatantra |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 340 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the origin and purpose of the Panchatantra stories.
- Identify the meaning of 'Pancha' and 'Tantra'.
- Recognize the global popularity and translation of Panchatantra stories.
- Analyze the plot and moral of 'The Hare and the Lion' story.
- Appreciate the use of wisdom and planning to solve problems.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Panchatantra | A collection of Sanskrit stories divided into five parts, teaching morals. |
| Sanskrit | An ancient Indo-Aryan language of India. |
| Scholar | A person who has studied a subject for a long time. |
| Morals | Principles concerning the distinction between right and wrong or good and bad behavior. |
| Values | Principles or standards of behavior; one's judgment of what is important in life. |
| Ferocious | Savagely fierce, cruel, or violent. |
| Devised | Planned or invented (a complex procedure or system). |
| Proposal | An offer or suggestion. |
| Presented | Offered or submitted for consideration. |
| Miserable | Wretchedly unhappy or uncomfortable. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- Who wrote the Panchatantra and in which language? Answer: Vishnu Sharma wrote the Panchatantra in Sanskrit.
- What does 'Pancha' and 'Tantra' mean? Answer: 'Pancha' means five and 'Tantra' means codes or principles.
- Why did the lion kill animals in the forest? Answer: The lion killed animals to show his strength and because he was ferocious.
- What plan did the animals devise to deal with the lion? Answer: The animals proposed that one animal would present itself to the lion each day, instead of the lion killing them all.
- Who was Bhasuraka? Answer: Bhasuraka was the ferocious lion living in the forest.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Panchatantra?
The Panchatantra is a collection of Sanskrit stories written over two thousand years ago by Vishnu Sharma, designed to teach morals and values.
Who wrote the Panchatantra?
The Panchatantra was written by a Sanskrit scholar named Vishnu Sharma.
What does the name Panchatantra mean?
Pancha means five, and Tantra means codes or principles. The stories are divided into five groups.
Why are the Panchatantra stories important?
They are popular worldwide for teaching valuable lessons on morals and values, especially to children, in a friendly way.
What is the story presented in this chapter?
This chapter presents the story 'The Hare and the Lion' from the Panchatantra.
What problem did the animals face in 'The Hare and the Lion'?
The animals lived in constant fear of a ferocious lion named Bhasuraka, who killed one animal every day.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 4 Arts — Bansuri — Chapter 1 — Panchatantra. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.