कथाः
Stories and dialogues
Tap any word for its meaning and grammar; hear every sentence whole, slowly or word by word.
StoryLevel 1रामः पठतिRāma readsFive short sentences: Rāma’s morning.Read
StoryLevel 1गजःThe elephantAn elephant of the forest, and the children who watch him.Read
StoryLevel 1धेनुःThe cowA cow, her milk, and Gopāla who looks after her.Read
StoryLevel 1प्रातःकालःMorningWhat happens at home and outside in the morning.Read
StoryLevel 1मार्जारः कुक्कुरः चThe cat and the dogA cat is at play when a dog comes along.Read
StoryLevel 1वर्णाःColoursThe colours all around us.Read
StoryLevel 1मम विद्यालयःMy schoolA pupil describes a day at school.Read
StoryLevel 2मम परिवारःMy familySītā describes her family.Read
StoryLevel 2उद्यानेIn the gardenTrees, birds, children and a peacock in the garden.Read- DialogueLevel 2परिचयःIntroductions (dialogue)Mīrā and Arjuna meet for the first time.Read
StoryLevel 2गङ्गा नदीThe river GaṅgāWhere the Gaṅgā comes from, and what people do on her banks.Read
StoryLevel 2मम शुकःMy parrotThe family parrot that says "Rāma, Rāma".Read
StoryLevel 2मम शरीरम्My bodyWhich part of the body we use for what.Read
DialogueLevel 2कुत्र गच्छसि?Where are you going?Sītā and Gopāla meet and go to the shop together.Read
DialogueLevel 2कक्षायाम्In classThe teacher picks today’s story in class.Read
StoryLevel 2मम गृहम्My homeA village home and the family who live in it.Read
StoryLevel 2चन्द्रः ताराः चThe moon and the starsWhat we see in the night sky.Read
DialogueLevel 2भोजनसमयेAt dinnerA family chats at the dinner table.Read
StoryLevel 3तृषितः काकःThe thirsty crowHow a clever crow gets a drink.Read- DialogueLevel 3आपणेAt the shop (dialogue)Buying mangoes: asking the price and making polite requests.Read
StoryLevel 3शशकः कूर्मः चThe hare and the tortoiseSlow and steady wins the race.Read
StoryLevel 3लुब्धः कुक्कुरःThe greedy dogA greedy dog loses his roti to his own reflection.Read
StoryLevel 3कपोतः पिपीलिका चThe dove and the antOne good turn deserves another.Read
StoryLevel 3सत्यवादी काष्ठहारःThe honest woodcutterAn honest woodcutter is rewarded with all three axes.Read
StoryLevel 3दीपावलीDīpāvalīWhat the family did last Dīpāvalī.Read
StoryLevel 3वर्षाThe rainThe first rain after a hot day.Read
DialogueLevel 3शाकापणेAt the vegetable stallBuying potatoes and onions, and asking the price.Read
DialogueLevel 3चिकित्सालयेAt the clinicA boy with a fever visits the doctor.Read
StoryLevel 4सिंहः मूषकः चThe lion and the mouseEven a small friend can be a great help.Read
StoryLevel 4चतुरः शशकःThe clever hareA little hare outwits a cruel lion (from the Pañcatantra).Read
StoryLevel 4कूर्मः हंसौ चThe tortoise and the two geeseThink before you speak (from the Pañcatantra).Read
StoryLevel 4वानरः मकरः चThe monkey and the crocodileA quick-witted monkey talks his way out of danger (from the Pañcatantra).Read
DialogueLevel 4मार्गः कुत्र?Which way?A traveller asks the way to the temple.Read
DialogueLevel 4जन्मदिनम्The birthdayArjuna and Sītā get ready for Mīrā’s birthday.Read
StoryLevel 4वृक्षः पथिकः चThe tree and the travellerA tired traveller rests in the shade of a tree.Read
StoryLevel 4कृषकस्य पुत्राःThe farmer’s sonsThe "treasure" in the field turns out to be hard work.Read
StoryLevel 4उष्णीषविक्रेता वानराः चThe cap seller and the monkeysA trick to get the caps back from the copycat monkeys.Read- From the classicsLevel 5विद्या ददाति विनयम्Knowledge gives humility (a classical verse)A famous verse from the Hitopadeśa, with word division and prose order.Read
StoryLevel 5नीलः शृगालःThe blue jackalA jackal dyed blue plays king until his howl gives him away (from the Pañcatantra).Read
StoryLevel 5ब्राह्मणः धूर्ताः चThe brahmin and the three trickstersA lie told often enough starts to sound true (from the Pañcatantra).Read
StoryLevel 5एकलव्यःEkalavyaA pupil who became a great archer practising before his teacher’s image (from the Mahābhārata).Read
StoryLevel 5श्रवणकुमारःŚravaṇa KumāraA son who devoted his life to his parents.Read
StoryLevel 5गुहा वदतिThe talking caveA jackal calls out to his cave and finds the lion hiding inside (from the Pañcatantra).Read
From the classicsLevel 5उद्यमेन हि सिध्यन्तिWork gets done by effort (a classical verse)A famous verse from the Hitopadeśa, in prose order: wishing is not enough, work is.Read
From the classicsLevel 5काकः कृष्णः पिकः कृष्णःThe crow and the cuckoo (a verse)Both are black, but in spring their voices tell them apart.Read
StoryLevel 6नचिकेताःNaciketasThe boy who asked Death about the self (retold from the Kaṭha Upaniṣad).Read
StoryLevel 6आरुणिःĀruṇiThe pupil who lay down in the breach to obey his teacher (Mahābhārata, Ādiparva).Read
From the classicsLevel 6परोपकारायFor the good of others (a verse)Trees, rivers and cows live for others; so should this body.Read
From the classicsLevel 6सत्यं ब्रूयात्Speak the truth, kindly (Manusmṛti)Speak the truth, speak kindly; avoid harsh truths and sweet lies alike.Read
From the classicsLevel 6वसुधैव कुटुम्बकम्The whole world is one family (a verse)Small minds count "mine" and "theirs"; to the generous the whole earth is family.Read