ABSTRACT
As beast fable that maintains a degree of representational realism, Pancatantra provides a glimpse into the social world of animals, which has continuities with the social world of humans. Crows in Pancatantra are often portrayed as clear thinking. The bull is stranded in the forest, having been trapped in mud, and his master, a merchant, abandons him. The persuasion that is required later to tear apart this friendship works its way through argument, counter argument, epigram, counter epigram, story, counter story, with major auditors and narratees as the persons in dialogue. The process of forming alliances across species continues over the next few segments until what we would call a statistically significant mix of diversity is achieved. All the alliances have limitations and possibilities, and the practical principle of cooperation works around limitations, as it capitalizes on natural and learnt skill sets of each.
