: Jayadratha was a despicable man - vindictive, arrogant and selfish. In the Mahabharata battle, Jayadratha had shamelessly hidden himself away, for Arjuna had taken a terrible vow to put an end to his own life if he failed to kill the villain before sunset that day. With the wise Krishna by his side, would the mighty Arjuna fail to find his mark?
: Telugu, a vibrant language even in medieval times, produced the distinguished poet Manchana. His stories are all delightful lessons in wisdom. Some teach us the value of honor while others tell us that might is not always right. We see a tiny rat outwitting a venomous serpent and then an old turtle saving his friends from a greedy eagle.
: This collection of Buddhist tales tell of Amrapali, an accomplished dancer who commanded the love and admiration of an entire town and of Upagupta, who was just a poor monk. Amrapali craved peace, Upagupta's bearing exuded contentment. Amrapali depended on the adulation of her audience, Upagupta spurned the attentions of the rich and famous. Their stories were different but the Buddha's wise teachings linked their lives and the lessons to be learned from them.
: Under attack from a deadly crocodile, the 12-year-old boy decided the time was ripe to wrest a favor from his distraught mother. Amazingly fearless yet dutiful, scholarly yet humble, young Shankara packed several lifetimes into his 32 brilliant years. He travelled and toiled, suffered joys and sorrows and eventually perfected a philosophical system that, more than a thousand years later, still instructs and guides seekers of the ultimate Truth