Sanskrit Text, Transliteration, Word-to-Word Meaning, Translation and Detailed Commentary 272PrefaceThe Vedas explain four principal goals-religious practice (dharma), economic development (artha), regulated sense enjoyment (kama), and liberation from the cycle of birth and death (moksa). They ultimately teach about a fifth goal (pancama purusartha), love of God, prema, but this is not commonly known. The Vedas assert that to achieve any of these goals, integrity is required.Different Vedic literatures are classified as dharma, artha, kama, or moksa sastra, according to the particular goal promoted. Thus Hitopadesa, which gives moral instructions (niti), falls within the category of artha-sastra, advocating economic development within the parameters of morality. The main character in the book is asked to educate the simple-minded sons of a king and train them as rulers. The foolish princes are not inclined to study, so the ingenious teacher tells engaging fables to capture their attention, simultaneously waving in ethics, morality, and other character-building principles to elevate them.Hitopadesa is popular with children because of these fables, in which animal characters are used to personify certain traits found in humans. The book is also popular with adults and even scholars because of its wisdom. Those who may have other editions of Hitopadesa should note that there are variant readings in different Sanskrit editions. The basis for this present translation is the Chaukhambha Sanskrit Series edition printed in 1982. Scholarly readers will appreciate the Devanagari script, transliteration, and word-for-word translation; and all readers will enjoy the translation and extensive commentary.It will be obvious to readers that Sri Satya Narayana Dasa is not pursuing economic.