Wisdom›Stories for children

Bedtime stories from Sanatana Dharma

Twelve stories for children

Each story takes three to five minutes to read aloud. Each one teaches one clear value children can name back to you. Tap a card to open the full story. The same tales have been told in Indian households for two thousand years and more.

By Sevasannidhi LLPUpdated 19 May 2026

Gajendra and the crocodile

गजेन्द्र मोक्ष· Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 8

A mighty elephant trapped in a lake learns that strength alone cannot save him.

Age 5+ 4 min

Prahlada and Narasimha

प्रह्लाद· Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 7

A boy who loved Vishnu more than his father, the demon king who hated him.

Age 6+ 5 min

Dhruva - the boy who became the Pole Star

ध्रुव· Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 4

A five-year-old boy walks into the forest to find God - and gets a place that never moves.

Age 6+ 4 min

Baby Hanuman tries to eat the sun

सूर्य भक्षण· Ramayana - Bala Kanda

A hungry baby monkey thinks the sun is a sweet ripe mango.

Age 4+ 3 min

Ganesha's race around the world

विश्व प्रदक्षिणा· Skanda Purana - Shiva Mahapurana

A pot-bellied elephant-headed boy outsmarts his swift warrior brother.

Age 5+ 3 min

Ganesha breaks his own tusk

एकदन्त· Mahabharata - Adi Parva

When his pen broke, Ganesha snapped off his own tusk to keep writing.

Age 7+ 3 min

Krishna lifts Mount Govardhana

गोवर्धन· Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10

A small boy holds up a whole mountain on his little finger to save his village.

Age 6+ 4 min

Krishna dances on the serpent Kaliya

कालिय मर्दन· Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10

A poisonous serpent had ruined the river. Krishna jumped in and danced him away.

Age 6+ 4 min

Sudama and his handful of rice

सुदामा· Bhagavata Purana, Skandha 10

A poor friend brings a bag of dry beaten rice to the king of Dwaraka.

Age 7+ 4 min

Shravana Kumara carries his parents

श्रवण कुमार· Ramayana - Ayodhya Kanda

A young man carries his blind parents on his shoulders to every holy place in India.

Age 5+ 3 min

Markandeya hugs the Shiva linga

मार्कण्डेय· Markandeya Purana

A boy fated to die at sixteen escapes Yama by holding tight to Shiva.

Age 7+ 4 min

Nachiketa and Yama

नचिकेता· Katha Upanishad

A boy goes to the house of Death himself and asks the deepest question.

Age 8+ 5 min

More stories coming. If your child has a favourite that we haven't included yet, let us know and we'll add it.

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