The "Katha Sarit Sagara," or "Ocean of the Streams of Stories," is a famous collection of ancient Indian tales written in Sanskrit by Somadeva in the 11th century. It is a compilation of various stories, many of which are derived from earlier texts like the Panchatantra and the Mahabharata. The work is structured as a frame narrative, where the main story is interspersed with numerous smaller tales. The collection features a wide range of themes, including love, adventure, and moral lessons, often highlighting the cleverness and wit of its characters. It has significantly influenced Indian literature and storytelling traditions, serving as a source of inspiration for many later works in various languages.