database connection OK but cannot access the tables

[wltc]

$dbs = mysql_list_dbs($connection) or die("coudnt list the dbs");

i can get through the connection to the database..but when above code executes it shows the die part ie, "coudnt list the dbs"..

and when i try to select a database using there exists something wrong because later when i try to enter data to a table in that selected database it tells that theres no table with that table name...

i am really stuck here
pls help me..