📚 Panchatantra

The Mouse's Swayamvar

6+ ~4 min From Vishnu Sharma's Panchatantra
📖 Vishnu Sharma — Panchatantra

This is a very old story. A sage was sitting on the bank of a river. Just then, an eagle flew past carrying a tiny mouse in its talons. The sage used his spiritual power to transform the mouse into a beautiful little girl. He raised her as his own daughter.

When she grew up, the sage thought — 'I must find the very best husband for her.' He began with the Sun god. 'Are you a worthy match for her?' he asked.

The Sun replied, 'I am full of blazing light. But the clouds cover me — they are greater than I am.' So the sage called on the clouds.

The clouds said, 'I can cover everything. But the wind blows me away — the wind is greater than I am.' So the sage called on the wind.

The wind said, 'I can blow everything away. But the mountain does not move for me — the mountain is greater than I am.' So the sage called on the mountain.

The mountain said, 'I stand firm and immovable. But a mouse burrows right through me — the mouse is greater than I am.'

The sage asked the girl what she thought. She looked at the mouse. Her heart was at ease. The sage transformed her back into a mouse. The two of them went away together.

Whatever is in one's nature, that is where true happiness lives. Changing the outer form does not change the nature within.

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💡 Moral of this Story
Your own true nature is your greatest identity — and your happiest home.
In this Panchatantra tale, the girl was offered the Sun, the clouds, the wind, and the mountain — the greatest powers in the world. Yet her heart connected only with one who was like herself. This story shows that nature cannot be forced to change. Whatever belongs where it belongs will find its way there.
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