Vishnu Sharma
|
India

The Mouse Maid

A holy man transforms a mouse into a girl, raises her, but she chooses to marry a mouse and becomes one again.
Identity
Choice
Acceptance
Panchatantra Fables - The Mouse Maid
Audio available for B1 version

Once upon a time, a tiny mouse fell from a bird's beak and landed in the hands of a kind-hearted holy man who happened to be passing by. Seeing the helpless creature, the holy man felt a surge of compassion. With a wave of his staff, he transformed the tiny mouse into a beautiful girl.

The holy man raised the girl as his own, providing her with love, guidance, and education. She grew into a remarkable young woman, both exceptionally beautiful and intelligent. As time went by, the holy man started feeling the weight of responsibility. It was time to find her a suitable husband.

One day, he spoke to the girl, saying, "I have been thinking about your future. I believe I have found the perfect husband for you. It's the sun. The sun is incredibly powerful, providing light and warmth to everything."

The girl listened attentively but responded, "Father, the sun is too hot and strong. It can burn things. I don't want to marry the sun."

Understanding her concerns, the holy man said, "Alright, what about the cloud? It covers the sun and brings rain, helping plants grow."

Pondering for a moment, the girl replied, "The cloud is helpful, but it moves with the wind and disappears when the sun is too bright. I don't want to marry the cloud."

Respecting her decision, the holy man suggested another option, "How about the wind? It is powerful and can travel anywhere."

Shaking her head, the girl explained, "The wind is strong, but it is also unpredictable and can cause damage. I don't want to marry the wind."

Finally, the holy man thought of the mountain. He said, "The mountain is strong, stable, and unyielding. It can shield you from the wind, cloud, and sun."

The girl smiled and replied, "Yes, the mountain is strong and safe, but there is someone who can make holes in it, someone even stronger than the mountain. I want to marry a mouse."

Surprised by her choice, the holy man understood her wisdom. He used his powers once again and transformed the girl back into a mouse. They lived happily together for the rest of their lives, reminding everyone that sometimes, what we truly desire is closer to who we are inside.

Once upon a time, a tiny mouse fell from a bird's beak and landed in the hands of a kind holy man who was walking by. The holy man felt sorry for the little mouse. Using his magic staff, he turned the mouse into a beautiful girl.

The holy man took care of the girl like his own daughter. He gave her love, guidance, and education. She grew up to be a smart and beautiful young woman. One day, the holy man decided it was time to find her a husband.

He said to the girl, "I have been thinking about your future. I think the sun would be a perfect husband for you. The sun is powerful and gives light and warmth to everyone."

The girl listened and said, "Father, the sun is too hot and strong. It can burn things. I don’t want to marry the sun."

The holy man said, "Alright, what about the cloud? It covers the sun and brings rain to help plants grow."

The girl thought for a moment and replied, "The cloud is helpful, but it moves with the wind and disappears when the sun is too bright. I don’t want to marry the cloud."

The holy man suggested, "How about the wind? It is powerful and can go anywhere."

The girl shook her head and said, "The wind is strong, but it is also unpredictable and can cause damage. I don’t want to marry the wind."

Finally, the holy man thought of the mountain. He said, "The mountain is strong, stable, and can protect you from the wind, cloud, and sun."

The girl smiled and said, "Yes, the mountain is strong and safe, but there is someone who can make holes in it, someone even stronger than the mountain. I want to marry a mouse."

The holy man was surprised but understood her choice. He used his magic again and turned the girl back into a mouse. They lived happily together, reminding everyone that sometimes, what we truly want is closer to who we are inside.

A little mouse falls from a bird's beak. The mouse lands in the hands of a kind man. The man feels sorry for the mouse. He uses his magic stick. He turns the mouse into a girl.

The man takes care of the girl. He loves her like his daughter. She grows up happy and smart. One day, the man says, "You need a husband. I think the sun is good for you. The sun is strong and bright."

The girl says, "No, the sun is too hot. I do not like the sun."

The man says, "Okay, what about the cloud? The cloud brings rain and helps plants grow."

The girl says, "No, the cloud moves too much. I do not like the cloud."

The man says, "What about the wind? The wind is strong and can go anywhere."

The girl says, "No, the wind is too wild. I do not like the wind."

The man thinks. He says, "What about the mountain? The mountain is strong and safe."

The girl smiles and says, "Yes, but a mouse can make holes in the mountain. I want to marry a mouse."

The man is surprised. He understands. He uses his magic again. He turns the girl back into a mouse. They are happy and live together.

Once upon a time, a tiny mouse fell from a bird's beak and landed in the hands of a kind holy man who was walking by. The holy man felt sorry for the little mouse. Using his magic staff, he turned the mouse into a beautiful girl.

The holy man took care of the girl like his own daughter. He gave her love, guidance, and education. She grew up to be a smart and beautiful young woman. One day, the holy man decided it was time to find her a husband.

He said to the girl, "I have been thinking about your future. I think the sun would be a perfect husband for you. The sun is powerful and gives light and warmth to everyone."

The girl listened and said, "Father, the sun is too hot and strong. It can burn things. I don’t want to marry the sun."

The holy man said, "Alright, what about the cloud? It covers the sun and brings rain to help plants grow."

The girl thought for a moment and replied, "The cloud is helpful, but it moves with the wind and disappears when the sun is too bright. I don’t want to marry the cloud."

The holy man suggested, "How about the wind? It is powerful and can go anywhere."

The girl shook her head and said, "The wind is strong, but it is also unpredictable and can cause damage. I don’t want to marry the wind."

Finally, the holy man thought of the mountain. He said, "The mountain is strong, stable, and can protect you from the wind, cloud, and sun."

The girl smiled and said, "Yes, the mountain is strong and safe, but there is someone who can make holes in it, someone even stronger than the mountain. I want to marry a mouse."

The holy man was surprised but understood her choice. He used his magic again and turned the girl back into a mouse. They lived happily together, reminding everyone that sometimes, what we truly want is closer to who we are inside.

In a land where cheese was a currency and birds sang opera, a wee little mouse was enjoying a surprise flying adventure courtesy of a friendly bird. That is until it suddenly dropped into the hands of a jolly holy man.

"Whoops-a-daisy!" said the holy man, twirling his staff. "Let's turn that squeak into a smile!" And with a flash, the mouse became a dazzling girl, now looking quite pleased.

The holy man took her under his wing, teaching her about kindness, laughter, and the secret art of chocolate-chip cookie making.

Time flew, and the holy man realized the girl needed a life partner. So, he sat her down and said, "How about the sun? He's bright and warm, and I hear he throws great barbecues!"

The girl made a funny face. "The sun? Too hot! I prefer my marshmallows golden, not charred."

The holy man laughed, "Alright, how about the cloud? Soft as a pillow, and never snores!"

She shook her head, "The cloud? Too floaty! I need someone who won't vanish during snack time."

He scratched his head and offered, "What about the wind? Always on the go and loves a good adventure!"

"The wind? Too whooshy!" she said. "I need someone who won't blow away my favorite hat."

Finally, he suggested, "How about the mountain? Strong, steady, and a champion at hide-and-seek!"

She grinned, "The mountain's fine, but I want someone who understands the joy of cheese and crackers. I want to marry a mouse!"

The holy man's eyes twinkled. "A mouse it is!" And with a flip of his staff, she was a mouse again.

They did a happy dance and nibbled on cheese, living happily ever after in a world where being yourself was the best adventure of all.

Through valleys and highlands, with trees standing by,
A tiny mouse dropped, from the sky oh so high.
Landing safe in the hands of a man, wise and grand,
With a magical staff held firm in his hand.

With a swirl and a twirl, the mouse began to unfold,
Into a girl with hair of shimmering gold.
Raised with care, with lessons and song,
She grew bright and beautiful, wise and strong.

The wise man thought with a furrowed brow,
“It's time for a suitor, the time is now!”
He said, "Dear child, with beauty so rare,
Would the sun as your partner, be perfectly fair?"

She replied, "The sun's glow, though it lights up the day,
Is too hot and fierce, I'd rather not sway."
"How about the cloud?" he pondered aloud,
"Shady and cool, yet stands out in the crowd."

She thought and then said, with a voice oh so soft,
“The cloud may drift away, carried aloft."
"The wind," he proposed, "travels far and wide,
Powerful and swift, always by your side."

She gently responded, “The wind’s gusts might not last,
It’s temperamental, and moves way too fast."
Considering her words, he thought with care,
"The mountain, so sturdy, with strength to spare."

Her eyes gleamed with wisdom, as she began to disclose,
"There's one that can carve the mountain, as everyone knows.
More powerful than all, in a small size it lies,
I wish for a mouse, under the vast skies."

The wise man, now smiling, with a nod and a glance,
Knew her heart’s true wish, given the chance.
With a wave of his staff, magic filled the air,
The girl became a mouse, with soft, silky hair.

Together they danced, and played with delight,
Under the moon’s gentle, silver light.

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Word Finder

  1. Holy

    Very religious or spiritually good person.

  2. Magic

    Using special powers to make impossible things happen.

  3. Guidance

    Help and advice about what to do.

  4. Powerful

    Having great strength or influence.

  5. Unpredictable

    Changing often without warning or planning.

  6. Damage

    Harm that makes something less useful.

  7. Stable

    Firmly fixed; not likely to move or change.

  8. Disappears

    Goes away so it cannot be seen.

  9. Decided

    Made a choice after thinking.

  10. Reminding

    Making someone remember something.

Understanding Questions

  1. Who found the tiny mouse after it fell from a bird's beak?
  2. What did the holy man use to turn the mouse into a beautiful girl?
  3. Why did the girl refuse to marry the sun?
  4. What were the girl's reasons for not wanting to marry the cloud and the wind?
  5. What was the girl's final decision about who she wanted to marry, and why?

Word Finder

  1. Beak

    Bird's hard mouth part for eating.

  2. Lands

    Comes down to the ground safely.

  3. Magic

    Special power to make strange things happen.

  4. Husband

    A man married to a woman.

  5. Bright

    Giving a lot of light, not dark.

  6. Rain

    Water falling from the sky as drops.

  7. Moves

    Goes from one place to another place.

  8. Wild

    Not calm, very strong and uncontrolled.

  9. Mountain

    Very high land, taller than hills.

  10. Holes

    Empty spaces or openings in something.

  1. Holy

    Very religious or spiritually good person.

  2. Magic

    Using special powers to make impossible things happen.

  3. Guidance

    Help and advice about what to do.

  4. Powerful

    Having great strength or influence.

  5. Unpredictable

    Changing often without warning or planning.

  6. Damage

    Harm that makes something less useful.

  7. Stable

    Firmly fixed; not likely to move or change.

  8. Disappears

    Goes away so it cannot be seen.

  9. Decided

    Made a choice after thinking.

  10. Reminding

    Making someone remember something.

Understanding Questions

  1. Where does the mouse fall from?

    1. A tree
    2. A bird's beak
    3. A man's hand
    4. A cloud
  2. What does the kind man turn the mouse into?

    1. A bird
    2. A girl
    3. A flower
    4. A tree
  3. Who does the girl want to marry?

    1. The sun
    2. The cloud
    3. The wind
    4. A mouse
  4. What does the girl think about the sun?

    1. It is strong and bright.
    2. It is too hot.
    3. It helps plants grow.
    4. It is too wild.
  5. How does the girl feel when she becomes a mouse again?

    1. Sad
    2. Happy
    3. Angry
    4. Scared
  1. Who found the tiny mouse after it fell from a bird's beak?
  2. What did the holy man use to turn the mouse into a beautiful girl?
  3. Why did the girl refuse to marry the sun?
  4. What were the girl's reasons for not wanting to marry the cloud and the wind?
  5. What was the girl's final decision about who she wanted to marry, and why?
  1. Why did the holy man transform the mouse into a girl?
  2. What was the girl’s reason for not wanting to marry the sun?
  3. How did the girl describe the cloud's limitations as a potential husband?
  4. What characteristic of the wind made the girl decide against marrying it?
  5. Who did the girl ultimately choose to marry and why did she make this choice?

Reflection Questions

  1. Why do you think the holy man wanted to find a powerful husband for the girl?
  2. The girl refused to marry the sun, the cloud, the wind, and the mountain. What were her reasons for each refusal?
  3. What do you think the story is trying to tell us by the girl choosing to marry a mouse instead of the sun, cloud, wind, or mountain?
  4. How does this story show the importance of knowing and being true to ourselves?
  5. Can you think of a time in your life when you felt happier or more comfortable being yourself rather than trying to be someone else?

Fable Quotes

No matter the outer form, our inner identity remains constant.
Every choice we make is a step towards our true identity.
Acceptance is the key that unlocks the door to contentment.
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