The Hermit and the Jewel-Thief Mouse
Hitopadesha Stories · 1 min read
A wandering hermit staying briefly in a small hut noticed something strange about the mouse living there — instead of fearing him or hiding, it boldly leapt onto shelves too high for any ordinary mouse and seemed to prefer the company of larger, bolder animals like cats and dogs rather than fleeing from them.
Curious, the hermit fed the mouse a bit of rich food left over from an offering, and immediately the mouse's confidence grew even further, leaping higher and acting bolder than before.
An old sage passing through explained the mystery. "That mouse has likely eaten scraps of a powerful, nourishing meal meant for someone of great strength — perhaps a warrior's forgotten offering. Food shapes more than the body; it shapes the courage inside a creature too. Feed a weak creature like a strong one, even briefly, and for a while it will believe, and even act, exactly like one."
The hermit, understanding, began feeding the mouse only simple grain again — and within days its wild leaping and boldness faded, and it returned to behaving like any ordinary mouse once more.
Moral of the story
What nourishes you shapes not just your body but your confidence — feed yourself well, and act accordingly.