panchatantra · Day 203 · Week 29
The Mice Who Lifted the Iron
This ancient story from the Panchatantra gently illuminates the power of calm wisdom over loud anger. It shows that problems can often be solved with cleverness and patience, nurturing a peaceful environment for your developing baby.
If mice can eat a thick iron scale, then surely a hawk can carry a boy.
In the quiet dustiness of his nearly empty warehouse, the merchant Manthan traced the outline of a sunbeam on the floor. It illuminated the space where his family’s great iron scale used to stand. For generations, it had measured grains, spices, and the weight of his family’s good name in the bustling market. Now, with his fortunes faded, it was his last true treasure, a link to a more prosperous past.
Manthan was a good man, known for his gentle nature. But hardship had forced him to consider a long journey to a distant city, a chance to rebuild what he had lost. His most pressing concern was the safety of the huge, heavy scale, crafted from a single block of iron by his great-grandfather.