The Bodhisatta: From Dead Mouse to Wealthy Merchant

In a distant land long ago, during a time when the stars themselves seemed to guide the lives of men, the Bodhisatta was born into the royal family and served as the royal treasurer. Known far and wide for his wisdom and understanding of omens, he was often sought after for guidance and insight. One day, as he was walking along a road, he noticed something unusual: a dead mouse lying in the dirt beneath a particular alignment of the stars. This was no ordinary moment—it was a rare celestial occurrence, and the Bodhisatta, observing the stars and their positions, knew that it marked a time of great significance.

Without intending to draw attention to himself, the Bodhisatta spoke aloud, saying to no one in particular, “Whoever picks up this dead mouse, at this special moment, will be blessed with good fortune, success in business, and find happiness in marriage.” He made this comment without any expectation or desire for it to be taken seriously. Yet, as fate would have it, a poor young man with a kind heart happened to overhear these words. The young man was destitute, having nothing of value, but he had heard of the Bodhisatta’s wisdom and believed in the power of omens.

The young man, with hope in his heart and faith in the Bodhisatta’s words, approached the dead mouse. Carefully, he picked it up and, believing that this small act could lead to a change in his fortunes, he took it to the nearest tavern. There, he sold the mouse for a farthing, a mere pittance. To most, the mouse would have seemed insignificant, but to the young man, it was the first step toward something greater.

With his farthing in hand, the young man carefully considered how he could make the most of it. He had heard of a group of flower gatherers who were in need of water, and he thought to use his small sum of money to purchase molasses. He offered this molasses, along with some drinking water, to the flower gatherers in exchange for a few of their flowers. The young man, with his heart full of hope and his mind focused on the future, sold the flowers at the market, earning a modest profit. The next day, he used his profits to buy a larger batch of molasses from the same gatherers and continued his trade.

As the days passed, his business slowly began to grow. He made wise and careful choices, always trading with those who had need of what he could offer. His diligence paid off when one day, a mighty storm blew through the kingdom, scattering branches and debris around the royal palace. The gardener at the palace, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of work, was unable to clear it all on his own. Seeing an opportunity, the young man approached the gardener and offered to clear the debris in exchange for all of it. The gardener, desperate for help, agreed, and the young man set to work.

To gather more help, the young man turned to the children playing in a nearby playground. He offered them molasses in exchange for their assistance, and soon the children were eagerly helping him gather the fallen branches. When the debris was piled high in front of the palace, the royal potter happened to pass by. In need of fuel for his kiln, the potter saw the pile of branches and offered to buy it from the young man. The potter paid the young man sixteen pennies for the debris, along with a few pieces of pottery as additional payment. The young man was overjoyed at this unexpected turn of events. With his new earnings, he was able to continue expanding his business.

But the young man’s fortune was not yet fully realized. One day, while passing through the town, he met a wealthy merchant who informed him of a horse dealer who would soon be arriving in the city with five hundred horses to sell. Seizing this opportunity, the young man went to visit the group of grass cutters who worked near the city gate. Remembering his past kindness, he took a jar of water to offer them, and in return, they agreed to delay selling their grass until the young man had sold his first batch. When the horse dealer arrived in town, he had no choice but to buy the grass from the young man at the premium price of one thousand coins, for the grass was in great demand to feed the horses.

With this windfall, the young man’s wealth grew rapidly. Soon, he learned that a large ship had arrived in port, carrying valuable goods. The young man, seeing another opportunity, hired a fancy carriage and made a grand entrance at the port. He used his charm and wit to convince the ship’s owner to sell him all the cargo on credit, assuring the owner that there would be no other buyers. As the other merchants arrived at the port, they were told that the goods were no longer for sale, and the young man presented himself as the exclusive buyer. With a facade of power and confidence, he set up a pavilion and had the merchants escorted in one by one to meet with him. Each of them, believing that the young man held great influence, agreed to buy a share of the cargo at a high price, and the young man earned a fast two hundred thousand coins from the deal.

In just four months, the young man had transformed from a poor, struggling individual into a wealthy merchant, all from the simple act of picking up a dead mouse at the right moment. Grateful for the Bodhisatta’s prophecy, the young man went to visit him. When he arrived, he presented the Bodhisatta with one hundred thousand coins as a token of his thanks and gratitude. The Bodhisatta, deeply impressed by the young man’s journey and his wisdom in business, took him into his family by marrying him to his daughter. After the Bodhisatta’s death, the young man succeeded him as the royal treasurer, becoming one of the most influential men in the kingdom.

Moral:

The tale of the dead mouse offers a powerful lesson in opportunity, perseverance, and the wisdom of making the right choices. The young man’s success was not a result of mere chance or luck, but of his willingness to seize every opportunity, no matter how small, and to approach each task with diligence and integrity. His story reminds us that even the smallest acts, if done with intention and foresight, can lead to great rewards. The Bodhisatta’s prediction was not a magical event, but a reflection of the young man’s ability to turn humble beginnings into a prosperous future through wisdom, kindness, and careful decision-making.

This tale also teaches the value of recognizing opportunities when they arise, and the importance of helping others along the way. Just as the young man helped the flower gatherers, the gardener, and the children, so too did his good deeds come back to him in the form of unexpected opportunities. The moral of the story is clear: true success comes from the choices we make and the actions we take, guided by wisdom, compassion, and a willingness to work hard toward our goals.