Far away on Mount Kailash, the snow glittered like diamonds under the sun. There lived Lord Shiva, calm and mighty, and Goddess Parvati, gentle and loving. Their two children were very different from each other.
- Kartikeya, the elder son, was brave, fast, and always eager to take on challenges.
- Little Ganesha, the younger one, was chubby-cheeked with an elephant’s head, twinkling eyes, and a heart full of wisdom. And oh, he loved modaks, sweet dumplings stuffed with coconut and jaggery, more than anything else!
The Challenge
One bright morning, Parvati and Shiva decided to test their sons. Shiva smiled and said,
“Children, today we will see who is wiser. Whoever goes around the whole world and comes back first will win a special prize.”
Kartikeya’s eyes sparkled. He quickly climbed on his giant peacock, wings shining in the sunlight. “I will win for sure!” he boasted.
But little Ganesha looked at his small mouse. He scratched his head and thought,
“Hmm… how can my tiny mouse take me around the huge world? Kartikeya will surely be faster… but maybe there is another way.”
The Clever Idea
Ganesha closed his eyes for a moment. He remembered what his parents meant to him—his world of love, safety, and wisdom. Then, with a wide grin, he got off his mouse and slowly walked around his parents three times.
Shiva raised an eyebrow. “Ganesha, why aren’t you circling the world?”
Parvati chuckled softly.
Ganesha folded his little hands and said sweetly,
“For me, you two are my whole world. By going around you, I have circled everything that matters.”
The Winner
At that very moment, Kartikeya came flying back, tired but proud. “See, I have traveled across mountains, rivers, forests, and oceans!” he declared.
But Shiva and Parvati smiled and hugged Ganesha.
“Your wisdom has touched our hearts. You are the true winner, my child,” Parvati said warmly.
Shiva added, “Strength and speed are good, but wisdom and love shine brighter.”
And then came the prize, a golden plate stacked high with hot, steaming modaks! Ganesha’s eyes lit up like little lamps. He gobbled one, then another, and another, until his cheeks were even rounder than before.
From that day on, everyone admired Ganesha for his brilliant mind and kind heart. He showed that thinking differently, with love and respect, can solve even the toughest problems. Children everywhere remember this story and learn that sometimes the smartest answers come from the simplest thoughts.
🌟 Moral of the Story
True wisdom is not about running the fastest or being the strongest. It is about loving and respecting your parents and elders, for they are the heart of our world.
