The Mice That Ate Iron
Also known as Loha Khane Wale Chuhe
- 2 minute read
- Ages 7-11
- Panchatantra Stories
A young merchant named Naduka lost his father's fortune and found himself with nothing but a set of heavy iron scales.
Before leaving the city to make his money back, he took the scales to a merchant named Lakshmana and asked him to keep them safely.
"Of course," said Lakshmana warmly. "They will be here when you return."
Mice, apparently
Naduka came back a year later, having done well, and asked for his scales.
Lakshmana looked at the floor.
"I am ashamed," he said. "The scales are gone. Mice got into my storeroom and ate them."
Naduka blinked.
"Mice ate iron."
"They will eat anything," said Lakshmana. "Iron, wood, cloth. I have never seen anything like it."
Naduka nodded slowly. "Then there is nothing to be done. Do not trouble yourself about it."
Lakshmana relaxed. He had been braced for shouting.
"Since I am here," said Naduka, "I am going down to the river to bathe. Might your son come with me and carry my things?"
Lakshmana was so pleased to be forgiven that he sent the boy immediately.
A hawk, apparently
Naduka took the boy to a cave in the hillside, settled him inside with food and water, and rolled a rock across the entrance. Then he went back into town alone.
Lakshmana met him at the door. "Where is my son?"
"Something dreadful happened," said Naduka. "As we walked along the riverbank a hawk came down out of the sky, took hold of him and carried him off. I shouted. There was nothing I could do."
"A hawk cannot carry off a boy!" Lakshmana shouted. "That is not possible!"
"In a city where mice eat iron scales," said Naduka, "a hawk carrying off a boy is nothing remarkable."
Lakshmana stared at him. His mouth opened and closed.
"Give me back my scales," said Naduka, "and I will give you back your son."
And that is what happened.
Moral of the story
A liar can be beaten by his own lie. Answer nonsense with nonsense and the truth comes out on its own.
Questions and answers
- What did Naduka leave with Lakshmana before he left the city?
He left a set of heavy iron scales, the only valuable thing he had left after losing his father's fortune.
- What excuse did Lakshmana give for losing the scales?
He said mice had got into his storeroom and eaten the iron scales.
- Why did Naduka not argue with the excuse?
He knew arguing would achieve nothing. Instead he pretended to accept it while planning a way to expose the lie.
- What did Naduka do with Lakshmana's son?
He hid the boy in a cave with food and water and blocked the entrance with a rock, keeping him completely safe.
- How did Naduka finally get his scales back?
He told Lakshmana that a hawk had carried the boy away, and pointed out that this was no stranger than mice eating iron. Lakshmana understood and returned the scales.
Word meanings
- fortune
- A large amount of money or wealth.
- storeroom
- A room used for keeping goods and supplies.
- braced
- Prepared oneself for something difficult or unpleasant.
- remarkable
- Unusual or surprising enough to be worth noticing.
Questions about The Mice That Ate Iron
What is the moral of The Mice That Ate Iron?
The moral is that a ridiculous lie can be defeated by an equally ridiculous answer. Naduka did not accuse or fight; he simply made his friend hear his own excuse from the other side.
Is this the same story as Tit for Tat?
They are very close versions of the same Panchatantra tale, told with different names. Both turn on the same clever reply about mice and hawks.
Was the boy ever in danger?
No. Naduka left him in a cave with food and water and returned him unharmed as soon as the scales were handed over.
What does this story teach children about honesty?
That dishonesty usually looks obvious to the person you are cheating, and that stolen things rarely stay stolen for long.