A hermit took care of a temple in s small village. He took alms and shared it with a few people who helped him clean the temple. There was a mouse in the temple that kept stealing the hermit's food and causing trouble for him.
The hermit could not get rid of the mouse no matter what he did. The mouse continued to steal food, even when it was kept in an earthen pot hung from the roof.
Distraught, the sage sought advice from a friend who told him to find the mouse's food reserves and destroy them. After a thorough search of the premises, the sage found the stockpile of the mouse and destroyed it.
With its food gone, the mouse was unable to jump high up to the roof for food. It became weak and caught by the hermit who threw it far away from the temple. The mouse was hurt and never returned to the temple.
Moral of the story:
Strike at the enemy's source of strength to defeat him.
The Hermit and The Mouse by Panchatantra Stories. All Rights Reserved 2020
