Little Ramayana: The squirrel who helped build the bridge

Told in English, Telugu.

Long, long ago, there lived a kind prince named Rama. Rama was gentle and brave, and everyone loved him very much.

Rama's dear wife Sita was far, far away, on an island called Lanka. Rama wanted to bring her home. But between Rama and Lanka there was a big, wide sea. The waves went splash, splash, splash, all day long.

"How will we cross the sea?" asked Rama's brother Lakshmana.

Hanuman and all the monkeys and bears had an idea. "Let us build a bridge! A bridge of stones, all the way across the sea!"

So everyone began to work. Big monkeys carried big rocks. Strong bears rolled heavy stones. They wrote Rama's name on every stone, and do you know what happened? The stones floated on the water, just like little boats! Thud, thud, thud went the stones, one beside the other.

Near the shore, under a coconut tree, lived a tiny squirrel. She watched the monkeys and bears working so hard. "I want to help Rama too," she said. "But I am so small. I cannot lift even one rock."

The little squirrel thought and thought. Then she smiled. "I cannot carry big stones. But I can carry little sand!"

So she ran down to the sea. She dipped herself in the water. She rolled in the soft sand until her fur was full of it. Then she ran up to the bridge and shook, shook, shook. The sand fell into the little gaps between the big stones.

Dip in the water, roll in the sand, shake, shake, shake for Rama!

Again and again she went. Down to the sea, and back to the bridge.

Dip in the water, roll in the sand, shake, shake, shake for Rama!

A big monkey saw her and laughed. "Little one, move aside! What can a few bits of sand do?"

The squirrel did not cry. She did not stop. She said softly, "The big stones make the bridge strong. My little sand fills the little gaps. I am helping in my own way." And off she ran again.

Dip in the water, roll in the sand, shake, shake, shake for Rama!

Rama saw everything. He walked over and gently picked up the tiny squirrel in his hand. She was tired and sandy, and her little heart went thump, thump, thump.

Rama said to all the monkeys and bears, "Please do not laugh at my little friend. Big stones are important. And little grains of sand are important too. When we help with a loving heart, every help is a big help."

Then Rama stroked the squirrel's back with his fingers, softly, softly, one, two, three. And where Rama's fingers touched, three lovely stripes appeared on her fur.

The squirrel was so happy! She ran back to work, faster than ever. Soon the bridge was finished, all the way across the sea, and Rama went over it to bring Sita home.

And now, when you see a squirrel running up the mango tree in your garden, look at her back. Can you see the three stripes? That is Rama's thank-you, kept safe for all these years.

Shall we say it together one more time? Dip in the water, roll in the sand, shake, shake, shake for Rama!

Now close your eyes, little one. Even small hands can do big, kind things. Goodnight.