Once, a poor man was wandering through a forest in search of wild fruits and berries when he came across a pig struggling to escape the jaws of a tiger. Without hesitation, he chased the tiger away and saved the frightened animal.
Deeply grateful, the pig said, “You have saved my life today, and I must repay your kindness. Come with me.”
The pig led the man to a hidden cave and returned carrying a small ring. Handing it over, he said, “Tie this ring to the roof of your home, and good fortune will never leave you.”
The man thanked the pig and did exactly as he had been instructed. From that day onwards, prosperity entered his humble home. His wife, along with their faithful dog and cat, enjoyed a life free from hardship.
One day, however, a thief noticed the mysterious ring and secretly stole it from the roof. Almost immediately, the family’s good fortune disappeared. Crops failed, food became scarce, and the house returned to poverty. The dog looked at the cat anxiously and asked, “What has happened to our luck? How can we help?” The cat remembered seeing a ring tied to the roof and realised it had vanished. “If we can find the ring,” she said, “perhaps our fortunes will return.”
Determined to help their family, the cat and dog set off together. They searched through their village and neighbouring settlements, crossing a small stream on their journey.
Eventually they arrived at a grand new house. Something about it seemed suspicious. Beside the house, rats were celebrating an elaborate wedding, despite it being a season when such celebrations were unusual. The sudden wealth of the household convinced the two companions that they had found the thief.
Wondering how to recover the ring, the clever cat devised a plan. She quietly captured the rat bridegroom. Alarmed, the wedding guests pleaded, “Please spare him! Do not harm our groom.”
The dog assured them, “We have no wish to hurt him. We only ask for one favour. A magical ring is tied to the roof of the rich man’s house. Bring it to us, and your groom will be released unharmed.”
The rats hurried to the rooftop, untied the ring, and returned with it. True to their promise, the cat immediately released the groom, allowing the wedding festivities to continue.
With the precious ring safely in the dog’s mouth, the two friends began the journey home. Before long, dark clouds gathered and heavy rain poured down. The gentle stream they had crossed earlier had swollen into a rushing torrent. They had no option but to cross it.
The cat leapt into the water first, followed closely by the dog. As they struggled against the strong current, the ring slipped from the dog’s mouth and disappeared beneath the swirling water.
Reaching the opposite bank, they wondered how they could ever recover it.
As the rain eased, they noticed another celebration nearby—a wedding among the river frogs, a familiar sight during the monsoon. Once again, the cat seized the bridegroom. The frogs cried out, “Please let him go! We beg you not to hurt him.”
The dog replied gently, “Your groom will be safe if you help us retrieve the ring that has fallen into the stream.”
The frogs immediately dived beneath the water. Before long they resurfaced with the missing ring. The dog gratefully took it, and the groom was released to continue his wedding celebrations.
This time the journey home passed without further mishap. On reaching the house, the cat climbed onto the roof and tied the ring back in its rightful place. As soon as it was restored, prosperity returned to the household. The grateful couple welcomed their faithful companions home, rejoicing in the courage and loyalty of their pets.
Prosperity, as the tale reminds us, flourishes when humans live with gratitude, compassion and respect for all living beings. It is crucial that we care for the more than human world.
Source: Adapted from the folktale The Magic Ring, documented by Prof. Pradip Prabhu, former Dean, School of Rural Development, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), as published by RoundGlass Sustain.