Shrikantha’s mouse, ape and bear

Overview

Shrikantha spends his trading goods to free a mouse, a young ape and a young bear from tormenting children. Later, condemned for theft and cast into the river in a sealed coffer, he is saved by their combined work: the mouse gnaws an air hole, the ape enlarges it and the bear pulls the coffer ashore. They feed him fruit and roots while he is stranded.

After he obtains and then foolishly trades away a wish-granting jewel, they recover it from its new owners. The ape devises a plan to move the guarding cats by having the mouse attack their owner’s hair. During the return, the bear demands praise; the ape answers and drops the jewel from his mouth into a stream. The mouse then invents an approaching army to persuade aquatic inhabitants to bring up stones for a refuge, until a frog delivers the jewel.

The trio’s speech, cooperation and disagreements make them particular helpers within this magical tale. The jewel provides the transformations of place and wealth; the animals are not said to be gods in disguise, and the army is the mouse’s deception. Their unnamed group is kept together rather than treated as three newly named species.

Origins & earliest records

Kalmouk tale cycle as presented by Rachel Harriette Busk

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant tale or frame passages directly read in the 1873 textual witness.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

1. 01

   Sagas from the Far East

   Rachel Harriette Busk, compiler and adapter · 1873

   Tale XIII, The Fortunes of Shrikantha, pp.135–145; notes pp.367–369

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

1. Historical literary adaptationBusk, The Fortunes of Shrikantha, pp.135–145 and notesResearch access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.