The Lantern Keeper

Story

In a small village, in the valley of a mountain, lived an old woman named Vani. She was famous for her mysterious, magical lantern. She was known as the "Lantern Keeper" because she carried a beautiful lantern that never went out. It was said that the lantern shone brighter whenever someone spoke the truth or did something good.

One evening, a group of children gathered around Vani’s small hut. They saw a soft glow from the lantern outside. Amongst the children was Meera, a thoughtful little girl.

She asked, "Grandma, why is your lantern always glowing? Is it magical?"

Vani smiled and said, "Yes, my child, it is magical. But its magic comes from something very special—your actions! The lantern glows when someone follows three simple rules: सत्यं वद (Speak the truth), धर्मं चर (Do what is right), and स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः (Never stop learning)."

The children’s eyes widened in wonder.

"Can we make it glow brighter?" Meera asked eagerly.

Vani nodded. "Yes, but you must earn its light. Let’s begin with सत्यं वद. Meera, can you share something true, even if it’s hard to say?"

Meera hesitated, then confessed, "Yesterday, I blamed my friend for something wrong I did. I feel bad about it."

The lantern flickered and began to glow a little brighter.

Vani said gently, "The Truth is powerful, even when it’s hard to share. What will you do next, Meera?"

"I’ll apologize to my friend and make it right," Meera said firmly.

The lantern brightened even more. Vani said, "That is धर्मं चर—choosing to do the right thing."

Another boy, Rohan, stepped forward and asked, "What about the last one, Grandma? How can we make the lantern glow even brighter?"

Vani handed him a book. "This is where स्वाध्यायान्मा प्रमदः comes in. Learning is like giving your brain a yummy snack—it helps you grow smart and strong! Read a few lines aloud."

Rohan began reading, stumbling at first but gaining confidence as he went on. The magical lantern glowed so brightly that it lit up the entire room. The children clapped and cheered.

"The lantern is so bright now!" Meera exclaimed.

The children were amazed.

Meera said, "Grandma, we understand now! If we speak the truth, do what’s right, and keep learning, we can keep the lantern shining forever."

Grandma smiled warmly, "That’s the secret. Remember, children, the lantern’s magic is not just in this light—it’s in you. This lantern is like your heart. When you live by these three teachings, your inner light will always shine bright, just like this."

From that day on, the children of the village made a promise to live by the teachings of the Lantern Keeper. And indeed, their village became the brightest and happiest place in the mountains.

The real magic lies within us—when we are truthful, perform our duty, and keep learning, we can light up our own lives and inspire others too.