Long ago, when King Brahmadatta ruled the magnificent city of Varanasi, the Bodhisatta was born into a noble family of merchants. Upon reaching adulthood, he was appointed to the high office of the state merchant and was bestowed with the title Cullasetthi. He was exceptionally wise and possessed a sharp intellect. Moreover, he had the rare ability to read the positions of the stars and planets to foresee the future.
The Astrologer’s Prophecy
One day, while the Bodhisatta was on his way to the royal palace to visit the king, he spotted a dead mouse lying on the street. Observing the alignment of the stars at that exact moment, he declared aloud, “If a capable young man of good birth were to pick up this dead mouse, he could build a fortune and achieve great success in business.”
At that very moment, a young man from a respectable family, who had fallen into extreme poverty, was walking down the same path. Overhearing the Bodhisatta’s words, he thought to himself, “This great man does not speak without reason. Since he has said it, I shall take this dead mouse and see if my luck changes.” With hope in his heart, he picked up the mouse.
A Humble Beginning
Nearby, a shopkeeper was desperately looking for food for his pet cat. He gladly bought the dead mouse from the young man for a single copper coin. With that penny, the young man bought some sweet molasses and filled a pitcher with cool water. He then went and sat by the road where the flower gatherers returned from the forest.
When the exhausted flower gatherers sat down to rest, the young man kindly offered each of them a bit of molasses and a refreshing cup of water. Immensely grateful, each gatherer gave him a handful of flowers. The young man sold these flowers, bought more molasses, and repeated his kindness the next day in the flower market. Pleased by his generosity, the gatherers rewarded him with several blooming flower plants. By selling the flowers and plants, he accumulated eight silver coins within just four days.
Turning Debris into Gold
Soon after, a severe rainstorm battered the city. The fierce winds broke many dry and green branches in the royal gardens. The royal gardener was overwhelmed and unable to clear the massive debris alone. The young man approached him and said, “If you give me this wood for free, I will clear the entire garden for you.” The gardener happily agreed.
The clever young man then gathered the children of the neighborhood, offered them some molasses, and said, “Come with me, let’s clean the garden!” Delighted, the children helped him drag all the broken branches out and piled them up by the road. Just then, the royal potter, who was in urgent need of fuel to bake his clay pots, saw the pile of wood. He bought the entire heap from the young man for sixteen silver coins and a set of new pots.
Expanding the Enterprise
Now possessing twenty-four coins, the young man sought new opportunities. There were five hundred grass-cutters in Varanasi who went to the fields every day. The young man set up a resting spot outside the city and began serving them cool water when they returned thirsty. Touched by his service, the grass-cutters asked, “Brother, you have done so much for us. Tell us, what can we do for you?” “Do not worry about it now,” he replied with a smile. “I will let you know when the time comes.”
Around this time, he befriended a land merchant and a sea merchant. One day, the land merchant informed him that a horse dealer would be arriving in the city the next day with five hundred horses. Hearing this, the young man immediately went to the grass-cutters and said, “My friends, tomorrow, each of you must give me one bundle of grass. Furthermore, none of you shall sell your grass until mine is sold.” The grass-cutters happily obliged. The next day, unable to find fodder anywhere else in the city, the horse dealer was forced to buy the five hundred bundles of grass from the young man for a thousand silver coins.
The Masterstroke of Trade
A few days later, his friend, the sea merchant, brought news that a large merchant ship was arriving at the port. The young man quickly devised a master plan. He rented a fine carriage, rode to the harbor, and met the ship’s captain. Using his signet ring, he paid a deposit to secure the entire cargo of the ship in advance.
He then pitched a lavish tent at the port and stationed a few attendants outside. He instructed them, “If any merchant comes to see me, usher them in with an escort of three guards at a time.”
Meanwhile, hearing of the ship’s arrival, about a hundred merchants rushed to the port to buy goods. To their dismay, they learned that a single great merchant had already secured the entire cargo. Seeking him out, they arrived at the young man’s grand tent. Seeing the lavish setup and the disciplined guards, they assumed he was a merchant of boundless wealth. One by one, they met with him and agreed to pay him a premium of one thousand coins each just for a share of the cargo. Finally, they paid him another hundred thousand coins to buy out his personal share. Having earned a staggering two hundred thousand coins, the young man returned to Varanasi.
The Reward of Wisdom
Realizing that he had amassed this immense wealth solely by following the Bodhisatta’s advice, the young man took a hundred thousand coins and presented them to the Bodhisatta as a token of deep gratitude.
Astonished, the Bodhisatta asked, “How did you acquire such vast wealth?” The young man narrated the entire tale, explaining how he turned a dead mouse into a massive fortune in just four months.
Recognizing the young man’s extraordinary intelligence and capability, the Bodhisatta thought it wise to keep such wealth and talent within his own family. Since the Bodhisatta had no sons, he gave his beautiful daughter’s hand in marriage to the young man. Thus, the brilliant youth inherited all the Bodhisatta’s estates, and upon his passing, succeeded him as the Chief Merchant of Varanasi.
Moral of the Story: A wise, energetic, and resourceful person can build immense wealth and achieve great success from even the most insignificant beginnings.