Page 12 - Moral Stories Vol 6

The fisherman went back to the river and with some effort caught the magical fish one more time. The fish pleaded again, “Please let me go. I can give you anything you want.” The fisherman let go of the fish and asked for a palace for his wife.
The fish granted him the wish. The fisherman returned home and saw that his wife was dressed like a queen sitting in a beautiful palace. But she was still not happy. She wanted servants now. So she sent the fisherman back to catch the fish one more time and ask for servants.
The fisherman went back to the river, caught the magical fish, and asked for servants in the palace. The fish granted this wish also. The fisherman went back home and found that his wife was still not happy. She said, “I think I need something more. Go back to the magical fish and ask her to give me everything that I deserve.”
The poor fisherman walked back to the river. This time also he caught the same fish. The fish asked, “What does your wife want now?”. He replied that now she wants everything that she deserves.
The fish granted this wish and said that this is the last wish that she would grant. The fisherman walked back home and saw that the palace was gone. His wife was in their old hut as before, wearing the same old clothes. But to his surprise he also noticed
that she was happy.
As he approached, she rushed to him and said, “the fish gave me everything I deserved - happiness and contentment - and took away all that was not necessary to be happy and contented. I realize now that one can be happy with what is available and true happiness
lies in contentment”.
The fisherman felt very happy and thanked the fish.
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