The elephant-headed Ganesha and his brother Kartikeya both wanted the special mango their parents were holding. “Whoever races around the whole world three times and comes back first,” their parents said, “will win it.”
Kartikeya leapt onto his peacock at once and zoomed off to circle the entire earth. But round, gentle Ganesha just looked at his mother and father — and slowly, lovingly, walked three times around the two of them.
“My whole world is right here,” he said, “in my parents.” His mother and father smiled with delight and gave the mango to Ganesha, for he had understood something his speedy brother had missed.