Lord Ram was building a bridge to rescue his wife Sita from the demon king Ravana. Thousands of monkeys and bears worked together, carrying huge rocks and stones to make the bridge across the sea.
The monkeys lifted giant boulders and threw them into the water. The bears carried massive trees. Everyone was working hard to help Ram rescue Sita.

A small squirrel watched the big animals working. "I want to help too!" he thought. But he was so tiny compared to the monkeys and bears.
The little squirrel began collecting small pebbles and shells. He would run to the bridge, roll in the sand, and then shake himself off, leaving tiny grains of sand to help fill the gaps between the big rocks.

The big monkeys laughed at the squirrel. "What difference can you make?" they mocked. But Ram saw what was happening. He noticed the tiny squirrel's hard work and big heart.
Ram gently picked up the little squirrel and stroked his back. "Every effort counts," he said. "No help is too small when it comes from the heart."
The stripes on the squirrel's back, they say, came from Ram's loving touch that day. Ram showed everyone that even the smallest creature can make a big difference when they try their best.