Once a Brahman got a young calf as
a ceremonial gift. He reared it with great love and care as he would his son.
He named it Nandi
Visala. The calf came of age and
was transformed into a handsome, sturdy and strong bull. One day, Nandi
Visalathought— “My master has reared me with great hardships. There is no other
bull asstrongas me in the entire Jambudweep. I must now repay my master’s debt
by using my strength.”
Therefore, Nandi Visala said to
the Brahman—“Master! Go to some rich man who has a hoard of cattle, and tell him
that your bull is extremely strong, that it can pull a hundred carts. If he
refuses to believe, you may bet him a thousand coins.
The Brahman did as he was told.
He went to a rich man possessing cattle, and asked—“Whose bulls are the strongest
in this town?
The rich man spoke of a few
people’s strong bulls, and added, “But my bulls are even stronger than those.”
The Brahman said, “My bull can
pull a hundred carts together all by itself.”
The rich man said, “Where is such
a bull?”
The Brahman replied, “I have it.
The rich man refused to believe.
He said, “Can you bet?”
I can,” said the Brahman and
staked a thousand coins.
The rich man arranged a hundred carts,
got them loaded with sand, pebbles and stones. He got them tied, one behind
another. The Brahman washed his bull well and branded his forehead with five
fingers. He garlanded it with fresh flowers. Then, he yoked it to the foremost
cart. Finally, the Brahman rode the cart and yelled, “Well, you wicked bull,
go.
Nandi Visala did not like the
words yelled at it. He thought, “The Brahman has called me wicked, he has
insulted me. I will not pull the carts.”
The Brahman tried every bit to
drive the bull, but it would not budge. It stood as firm as a pillar. The rich
man won a thousand coins. The Brahman, being dejected at losing a thousand coins,
left the bull there and went back home alone. Nandi Visala took his own time
reaching his master’s house. He asked the crestfallen Brahman—“Master! What are
you thinking?”
The Brahman said, “The loss of a
thousand coins has robbed me of my sleep.”
#Buddha #Buddhism #Zen #Life #Lifestyle #wisdomwinds
#Buddha #Buddhism #Zen #Life #Lifestyle #wisdomwinds
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