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NandiSootra
instrumental in depleting of the powers of the teacher. Such leech-like listeners are unworthy.
10. Cat - Habitually a cat spills milk, curd, or other eatables in dirt and then laps it up. Listeners having such attitude never get lessons directly from the guru. They either listen from others or read inauthentic literature and absorb right and wrong both. Such listeners are unworthy.
11. Rat - A creature of this species approaches a pot filled with milk or curd and carefully laps up only a little at a time. It also consumes the small quantities sticking on the outer walls of the pot. This way it collects what it requires and does not spoil the whole lot. A listener having such attitude collects knowledge according to his need and capacity. He approaches the guru again to remove doubts or to consolidate what he has learned. He avoids monopolizing the guru. He is a worthy.
12. Cow - There is an incident related to cow. It explains the qualities of a listener. A merchant donated a mature cow to four Brahmans who were to share the milk it produced. The Brahmans decided that by turn each one of them will milk the cow one day. All the four Brahmans were utterly selfish. Each one of them thought that he should only milk the cow; the other three must certainly be feeding it. This way all of them continued to milk the cow. In absence of feed, the cow died of starvation after a few days. The Brahmans did not feel sorry as it was a cow they got in donation. They were also not worried about any criticism. In the same way, a listener who neither arranges for food for the guru nor serves the guru in any other way and only tries to extract scriptural knowledge is unworthy.
13. Trumpet - This too is an incident given as an example - Once while praising Vasudev Shri Krishna, Saudharmendra, in his assembly of gods, mentioned two of his qualities - appreciation of virtues and maintaining his prestige. A god from the assembly descended to earth for the purpose of testing Shri Krishna. He transformed himself into a sick and scrawny dog and lied down on the path on which Shri Krishna was to pass. After some time, on his way to behold Bhagavan Arishtanemi, Shri Krishna arrived near that spot. The obnoxious stink emanating from the sick dog entered his nostrils. The stink was so acute that some of the guards accompanying Shri Krishna changed their path and the others covered their nostrils with their handkerchiefs. But Shri Krishna knew the nature of the earthly body and the changes it under went; without even a trace of aversion he passed from near the sick dog and commented - "See there, how beautiful are the clean and brilliantly white teeth in the background of the black body of the dog. As if a pearl necklace is lying in a vessel made of black stone." This comment revealed before the god Shri Krishna's acute sense of appreciation of virtues. He was filled with a feeling of respect for Shrikrishna.
The god disappeared from there and reached Shri Krishna's stable. He eloped with one of the best horses. The guards followed him but invain. At last Shri Krishna himself went to recover the horse. When he caught up, the thief said - "In order to recover your horse you will have to fight with me." Shri Krishna said - "There are numerous types of duels - wrestling, boxing, fencing, etc. Which one you want?" The god replied - "I want a back-duel. We will fight with our backs." Shri Krishna said - "It is against my prestige to enter into such a lowly and hateful duel. At no cost | would stoop so low. You may take away the horse."
On hearing this god appeared in his natural form before Shri Krishna and bowing at his feet he explained how he had come to test Shri Krishna. After this he Aagam-44 - Nandi Sootra
23 - Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
