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NandiSootra
flustered at all. He returned to his village in his usual composed manner, just before the end of the next dark fortnight he washed his body up to his neck and at the hour of the dusk prepared to leave. He made an umbrella of a perforated metal vessel and sat on the back of a ram. He set out to meet the king on the passage in the middle of the lines made by two wheels of the carts plying on the road. He picked up a lump of sand for presenting to the king.
When he arrived before the king he properly greeted the king and explained him how he had observed the rules laid down by the king while coming to him. After that he offered the lump of sand as a gift to the king. The king asked with surprise - "What is this?"
Rohak said humbly - "Sir! You are the lord of the land; therefore I have brought a piece of land as gift for you."
The king was pleased and he asked Rohak to live with him. The happy villagers returned. During the night the king asked Rohak to sleep near him. During the second quarter of the night the king awoke and asked Rohak - "Are you awake or asleep, Rohak?"
He at once replied - "I am awake, Sir!"
"What are you thinking about?"
"I am thinking how the dung-balls are made in a goat's stomach?"
The king found no reply to Rohak's question. He asked Rohak - "Did you find an answer? How are they made?"
"Sir, in the stomach of a goat there is a unique type of wind called samvartak. The effect of this wind makes its excreta into balls." And Rohak went to sleep.
12. Leaves. During the third quarter of the night the king once again called - "Rohak, are you awake?"
"Yes, I am awake, Sir!"
"What are you thinking about?"
"In Peepal leave which is large, stalk or the pointed edge?"
The king became confused. He asked Rohak -, -"What did you decide?"
"As long as a part of the edge does not dry, both are equal." After giving this reply Rohak went back to sleep.
13. The Squirrel - During the fourth quarter of the night the king once again called --"Rohak, What are you thinking about?"
"Sir, the tail of a squirrel is larger than its body or smaller?"
"What do you think?"
"Sir, both are equal."
14. Five Fathers - The night ended. At dawn the sound of auspicious music woke the king but Rohak was still in deep sleep. He did not awake even when the king called. The king then goaded him with his stick. When Rohak opened his eyes the king asked - "Say Rohak! What are you thinking now?"
"Sir, I was thinking how many fathers you have?"
This loose statement first infuriated the king. But as he had faith in Rohak's wisdom he composed himself and asked - "You tell me, how many fathers I have?" Rohak became serious and said "Sir! You have five fathers." The king uttered with surprise- "What? Tell me how?"
Rohak replied "First is Kuber (the god of wealth) because you are as magnanimous as Kuber. The second is chandal (the keeper of a crematorium) because for your enemies you are as cruel as a chandal. The third is washer-man Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra ~60~ Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
