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NandiSootra
The farmer was pleased. He at once went to a shop and purchased a laddu. Coming back to the place where the rogue was waiting with the witnesses, he placed the laddu outside the city gate. He himself walked and stood on the other side of the gate. Now he gestured with his hand beckoned the laddu - "O laddu! Come on! Enter this gate."
After repeatedly shouting and gesturing for some time when the laddu did not move from where it was placed, the farmer approached the rogue and said - "Here is your laddu brother. I told you that I will give a laddu that does not come through this gate. This is one such obstinate laddu. Now I have fulfilled my commitment." The rogue was stunned. The witnesses also accepted the farmer's argument.
3. The Tree Some wayfarers stopped under a dense mango tree to rest. When they looked up they saw that it was loaded with ripe mangoes and some monkeys were leaping around playfully. The ripe mangoes made their mouths water. The height of the tree and the fear of monkeys were the impediments that made them stop and think. Each one of them started applying his brain. Suddenly one of them had a brain wave. He picked up a few stones and one by one started throwing them at the monkeys. As the monkeys are hyperactive and born mimics they started mimicking the action of throwing stones by plucking mangoes and throwing them at the wayfarers. The travellers had their fill and resumed their journey.
4. The Finger-ring The city of Rajagriha was once under the rule of king Prasenjit. He had won over his enemies with his courage and valour. He had also won over the hearts of the masses with his love for justice. He had a number of sons but one of them, Shrenik, was his favourite. Prince Shrenik was endowed with an attractive personality, astonishing wisdom, and all other princely virtues. Due to the apprehension that his son could be murdered out of jealousy the king refrained from expressing his affection for Shrenik. This was a source of pain for Shrenik's young heart. Distressed by the absence of due affection and honour from his father's side, one day Shrenik decided to abscond from the palace. Making necessary plan he one day eloped from the palace to go on a journey to far away lands.
While on his journey he reached one day a city named Vennatat and sat down at the shop of a merchant to take rest. Due to bad luck this merchant had lost all his wealth and grandeur and was somehow passing this lean period. It appeared as if this coincidence of Shrenik's sitting at his shop turned the tide of his fate. Soon his old stocks were selling at high prices and at the same time he was able to close a deal of purchasing high priced gems from foreign merchants at a bargain price. This unusual incident made him think "I have made unprecedented profits today. It appears that the presence of this scintillating young man has certainly played a fateful role. He is, for sure, some great and pious soul."
He also recalled the dream he had seen last night. He had dreamt that his daughter was getting married to a Ratnakar (source of gems, a sea). The merchant thought "He who imparts so much of profit just by his presence should be a Ratnakar." Curiosity guided him to ask Shrenik - "Whose guest are you in this town?" Shrenik replied humbly and softly- "Sir, I am your guest only." The expression of this affinity won the heart of the merchant. He affectionately took Shrenik to his residence.
Offering him rich food with due honour, the merchant requested him to stay at his residence. Thinking that, after all, he will have to find some place to stay, Shrenik accepted the invitation. As luck would have it, the merchant's prosperity and prestige Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra ~62~ Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
