________________
Nandi Sootra
behind a thick bush. He himself now approached the - advancing couple and pleaded humbly - "Brother, my wife is about to deliver a child. If you could send your wife for some time behind that bush will be much obliged." The man believed Mooldev and sent his wife. The woman was clever. She went behind the bush and returned soon. With a smile she said to Mooldev in a loud voice - "Congratulations! You have got a beautiful son." And the couple went ahead. Pundareek was filled with shame at this biting taunt. Mooldev took him along and procuded ahead.
16. Husbands - Two brothers lived in a village. They had the same wife. She was very clever and never revealed which of the brothers she loved most. The villagers praised her for this quality. In time this news reached the king also. He was also impressed, but his minister said - "Sir, It is impossible. It is for sure that the woman loves one of her husbands more than the other." The king asked - "How to find about this?" The minister said - "I will soon think of some way."
One day the minister send an order to the woman that she should send one of her husbands to a certain village in the east and the other to another village towards west. Getting this order the woman sent the husband she loved more to the village in the west so that while going as well as coming, the sun is on his back and the heat is less oppressive. The one she loved less, she sent to the, eastern village so that he walks facing the sun. The minister informed the king of this but the king was not satisfied.
Once again the minister sent an order to her to send her husbands to two different destinations at the same time. The woman complied the order but this time the minister sent two different messengers to her after a lapse of few hours. They both carried the same message but from different villages - "Your husband is sick and needs your care." The woman at once said about one of her husbands - "This is nothing new, he gets sick now and then. First I should go to see the other one. He must be in pain." And she left to see the husband she loved more. The minister satisfied the king by giving all these details.
17. The Son - There lived a merchant in a town. He had twowives. One had a son and the other was barren. But the two of themtook care of the child with same affection and love. Due to thisuniform behaviour even the child was not aware that which of thembwas his true mother. Once the merchant went out on a foreign tour with his family. Unfortunately he died on the way. After his deaththere was a dispute between the two wives. Saying that the sonbelonged to her, they both claimed the merchants property.
When the differences increased they went to court. The judge ordered to slit the child into two pieces and give each wife one piece. This strange order did not bring out any reaction from one of thewomen, whereas the other broke into tears and said - "No! Not at all! Kindly don't slit the child. This is her son not mine. Please hand over the child to her. Also, give her my share of the wealth. She will need it to take proper care of the growing child. The judge saw this spontaneous flow of affection and care and at once understood that she was the real mother. At no cost a mother could tolerate killing of her son. Accordingly he released the son and the wealth to the real mother and punished the impostor.
(STORIES OF VERSE-3)
1. The Honey-comb - A weaver had an infidel wife. Once when the weaver had gone out of the village on some errand she established illicit relations with Aagam- 44 -NandiSootra
68 Compiled by- Deepratnasagar
hild. The t she wanne rel
