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One day Dhanadéva's followers fold him "O worthy man! Why do you neglect our imporiant business for the sake a lower animal like a bullock ? Do you not realize that merchants are hard-pressed, grocery is being damaged, many days are wasted, and the rainy season is drawing near. Dhanadeva sald:
Whatever you say is perfectly true, but I cannot abandon this poor creature who is very faithful like an excellent friend." They replied:- "You know what is proper now." Although Dhanadeva was perfectly unwilling to desert the bullock abruptly, he invited leading citizens of the village of Vardhamānapur, and having seated them on comfortable seats and having rendered hospitality to them with betel leaves and other articles, be told them affectionately in the presence of the bullock-"This excellent bullock of mine, has been place in such a miserable condition. Please accept this sum of one hundered gold coins for medical treatment, fodder, water, nursing etc of my bullock and take proper care for his comforts." I am entrusting you a valuable treasure of mine, so do him no harm. Having entrusted the bullock to the care of village citizens, and having affectionately placed fodder and water near the bullock Dhanadéva went to his much desired place with a sorrowful beart.
Becoming greatly bewildered with terrible agonies, and burning on the ground heated by the summer warmth of the scorching Sun of the month of Jyéştha (May-June), the invalid bullock began to pass his days miserably emitting unpleasant piteous cries. The fodder was caten away by other animals. Becoming greatly afflicted by disease and suffering from pangs of hunger and thirst by remaining without fodder and water, the poor bullock began to look around and thought people passing by with fodder or water as if they really brought these articles especially for him, but when such people were getting themselves engaged in some other work leaving him alone, he became greatly disappointed. This state of affairs happened almost every day.
Gradually, on becoming a skeleton with bones and skin only, the bullock thought:-Ah! the people of this village are
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