Story of Punyakoti - the strength of truth: A folktale from Karnataka Punyakoti was one of the many cows which were returning home after grazing in the idle pastures close by a dense forest. The poor cow got lost and strayed deep into the jungle. Suddenly she found herself at an eating distance from the evil tiger that lived in the forest. Smacking its lips and swishing its tail, the tiger looked hungry and ready to pounce when all of a sudden the mortified cow found her tongue. I have a small calf waiting for me back home. He would be hungry by now and I need to feed him. Will you please let me go home and feed him? I promise to come back after he feeds. The great cat was bemused. Would any prey really come back to be eaten? But Punyakoti persisted. I believe Truth to be my close family. The gods will not be pleased if I go back on my promise. So, no matter what, I shall come back. Please let me go now. Well, the tiger relented and let Punyakoti go her way and here is my first soliloquy-How many of us-evil like the tiger or not- would forego a meal when hungry, with little assurance of finding some more later? It returned back to baby after convincing its promise to the tiger who wanted to kill it and told the baby about the incident. The baby cried “With whom will I stay if you leave? Whose milk will I drink? With whom will I sleep? With whom will I live? Who will take care of me?” The cow requested its group people and said “Oh my mothers and sisters please take care of my orphan baby as your own child. Please don’t pierce your horns at him if he comes in front of you and don’t kick him if he comes behind you.” Then the cow embraced its baby and cried in pain thinking that it’s going to be orphan. Lore has it that Punyakoti does come back to the tiger. Standing before his den she calls out to him-Here I am evil one. Come, partake me. The tiger was touched by her honesty and moved to tears. In great remorse and realization, the tiger asks for forgiveness and jumps off the cliff to death. This story may be just that- a story. But when we try to look beyond the moral of-Truth pays-we get to see that evil is not always dark. It has grey areas that can transform to pure white. While endeavoring to emulate Punyakoti, we must forever try to transform the tiger within us. This story always brought tears to my eyes when the parting between cow and calf was narrated. You may get a different perspective as well. https://youtube/watch?v=UOZNmoWirK4
Posted on: Fri, 22 Aug 2014 05:21:10 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015