How to Lead Home a Cow

Ramballav was in need of a milch cow, as his little granddaughter required milk. Since there were no cows for sale in his village or the surrounding areas, he was obliged to walk a long way to the weekly cattle market.

It was a big market, with hundreds of cows for sale. Ramballav spent hours selecting the one that he believed was the best choice. The cow looked healthy, and she had a handsome calf. By the time Ramballav finished bargaining and concluding the deal, the sun had set, and both buyers and sellers began to disperse. Ramballav hoped to find one or two familiar faces headed in the direction of his village, but unfortunately, nobody from his area had attended the market that day.

He dragged the cow along, but as he proceeded, she became increasingly stubborn, resisting his pull. There came a time when she refused to budge. Ramballav, no longer young, was drenched in sweat and panting as he struggled to pull or push the cow. It was already evening, and he wondered if he could even make it home by midnight. He regretted buying the cow out loud.

“My friend, there is a simple solution to your problem,” said a passerby, a mendicant. Gasps for breath escaped Ramballav as he turned to the mendicant. The mendicant picked up the little calf and held it to his bosom. Instantly, the cow began to follow him. Ramballav was amazed at the cow’s docile behavior. After a few minutes, the mendicant handed the calf back to Ramballav.

With the calf in his arms, Ramballav walked on, and the cow followed him smoothly, mooing occasionally to reassure her calf that she was with it. Thanks to this simple intervention, Ramballav reached home before dark.