Page:Buddhist Birth Stories, or, Jātaka Tales.djvu/383

Rh give oxen to priests, received the bull. And he called it Nandi Visāla, and grew very fond of it; treating it like a son, and feeding it on gruel and rice.

When the Bodisat grew up, he said to himself, "This Brāhman has brought me up with great care; and there's no other ox in all the continent of India can drag the weight I can. What if I were to let the Brāhman know about my strength, and so in my turn provide sustenance for him!"

And he said one day to the Brāhman, "Do you go now, Brāhman, to some squire rich in cattle, and offer to bet him a thousand that your ox will move a hundred laden carts."

The Brāhman went to a rich farmer, and started a conversation thus:

"Whose bullocks hereabout do you think the strongest?"

"Such and such a man's," said the farmer; and then added, "but of course there are none in the whole countryside to touch my own!"

"I have one ox," said the Brāhman, "who is good to move a hundred carts, loads and all!"

"Tush!" said the squire. "Where in the world is such an ox?"

"Just in my house!" said the Brāhman.

"Then make a bet about it!"

"All right! I bet you a thousand he can."

So the bet was made. And he filled a hundred carts (small waggons made for two bullocks) with sand and gravel and stones, ranged them all in a row, and tied them all firmly together, cross-bar to axle-tree.

Then he bathed Nandi Visāla, gave him a measure of scented rice, hung a garland round his neck, and yoked