The Tale of the Devoted Old Woman, the King, and the Magical Cow

In a small, sun-drenched village in ancient India, there lived an elderly woman named Sita. She was poor and frail, but her heart was filled with devotion. Every morning, without fail, she would go to the riverbank and worship Surya, the Sun God, offering her sincere prayers and a handful of wildflowers. Her neighbors would often watch her and say, “Why do you worship so ardently, old woman, when you have nothing?”

Sita would smile and reply, “The Sun God fills my life with light and warmth, and that is enough. I ask for nothing more than his blessings.”

### The King’s Greedy Wish

One day, a king happened to pass through the village. He was a wealthy and powerful man, but he was also plagued by greed and discontent. When he heard about Sita’s unwavering devotion to the Sun God, he became curious and approached her.

“Old woman,” the king said, “I hear that you worship the Sun God every day. Has he ever granted you wealth or riches?”

Sita shook her head and replied, “No, Maharaj. I have no wealth, but my heart is content. I find joy in the simple blessings of each day.”

The king laughed at her response, thinking her foolish. “Your devotion is wasted if it does not bring you anything,” he scoffed. But Sita, undeterred, continued her prayers with a humble heart.

### The Gift of the Magical Cow

One evening, after her prayers, Sita noticed a magnificent cow standing by her door. The cow had a glowing aura, and its eyes seemed wise and kind. Sita was astonished, but her heart filled with gratitude, as she felt it was a blessing from the Sun God.

This was no ordinary cow; it was Kamadhenu, the magical cow, known to grant any wish to those in need. Sita cared for Kamadhenu with love and devotion, and in return, Kamadhenu provided her with milk, butter, and all the food she could ever need. The news of this magical cow soon spread, and people came from far and wide to see it.

### The King’s Envy

When the king heard about the magical cow, his heart burned with envy. He could not believe that a poor old woman had received such a rare gift from the gods. Determined to own the cow himself, he marched to Sita’s humble home with his guards.

“Sita,” the king demanded, “this cow belongs to my kingdom, and therefore, it is rightfully mine. Hand it over at once!”

Sita looked at the king and said humbly, “Maharaj, this cow was sent to me as a blessing. She provides me with food, but you have all the riches in the world. Why would you need her?”

But the king, blinded by greed, ordered his guards to seize the cow. Kamadhenu, sensing the king’s intentions, began to cry in distress, her mournful sound echoing through the village. Sita pleaded with the king, but he ignored her.

### The Sun God’s Intervention

Just as the guards reached out to take Kamadhenu, the sky suddenly darkened, and an intense light shone down upon the village. It was Surya, the Sun God, descending in a radiant chariot. His voice thundered across the sky, “O King, you have shown greed and arrogance by attempting to take what was given to a devoted soul. Leave this cow and return to your palace, or face my wrath.”

Terrified, the king fell to his knees and begged for forgiveness. “Great Sun God,” he pleaded, “I have made a grave mistake. I will return to my palace and leave this holy woman in peace.”

Surya turned to Sita, his voice filled with kindness. “You have been unwavering in your devotion, and Kamadhenu is your gift. She will continue to provide for you as long as you need, and your heart will remain blessed with peace and contentment.”

### The Lesson for All

The king, ashamed of his actions, left Sita’s home with a newfound respect for humility and gratitude. From that day on, he ruled with a kinder heart, remembering the lesson he had learned from the old woman’s devotion and contentment. As for Sita, she continued to worship the Sun God, living out her days in peace and happiness, grateful for the simple, yet profound blessings she had received.

### Moral of the Story

The tale of Sita and the magical cow teaches us that true wealth is found in gratitude and devotion, not in material riches. It reminds us that contentment and faith bring blessings beyond measure, while greed and arrogance lead only to regret.