The Unyielding Ox: A Tale of Loyalty and Strength

In a small village nestled between rolling hills and a winding river, there lived an ox with a heart of gold. This was no ordinary ox, for he was the Bodhisatta, a being destined for greatness in a future life. The Bodhisatta’s owner was a poor, elderly woman who treated him with the kindness and care of a mother. She fed him the finest rice and ensured he lacked nothing, despite her own meager means.Driven by a desire to help his beloved owner, the Bodhisatta would often venture out in search of work. One day, a grand caravan with five hundred oxcarts passed through the village, but their journey was halted by a treacherous river ford. The oxen, despite their collective strength, could not pull the carts across the turbulent waters. The merchant in charge, desperate for a solution, hooked all five hundred oxen together, yet still they failed to move even a single cart.As the merchant searched for additional help, his eyes fell upon the Bodhisatta. Confident in the ox’s strength, he sought out the elderly woman to gain permission to use her ox. However, the herdsmen, unaware of the woman’s whereabouts, advised the merchant to proceed without her consent.The merchant approached the Bodhisatta, placing a rope through his nose to lead him to the river. But the ox stood firm, refusing to budge. The merchant understood that the Bodhisatta was not one to be coerced and offered him a deal: two coins for each cart he pulled across the river. The Bodhisatta, with a silent nod, accepted the challenge.With unparalleled strength, the Bodhisatta pulled each of the five hundred carts across the river, one by one. As the task was completed, the merchant tied a sack containing five hundred coins around the Bodhisatta’s neck and prepared to depart. However, the ox once again stood his ground, blocking the road and halting the entire caravan.The merchant, realizing his mistake, added the additional five hundred coins he had promised. Only then did the Bodhisatta relent, walking back home with his reward. Upon his return, his owner, who had been informed of his heroic deeds by the herdsmen, welcomed him with open arms. She fed him a feast, bathed him in warm waters, and rubbed him with soothing oil.In a later life, when the Buddha heard his disciples marveling at his miraculous abilities, he shared this tale to illustrate that his extraordinary capabilities were not new, but a continuation of his unwavering dedication and strength from past lives. The elderly woman, it was revealed, was an earlier incarnation of Uppalavanna, one of the Buddha’s most devoted female disciples.

Moral

The story of the unyielding ox teaches us the importance of loyalty, strength, and integrity. Even in the face of adversity, standing firm by one’s principles and ensuring fairness and justice can lead to great rewards, not just for oneself, but also for those we care about. The Bodhisatta’s unwavering commitment to his owner and his own values is a powerful reminder of the enduring power of righteousness and compassion.