Week 14 Reading Notes: Eastern Stories and Legends by Shedlock Part B
For this assignment I chose to continue reading the Eastern Stories and Legends by Sheldock which can be found here.
1. The Bull That Demanded Fair Treatment
This is a story about a bull who was given to a Brahmin. The Brahmin raised it very well and treated the animal as if it were his son. When the bull was grown and strong, it wanted to do something to repay his owner. So he told the brahmin to bet the neighbor 1000 (whichever currency they used) that he, the bull, could pull 100 carts. The brahmin did so, but when it came time to pull them, he called the bull names. The bull didn't like this so he just sat there. When the bull talked to the master, he explained to him that he had never done anything wrong so he didn't understand why he would call him names. So the bull told him to bet 2000 and he would win it for him as long as he no longer called him names. The brahmin this time called him his beauty and the bull pulled the 100 carts and won the brahmin his money back and then some.
2. The Bull That Proved His Gratitude
This was the story of a bull who was raised by a poor old woman. The bull wanted to do something to make her situation better so he went out and looked for a job. He told a man that he would pull his 500 carts if he agreed to the terms of the deal; 2 pence per cart. The bull pulled the carts and the man gave him the money. When he returned to the old woman, she asked why. He told her that he appreciated all that she had done. They lived happily ever after.
3. The Horse That Held Out to the End
This story tells of a horse that lives in luxury. His eats the best food and lives in the best conditions. It then goes on to tell about how all the kings in the area are jealous of this kingdom's king and they all challenge him to war. The king sends his knight and his horse to do the battles with the seven kings. The knight is successful in taking down the first six kings on his own. After the sixth, the horse suffered a great wound. They were going to suit up another horse, but he told the knight that he didn't want anyone else to go on for the last fight. So the knight agreed to take him. When the battle was done and the seventh king was captured, the horse went to the king and begged that he release the seven kings and go about ruling as he always had. When he agreed, they took the armor off the horse and he passed away.
4. The Monkey That Saved the Herd
In this story, the Buddha was a monkey. He told all his herd that if they were unfamiliar with the area, they needed to ask him before they ate and fruit or drank any water. When they came upon a new lake, the king monkey knew there was an ogre there. The ogre tried to get them to drink the water so that he could eat them. The king monkey said that they would drink the water, but would not be eaten by him. The king monkey commanded that all the cane that grew around the lake should grow hollow. This allowed the monkeys to drink the water through the cane, like straws, and not go in the water. The ogre was mad and went off to pout. Not a single monkey was harmed in the making of the hollow cane.
5. The Mallard That Asked For Too Much
This is a retelling of the golden goose. In this version, a father died and came back as a goose. He gave his wife and three daughters a feather of his and it was gold. He kept coming back to give them more and more feathers to take care of them. And of course, they became greedy and wanted all the feathers at once. When they plucked the feathers however, they all turned white and were useless. The goose was offended and never came back.
6. The Merchant Who Overcame All Obstacles
This story describes the dessert as a hot unyielding place. They merchants who cross it have to do so at night because the sand and the temperatures are too hot. They merchant of the story thought they were almost done with their journey and threw away the things that kept them cool during the day. The navigator fell asleep during their last nights travel and the oxen pulling the carts got turned around and went back further into the dessert. When the navigator woke up in the morning, he was panicked because they did not have the water and oil they needed. The wise merchant (Buddha) told them not to worry. There was a bush near by and he knew that in order for it to grow, there must be a water source somewhere. So he dug down deep and they found water. They lived happily ever after.
7. The Elephant That Was Honored In Old Age
This story is about a great elephant that was the prize elephant of the king. She walked long distances to deliver messages for the king and won many a battle for him. She had great honor in the kingdom. However, when she got old, the king took this honor from her and let her roam around eating grass without protection. The king then commanded she be tethered to a cart and pull it around like she was an ox. The elephant went to the Buddha to beg him to plead her case before the king. The Buddha wen to the king and reminded him of all the great things that the elephant had done for him. Seeing his mistake, the king restored all the honors he had previously bestowed on the elephant.
8. The Faithful Friend
This is the story of the Elephant and the Dog. They become friends and are inseparable. Then one day, the dog is sold to a farmer. The dog is taken away and the elephant becomes sad. The king asks why his elephant is sad and the stable keeper tells the king that the dog was sold. The king orders for the dog to come back. When the dog returns, the elephant is happy again.
1. The Bull That Demanded Fair Treatment
This is a story about a bull who was given to a Brahmin. The Brahmin raised it very well and treated the animal as if it were his son. When the bull was grown and strong, it wanted to do something to repay his owner. So he told the brahmin to bet the neighbor 1000 (whichever currency they used) that he, the bull, could pull 100 carts. The brahmin did so, but when it came time to pull them, he called the bull names. The bull didn't like this so he just sat there. When the bull talked to the master, he explained to him that he had never done anything wrong so he didn't understand why he would call him names. So the bull told him to bet 2000 and he would win it for him as long as he no longer called him names. The brahmin this time called him his beauty and the bull pulled the 100 carts and won the brahmin his money back and then some.
2. The Bull That Proved His Gratitude
This was the story of a bull who was raised by a poor old woman. The bull wanted to do something to make her situation better so he went out and looked for a job. He told a man that he would pull his 500 carts if he agreed to the terms of the deal; 2 pence per cart. The bull pulled the carts and the man gave him the money. When he returned to the old woman, she asked why. He told her that he appreciated all that she had done. They lived happily ever after.
3. The Horse That Held Out to the End
This story tells of a horse that lives in luxury. His eats the best food and lives in the best conditions. It then goes on to tell about how all the kings in the area are jealous of this kingdom's king and they all challenge him to war. The king sends his knight and his horse to do the battles with the seven kings. The knight is successful in taking down the first six kings on his own. After the sixth, the horse suffered a great wound. They were going to suit up another horse, but he told the knight that he didn't want anyone else to go on for the last fight. So the knight agreed to take him. When the battle was done and the seventh king was captured, the horse went to the king and begged that he release the seven kings and go about ruling as he always had. When he agreed, they took the armor off the horse and he passed away.
4. The Monkey That Saved the Herd
In this story, the Buddha was a monkey. He told all his herd that if they were unfamiliar with the area, they needed to ask him before they ate and fruit or drank any water. When they came upon a new lake, the king monkey knew there was an ogre there. The ogre tried to get them to drink the water so that he could eat them. The king monkey said that they would drink the water, but would not be eaten by him. The king monkey commanded that all the cane that grew around the lake should grow hollow. This allowed the monkeys to drink the water through the cane, like straws, and not go in the water. The ogre was mad and went off to pout. Not a single monkey was harmed in the making of the hollow cane.
5. The Mallard That Asked For Too Much
This is a retelling of the golden goose. In this version, a father died and came back as a goose. He gave his wife and three daughters a feather of his and it was gold. He kept coming back to give them more and more feathers to take care of them. And of course, they became greedy and wanted all the feathers at once. When they plucked the feathers however, they all turned white and were useless. The goose was offended and never came back.
6. The Merchant Who Overcame All Obstacles
This story describes the dessert as a hot unyielding place. They merchants who cross it have to do so at night because the sand and the temperatures are too hot. They merchant of the story thought they were almost done with their journey and threw away the things that kept them cool during the day. The navigator fell asleep during their last nights travel and the oxen pulling the carts got turned around and went back further into the dessert. When the navigator woke up in the morning, he was panicked because they did not have the water and oil they needed. The wise merchant (Buddha) told them not to worry. There was a bush near by and he knew that in order for it to grow, there must be a water source somewhere. So he dug down deep and they found water. They lived happily ever after.
7. The Elephant That Was Honored In Old Age
This story is about a great elephant that was the prize elephant of the king. She walked long distances to deliver messages for the king and won many a battle for him. She had great honor in the kingdom. However, when she got old, the king took this honor from her and let her roam around eating grass without protection. The king then commanded she be tethered to a cart and pull it around like she was an ox. The elephant went to the Buddha to beg him to plead her case before the king. The Buddha wen to the king and reminded him of all the great things that the elephant had done for him. Seeing his mistake, the king restored all the honors he had previously bestowed on the elephant.
8. The Faithful Friend
This is the story of the Elephant and the Dog. They become friends and are inseparable. Then one day, the dog is sold to a farmer. The dog is taken away and the elephant becomes sad. The king asks why his elephant is sad and the stable keeper tells the king that the dog was sold. The king orders for the dog to come back. When the dog returns, the elephant is happy again.
Title: Painted Elephant
Source: Flickr
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