How the Ox Became Man’s Servant

Long ago, when man started to live on earth, people were very foolish. They did not know how to live properly. They made huge quantities of rice and other food that was often wasted.
The Deity who was watching over them saw this and was deeply disturbed by their wasteful behaviour. He called the wise ox and told him to go as his messenger and teach mankind.
“Tell them if they waste food, they will have problems when there are more people on earth and there will be no food for them,” said the Deity.
The ox went away to carry out the instructions, but he was troubled by flies and insects all the way. They swarmed around him and stung him and sucked his blood.
A crow came and sat on his back and pecked at the insects. This relieved the ox so much that he thanked the crow and they began to talk. The crow asked him who he was and where he was going.

The ox told him about the Deity’s blessings and the message that he was carrying. He had to tell mankind not to waste food. This made the crow think very hard. The crow would starve if mankind did not throw away food that it lived on!
“Dear Ox,” said the crow, “I have been taking away all the insects that troubled you. You cannot repay me with such unkindness! If you give this message to man, all birds will be left to starve. So, please give the Deity’s blessings but tell them to make lots of rice and leave it for crows and all other birds.”
The ox felt that the crow was right. He couldn’t be so ungrateful. So, he went to man and gave him the Deity’s blessings, but he did not instruct him not to waste food.

Then he returned to the Deity. Nearing the abode of the Deity, the frightened ox thought, ‘The Deity will be angry with me; I’m sure. I had better confess!’ The Deity was very angry indeed!
The Deity hit the ox on the mouth and all its upper teeth fell out. Then it struck a blow behind his ribs, which made a great hollow there. He drove the ox away and told him to live wherever he liked.
The ox had nowhere to go. So, he returned to man and offered to become his servant if he gave the ox some food and shelter. Since then the ox has been man’s servant!

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