by Sachi Sri Kantha; published April 27, 2004
The Stories of Guru Paramarta: Third Story of the Journey made on hired Ox
by Fr.Costanzo Beschi [aka, Veera MaMuni]
Front Note by Sachi Sri Kantha
The third story of Guru Paramarta is less sparkling in comparison to the first two stories. This is because, Guru’s five good-for-nothing disciples do not have scripted roles in the story. Nevertheless, I provide the story for reason of completeness. The Guru and his disciples [say, the contemporary SLFP bigwigs] were on a journey, and since walking won’t take them far, they hired an ox whose horns had been blunted [say, the transformed JVP of 21st century]. The tiff between the Guru and the ox-driver (featured in the story) seems to anticipate the rift in Cabinet-nominations between President Chandrika Kumaratunga and her co-habiting JVP idealogues, following the April 2nd general election. Even with a combined effort, they had lost the election to the Speaker of the parliament on 22nd.
Now to the original Third Story of Guru Paramarta from Fr.Beschi. I have made marginal revision in spelling, repetitive phrases and obsolete words to the 1822 text of Benjamin Babington.
Third Story of the Journey made on hired Ox
After some time, a necessity arose for the Guru and his disciples to travel. As they could not travel far by walking, they agreed to hire an ox whose horns had been blunted. They settled to offer three coins a day as hire fee. Since it was a terribly hot season, sun rays darted directly upon them and they found themselves in an open plain without any shade. While the disciples were jogging along, the old Guru, being unable to endure the unrelenting heat, was in danger of falling off his mount. On perceiving this, his disciples laid hold of him and lifted him off, and as there was no shade nearby, set him under the shadow of the ox. They fanned him with their cloths. After the Guru recuperated for a while and when cool breeze blew again, he re-mounted the ox and traveled gently along, before arriving at the little village.
No sooner had they entered into the small rest house, they paid three coins for the ox driver. He asserted that this was not enough. They were startled a bit; ‘How is this? Isn’t this the daily hire rate that we originally agreed for with you?’ The ox driver objected vociferously; ‘It is true indeed that the hire fee of three coins was for the ox used as a conveyance; but in the middle of the journey, my ox afforded accomodation as an umbrella to the Guru against the heat; shouldn’t I demand a hire for this service too?’ The Guru and his disciples opposed the ox driver’s stance vigorously and raised a great dispute. As the quarrel became louder, all the villagers who were passing to and fro, both men and women, assembled to enjoy the raucous scene. A padaiyachi [a certain caste of cultivators] set himself as the judge and heard the dispute of both sides. He demanded of the quarreling parties whether they would abide by the judgment which he would pronounce. On agreement, he spoke as follows:
‘Once when I was traveling home, put up at a large lodge; besides lodging, they supplied for their guests, for money, everything that might be wanted in the way of food. However as I had only a sum enough for my traveling, I said that I needed nothing. They then fixed a large leg portion of mutton in an iron rod and roasted by turning it over the burning coals. The released savory smell of smoked meat was inducing me to eat the bundle of boiled rice which I had taken with me. I begged permission to be allowed to turn the iron rod and while holding the rice over the smoke, I turned the rod with one hand, while with the other I ate with gratification of the savory meat odor. When I was about to leave the lodge, the keeper demanded payment for the meat odor which I had smelt. I asserted the injustice of his demand, and we were disputing. Then, we went before the village headman, who was a great Sastri. He was extremely clever and much versed in law. Listen to the decision he gave to our dispute. ‘For him who ate the dish, the price is money. But for smelling the odor which was released from the dish, the price is odor of money. This is my decision.’ Thus, he called the lodge keeper near him, and forcing a bag full of money near his nose, the headman chaffed and scrubbed it. The keeper cried out, ‘O dear! O dear! My nose is coming off, I have had sufficient payment.’
Do you hear this? Isn’t this justice? This very decision applies to you. For journeying on the ox, the proper hire is money. For remaining in ox’s shadow, the shadow of hire-money is sufficient.’ The Padaiyachi then thumped and jingled the money bag upon ox-driver’s ear and cried out, ‘Do you hear?’ To which, the ox-driver replied, ‘O yes sir, O yes sir, I have heard it. Its enough, my ear is sore.’
The Guru also said, ‘What I have suffered already is enough. I cannot endure more. Take away the ox. The remainder of the journey, I can gently walk in the morning. So saying, he discharged the ox-driver. Then, greatly complimenting the padaiyachi (itinerant judge) who had settled his quarrel so well, the Guru offered his blessing and took leave from him.
[Source: Benjamin Babington – The Adventures of the Gooroo Paramartan- A Tale in the Tamul Language, accompanied by a translation and vocabulary together with an analysis of the first story, 1999 reprint of the 1822 original published in London by J.M.Richardson, pp.71-74.]