Reading Notes: Nandivishala (Monday)

A zebu in northern India

Photograph by Pavanaja (2014).

Nandi Vishala

1. The brahman begins to not appreciate what the bull has done for him.
2. Remembering past assistance is always an important trait.
3. Without that, one is likely to come into bad circumstances.

The Servant and the Treasure

1. Why would Nanda become arrogant and angry with his former master’s son?
2. Nanda only becomes docile when he loses any chance of the money.
3. Despite his greed, Nanda doesn’t try to take the money for himself.

The Hypocritical Sadhu

1. This is a rather odd story, in that the supposed wiseman engages in deception in order to get money.
2. The zamindar listens to a friend and is rewarded for it.
3. Like Aushadha, the zamindar lets his enemy go with only a moral lesson.

What’s in a Name?

1. I wonder how Lowly was treated or talked about by the other students.
2. It would be interesting to see how Lowly was treated because of his name.
3. A name may be only a way to say who’s who, but do the other students think this?

The Most Virtuous Student

1. This seems like a really roundabout way to teach students not to steal.
2. How would this story have gone if the teacher really did want the students to steal?
3. Trickery isn’t necessarily bad. It’s often used to teach people lessons or to learn the truth.  

Bibliography

Kamla Chandrakant. “Nandivishala.” Amar Chitra Katha, vol. 619