Here is the audio version of the story in tamil…
Godavari’s Life
In a village, there lived a woman named Godavari. Her life was full of sorrow as she lived in solitude. To support her living, she bought cows and sold the milk they produced. Over time, the number of cows increased. Godavari had a habit of always speaking kindly to the cows, petting them, and showing them love. She spoke positively to them, creating a positive atmosphere in the area. She kept the cowshed clean at all times.
Cows Raised with Love
As the number of cows increased, Godavari couldn’t manage alone, so she hired two people. Their job was to take the cows to the pasture in the forest after milking them in the morning and bring them back before the evening milking. This routine continued for some time. One day, after taking the cows to the pasture, the two herders climbed a tree and sat on a branch, watching the cows graze together. However, one cow strayed a bit and grazed alone. At that moment, the herders saw a lion approaching with a roar. They quickly jumped down from the tree and started driving the cows back.
The Lone Cow in Danger
The other cows noticed the lone cow and realized it wasn’t coming with them. They called out to it, but it didn’t respond as it was engrossed in grazing. Realizing the danger, the herders quickly drove the rest of the cows back home.
The Cow’s Plea to the Lion
After grazing for a while, the lone cow noticed a lion standing in front of it. The cow was terrified and realized there was no one else around. As the lion approached, the cow pleaded with it, saying, “Please don’t eat me. I just gave birth to a calf a month ago. Let me go back home to feed my calf and tell it a few things. I promise to come back.” The lion laughed, and the cow insisted, “I promise I’ll come back. My owner has raised me with honesty and love. I will definitely return to satisfy your hunger.” The lion, amused, told the cow to return by evening or face dire consequences. The cow quickly agreed and ran home.
The Cow Advises Its Calf
Meanwhile, the calf was crying as all the cows had returned except for its mother. Hearing its mother’s bell, the calf jumped with joy. The cow fed its calf while the other cows celebrated. The owner, relieved, patted the cow and said, “You’re lucky to have escaped.” The cow replied, “I must go back. I promised to return after feeding my calf and giving it some advice.” While feeding the calf, the cow advised it not to graze alone and to always stay with the herd. It also told the calf to share water with other cows and not to compete aggressively while grazing.
The calf asked, “Why are you telling me all this?” The cow replied, “My time has come to leave. You must live with the others as your new family.” The calf cried, and the cow said its goodbyes before heading back.
The Lion’s Change of Heart
The lion was waiting for the cow, and when it saw the cow returning, it was surprised. The cow apologized for the delay, explaining that it had fed its calf and given it some advice before coming. The lion, without saying a word, stood there. The cow asked for forgiveness and wondered why the lion wasn’t attacking it. The lion explained, “When I saw you, I forgot my nature. Your words changed my mind about eating you. You should live happily with your calf. I don’t want the sin of separating you from your calf.” The lion circled the cow three times and then ran back into the forest. The cow, amazed, returned home quickly and lived happily with its calf, its herd, and its owner.
In this story, the place was filled with positive vibrations due to the good karma of Chandiran, the owner. The monk who narrated this story emphasized that the positive vibrations in the area created by the owner’s good deeds brought peace. He concluded by saying that if animals can show such virtue, humans with six senses can live with kindness, compassion, and gratitude, bringing peace and happiness. In places filled with the good karma of Chandiran, there will always be peace. The monk finished the story by wishing everyone well-being.