once there lived a poor farmer in a village named ramu . His father left him with a small piece of land . He always worked very hard to till the land . But no crops grew out of it. One day , in a hot afternoon , he was sitting in the shade of a mango tree . just then , a mustard and black stripped snake came out of a hole . He was about to kill that snake , suddenly , he noticed the mark on its hood and thought “oh ! This snake seems to be a divine snake . Maybe this farmland will be cropped if I worship snake god .”
He immediately rushed to the home and came back with a bowl of milk .He kept the bowl in front of the snake and shook his head before it .Next morning, he again went to that place to collect the empty bowl . He was surprised to see the gold coin inside the bowl .He shook his head before the snake and said “thank you god for blessing me this way.” He again kept a milk-filled bowl near the hole and next morning he again found a gold coin inside the bowl .This happened everyday and soon he became very rich .He bought a new house, clothes and jewelries. Many servants worked for him .But he never forgot to keep a milk-filled bowl near the hole. After two – three years, he had to left the village to visit a relative.
He called his son named haridutta and said “son every night, you have to keep a milk-filled bowl near the hole in our farmland. And whatever you found in that empty bowl you have to keep it safely till I return.” Yes father, I will do as you say.” The obedient son replied. Ramu left the village. His son did the same as he said. Next morning, he visit that place to collect the empty bowl and he found a gold coin inside. He muttered himself that “this is the secret of my father sudden wealth.”
He kept the coin safely. He again does the same. He again found a gold coin. He thought “this snake is must be having some treasure inside. I will dig it out.” He picked up stout stick and tried to kill the snake. The snake ran away. He tried to make the hole broader to take out the treasure. The snake came back and bit him at many places. He cried out for the help. Some farmers heard his cries but at the time they reach, his body was turned blue. He took his last breath and then, died. When his father returned, he was shocked because of two things. First his son died and the source of his daily gold coins the divine snake never came back.
Priya Gupta,
VI-E
