ABSTRACT
IN long-past times, there lived in a certain hill-town a householder, who possessed an ox marked with signs. Sramanas, Brahmans, kinsmen, the poor, the helpless, the needy, and the sick provided it with sustenance, and it could wander about at its pleasure. One day, as it was roaming about, it got into a certain swamp. Towards sunset came the householder, who had heard of this, and was looking for it. As he could not get it out at the moment, he determined to do so next morning. But the ox said, “ Fling me a noose, and then go away. If a jackal comes, I will pick up the noose with my horns and throw it over him. The householder flung a noose in front of the ox and went away.
