bullock answered, "You are suffering for the pollution
with which you darkened our house in a former life, and, because I
let you remain in the house and touched you, I too am suffering, and
I have become a bullock. Only to-day my son fastened me to his plough,
tied up my mouth, and beat me, I too have, like you, had nothing to eat
all day. Thus all my son's memorial services are useless." Now the son
happened to be passing by the stable and heard this conversation. He
at once fetched the bullock some grass and the dog some food, and he
brought them both water to drink; and then he went to bed very sad at
heart. Next morning he got up early and went into a dark forest until
at last he came to the hermitage of a rishi. He prostrated himself
before the rishi, who asked him why he was so sad. The Brahman's son
said, "I am sad because my father has been born again as a bullock
and my mother as a dog. Pray tell me how I can get their release," The
rishi said, "There is only one way to help them. You must worship the
seven sages who have their home in the Great Bear." [20] And he told
the Brahman's son the ceremonies which he should observe, and how he
should worship the seven sages continually every month of Bhadrapad, or
September, for seven years. The Brahman's son obeyed the rishi, and at
the end of the seven years a fiery chariot came down from heaven. The
bullock suddenly became a handsome man, and the dog became a handsome
woman. They both seated themselves in the chariot and were carried off
to live with the sages who have their home for ever in the Great Bear.

CHAPTER XVII

The King and the Water-Goddesses

Once upon a time there was a town called Atpat. Over it there ruled
a king. One day he founded a new village, and close by he built a
village tank. But no matter how hard he tried he could not get it
filled with water. So he prayed to the water-goddesses to help him,
and the water-goddesses were pleased and said, "O King, O King,
sacrifice to us the eldest son of your daughter-in-law, and the
tank will fill with water." The king heard it and went home very
troubled. He was ready to sacrifice his grandson; for though he loved
the boy, yet he knew that the life of one was less than the welfare of
many. But he knew that his daughter-in-law would never agree. At last
he thought of a trick. He went up to her and said, "Daughter-in-law,
it is a long time since you went to see your parents. You had better
go and