Sathyam Sivam Sundaram - Part I

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sometimes he was as weak as a lotus-stalk. He argued with adults on the

correctness of their conduct and behavior and put them to shame when he proved

them wrong. One friend of the family advised that the boy should be

taken to a village a few miles away where a clever "doctor" cured exactly such

types of cases by giving some green leaves as a drug. The

bullocks were brought and the cart made ready. Sathya was lifted onto it and

the bells started jangling along the fair-weather track. About half

an hour later, Sathya seemed to realize that he was being taken somewhere. He

said emphatically, "I do not want to go anywhere; let us go back." Upon saying

this, the bullocks came to a halt and could not be persuaded to take a single

step forward in spite

of the most vigorous tail-twisting. The struggle went on for over an hour, but

they refused to budge! Finally their faces were turned home-ward, and

immediately the bells jingled merrily once again. Sri

Krishnamacharya, a lawyer and friend from Penukonda, heard of these occurrences

in the Raju household and came to the village to study the situation and offer

what help he could. He took a good look at Sathya and pondered long, alone on

the river bank. Then he told Venkapa Raju, "It is really more serious than I

thought. Take him immediately to the Narasimha Temple, the shrine of 'God as

Lion-Man'; that is the last chance." Sathya heard his words and,

suddenly turning to him, said, "Funny, is it not? I am already

there in that temple and you want to take me to me!" The lawyer had no

inclination to cross-examine. The Serpent Hill (To be continued..) SaiRam