From his hiding-place he saw
the old woman come up and noticed that the shrine filled with milk
immediately after she had worshipped. He ran after her and caught
her. The old woman begged the king to spare her life, and this he
promised to do if she told the truth. She said, "O King! you ordered
all the milk in Atpat to be brought to Shiva's shrine. But what was
the result? All the calves began lowing and all the children began
crying, because they could get no milk. And all the grown-up people
were so worried by the noise that they did not know what to do. Shiva
was displeased at this, so He would not let the shrine fill. This,
therefore, is what you should do. Let the children and the calves
have their milk. Then take whatever is over to the shrine, and it
will at once fill up to the ceiling." The king let the old woman go,
and had it proclaimed by beat of drum that the townspeople were to
bring to the shrine on the following Monday only the milk remaining
after the children and the calves had been fed. The townspeople were
delighted.
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