Surabhi Weeps for Her Oppressed Son and Indra Responds

In times long past, Surabhi — the mother of all cows — cried out in heaven. Indra heard her and came. "O fortunate one! Why are you crying like this? Is everything well with the gods, men and cattle? Or is there some misfortune that is more than slight?" Surabhi replied: "O lord of the thirty gods! I do not see any calamity looming before you. O Koushika! I am sorrowing for my son and that is the reason I am weeping." She described what she saw. Her son was small and weak, burdened by the plough. A terrible peasant beat him with a stick. She saw him terribly exhausted and close to death. One of the two oxen yoked to the plough was stronger and bore greater weight. But the other — her son — had little strength, nothing but veins, and bore the burden with great difficulty. He was close to death, repeatedly beaten, unable to bear the load. "Driven by compassion for him, I am sorrowful and extremely miserable. I am weeping and tears of sorrow are flowing from my eyes." Indra asked: "O beautiful one! Thousands of your sons are equally oppressed. Why are you driven by compassion for this one? He is only one among several oppressed." Surabhi answered: "I have thousands of sons everywhere and I look upon them equally. O Shakra! But my compassion is truly greater for the son who is oppressed." Indra was greatly surprised. He became convinced that a son was dearer than one's own life. At that, the chastiser of Paka — Indra himself — suddenly let loose a great shower of rain there and caused an obstruction to the act of ploughing. The peasant could not continue. The calf was relieved.