Obedience and Courage

ARUNI UDDALAKA

His obedience and courage knew no bounds

Once , while a class was in progress at the hermitage of sage Ayodadhoumya-the sky was suddenly overcast with dark,ominous storm-clouds.When the deluge began,the sage's first thoughts were of his field.He feared that the crops would be washed off should the protecting mud-wall crumble away.
When he voiced his alarm,one of the boys immediately rushed off to look after his own hut whose roof ,he said, was full of holes.Another lad hurried off to repair the rear portion of his hut.A third pupil ran to retrive his clothes lying outside his home.In this way ,everyone exceptAruni Uddalaka found an excuse to leave.Going to his guru,Aruni Uddalaka asked permission to insspect and repair the mud-wall in his teacher's field.The sage,greatly pleased,implored him to do his best-for if the crops were damaged,everyone in the hermitage would starve.
Drenched to the skin ,Aruni sped to the field and discovered a breach in the mud -wall.The water ,pouring in through the gap,was beginning to wash away the crops .Immediately Aruni tried to fill the gap with lumps of clay-to no avail.The clay melted-the breach grew wider.Then without the slightest hesitation,the boy flung himself against the wall covering the breach with his own body.The rains lashed,the thunder rumbled and roared but the dangerous flooding of the field ceased.
Next morning when the boys gathered in class,the sage noticed Aruni's absence.Ignoring,the pupils' suggestion that the lad had overslept,the sage went in search of him.His fears increased when the boy did not answer his loud calls.Filled with anxiety,he ventured into his own field.There he found the unconscious boy,lying stiff and still.His body,icy -cold,still formed a barrier against the breach.

Tears streaming down his eyes,he carried the child home.Covered with blankets ,showered with warmth of loving care,the boy revived.His master BLESSED him anf faretold that he would grow into a great and noble sage.