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One day the calf slipped and fell down in the valley below the hill. The cow leapt after her offspring to save it, the result was, both were dead. The pupil, who was supposed to be keeping an eye on the cow,realised rather late what had happened He thought to himself that it was his neglect that had led to the cow's death. He was thus guilty of Govadha, a sin unspeakably horrible. He decided to follow the cow downs the cliff and this inflict self-punishment—a prayashchitta, The young lad having made up his mind hurled himself from the hill-top. But instead of dashing against rocks and boulders he landed into the arms of a sturdy person. Greatly surprised at this. The pupil started to thank the stranger. The latter enquired about the cause of the action the young boy had taken and upon learning of it, changed himself into his true form. And who else could it be than Shiva himself? By the grace of god the cow and her little one became alive again. The boy then asked Shiva for a boon hat no body should be hurt from a fall off this precipice.
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