An owner wagers that his ox can pull a heavy load, then insults it in front of the crowd. The ox refuses to move and the wager is lost.
On the next attempt the owner speaks respectfully. The ox pulls the load and helps recover the loss.
Adapted from Ellen C. Babbitt, Jataka Tales (1912), chapter V · Source text & illustration
Fables use imaginary events to invite reflection; interpretations vary.
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