Once there was a drought in a certain part of the country. The farmers began to cut long channels to bring water to their fields. One farmer was firmly determined. He took a vow that he would stop digging until the channel connected his field with the river. He set work. The time came for his bath, and his wife sent their daughter to him with oil. ‘Father,’ said the girl, ‘it is already late.
Rub your body with oil and take your bath.’ ‘Go away! ‘thundered the farmer. ‘I have too much to do now. ‘It was past midday, and the farmer was still at work in his field. He didn’t even think of his food is getting cold. You overdo everything. You can finish the rest tomorrow or even today after dinner.’ The farmer scolded her furiously and shouted, ‘What? Have you no sense? There’s no rain. The crops are dying.
What will the children eat? You’ll all starve to death. I have taken a vow not to think of bath and food today before I bring water to my field. ‘The wife saw his state of mind and ran away in the evening to connect his state of mind and ran away in fear.
Through a whole day’s back-breaking labour, the farmer managed by evening to connect his field with the river. Then he sat down and watched the peace and joy. He went home, called his wife, and said to her, ‘Now give me some oil and prepare me a smoke.’ With a serene mind, he finished his bath and meal and retired to bed, where he snored to his heart’s content. He showed an example of strong determination.
‘It’s very late. Come home. It isn’t necessary to overdo things .’ The farmer didn’t protest much, but put aside his spade and said to his wife, ‘Well, I’ll go home since you ask me to.’ That man never succeeded in irrigating his field. This is a case of mild determination.
As with strong determination, the farmer could bring water to his field, so also with strong determination a man can succeed in any undertaking.