A long time ago, an old monk lived somewhere in the Himalayan hills. He was very knowledgeable and the fame of his intelligence spread far and wide. One day a woman came to him and started crying in grief, “Baba, my husband loved me very much, but ever since he returned from the war, he does not even talk to me properly.”
“People say that the herb given by you can make a person fall in love again. Please give me that herb.” , the woman pleaded.
The monk thought for a while and then said, “Devi, I would have given you that herb but to make it, something is needed which I do not have.”
“Tell me what you want and I will bring it.”, said the woman.
“I want a hair from the tiger’s mustache.”, said the monk.
The very next day the woman set out into the forest in search of the tiger, after searching a lot she saw a tiger on the bank of the river, the tiger roared as soon as she saw it, the woman got scared and went back quickly.
This happened for the next few days, the woman would muster courage and approach the tiger and would go back in fear. As the months passed, the tiger got used to the woman’s presence, and now he remained normal when he saw her. Now the woman also started bringing meat for the tiger, and the tiger used to eat it with great interest. Their friendship started growing and now the woman also started patting the tiger. And then one day he also showed courage and plucked out a hair from the tiger’s moustache.
What happened next, she reached the monk without any delay and said
“I brought the hair, Baba.”
“Very good .” And saying this the monk threw the hair into the burning fire.
“Hey Baba, what is this, don’t you know how much effort I made to get this hair and you burnt it…now how will my herb be prepared?” The woman said nervously.
“You don’t need any herbs now.” The monk said. “Just think, how you tamed the tiger…. When a ferocious animal can be tamed with patience and love, can’t a human being be tamed? Go, just as you tamed the tiger as your friend, similarly awaken the feeling of love in your husband.”
The woman understood the monk’s words, now she had got her herb.