Once an animal fell into a pit of mud. When it put its one foot out of the pit in the effort to come out, the other foot slipped deeper into it. The helpless animal was thus put to a lot of suffering.
Two days passed in this manner. None of the passersby who passed that way tried to bring an end to its suffering. Some feared that if they tried to pull the animal out, they might themselves slip into the mud pit. So they went without doing anything. For some mischievous youngsters who stood there, it was great fun to watch the animal as it tried to come out and slipped again into the mud pit.
Meanwhile, a Sadhu passed that way. He was very much distressed to see the pitiable condition of the animal. Without thinking a bit, he immediately jumped into the mud pit. At this, the onlookers remarked with derision, "When so many strong men are here who could not venture to bring the animal out of the pit, how can this lean and thin renunciant perform this arduous task?"
The holy man however paid scant attention to the remarks of the onlookers. With the name of God on his lips, he prayed to God for help and strength. Invoking thus the grace of God, he slowly and steadily brought the animal out, half by pulling and half by carrying it on his shoulders. He made it drink some water after this. The mischievous youngsters remarked derisively, "What an act of Seva! But for this, we could have had fun for some more time." The only man said to them,"Dear ones! What I have done is not Seva. Neither is it an act of benevolence. I have saved this animal to relieve myself of the agony that I underwent on seeing its suffering. I performed this task only to get over my own distress. Now I am relieved of my agony." Saying this, the holy man went his way.
(From the Divine Discourses of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba)
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