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The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story

Story of the servant who looked after the door.27

Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition Somadeva Bhatta, active 11th century and Tawney, C. H. (Charles Henry)
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A certain merchant said to his foolish servant; “Take care of the door of my shop, I am going home for a moment. After the merchant had said this, he went away, and the servant took the shop-door on his shoulder and went off to see an actor perform. And as he was returning, his master met him and gave him a scolding. And he answered, “I have taken care of this door as you told me.”
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“So a fool, who attends only to the words of an order and does not understand the meaning, causes detriment. Now hear the wonderful story of the buffalo and the simpletons.”

Source attribution

The Kathá Sarit Ságara; or, Ocean of the Streams of Story, Project Gutenberg eBook #40588

Story of the fool and the cakes.26 Story of the simpletons who ate the buffalo.