ઘોડીની સ્વામીભક્તિ The Mare's Loyalty (Ghodini Swamibhakti)

ખેડૂત આંબા પટેલ પોતાની ઘોડીને દીકરી જેવી લાડથી ઉછેરે છે.

The tale's hero, Amba Patel, is a farmer. He owns a fine mare whom he raises with the tenderness one gives a daughter. Between the mare and her master a deep affection grows, free of any divide between human and animal. The Patel cares for the mare lovingly, and she too has grown close to him.

ઘોડી માલિકના ઈશારે વર્તે; બંને વચ્ચે અતૂટ સ્નેહ-બંધ રચાય છે.

The mare knows her master's voice, his touch and his presence. She walks, halts and behaves at Amba Patel's sign as though she understands his words. The master too treats her not as a mere animal but as a member of his family. This mutual love joins the two in an unbreakable bond.

સંકટની ઘડીએ ઘોડી જીવની પરવા કર્યા વિના માલિક પ્રત્યે વફાદાર રહે છે.

There comes a moment in the tale when the mare's loyalty and devotion are put to the test. When danger falls upon the master or the mare, she keeps faith with her master without flinching and without a thought for her own life. Her conduct makes everyone feel the depth of an animal's feeling and faithfulness.

ઘોડીની ભક્તિ પટેલને સ્પર્શે છે; સ્નેહનો બદલો સ્નેહથી જ મળે છે.

The mare's loyalty touches Amba Patel deeply. He realises that the love he gave her, she has repaid many times over. The tale shows that affection and trust are never one-sided - the love we give, even an animal returns with interest.

પ્રાણીને પ્રેમથી રાખીએ તો એ અતૂટ વફાદારી આપે - એ આ કથાનો બોધ.

This folk tale says that an animal too holds feeling, faith and loyalty like a human being. If we keep an animal with love and care, it fills our life with unbreakable devotion. A person should treat animals with kindness and affection - that is the lasting lesson of this tale.