# 59 . FOXES BECAME HORSES
# 59 (a). THE TORTURE TREATMENT
The very next morning, the king demanded the chief minister, “When will my horses arrive?” The minister replied that the horses are expected within the next three days.
Meanwhile they had to expand the horse sheds and dig new wells and ponds. The city should be decorated to receive the horses.
All these arrangements kept the king busy for the next three days. On the fourth day the king lost his patience completely.
No one knew how much gold was taken away from the treasury. No one knew how it was spent. No one knew when or whether the horses would arrive! What kind of a business dealing was this?
He called the master torturer and told him to start his treatments and make sure that the king’s gold was returned in full.
The torturer asked the minister, “When will you repay king’s gold?” The minister did not reply. He was wondering how he could return the gold that had already been spent!
Heavy stones were place on his body. But Siva bore the load and spared the minister of the suffering. The onlookers were wonder struck by this.
His arms and legs were crushed with pincers. Nothing affected him as he was in deep meditation on Lord Siva.
He was locked in a dark cell and the torture continued. Soon it was dawn. The sound of songs, Vedas and thiruppalli ezhuchi mingled. The minister cried out,
“Is it wrong to love Siva? Is it wrong to serve Siva? Why are these punishments given to me?”


