អំណោយពីមេឃ៖ រឿងនិទានគ្រាប់ស្រូវ

Long ago, there was a small village nestled in a valley, a time when people did not yet know of rice. They lived easily by consuming fruits and roots that were simple to find.

However, those foods could not sustain their bellies for long. Hunger often interrupted their lives. All the villagers gathered and prayed for a type of food that could sustain life for a long time.

Indra in the heavens heard their supplications. He felt pity for the difficulties of mankind. He commanded an angel to take a type of nourishing grain down to the human world.

Soon after, the angel dropped a package down. Inside the package were enormous, white, shimmering grains of rice, without husks, smelling as sweet and fragrant as perfume. This was the first rice.

Ta Meas, the wisest elder, took those grains and distributed them. When eaten, they felt full for a long time and gained great strength. Everyone rejoiced, forgetting to respect the gift.

Due to the overwhelming abundance, people began to grow careless. They used the rice grains for games, left them lying in the mud, and sometimes trampled them without concern.

Indra, seeing this behavior, became intensely angry. He sent the Spirit of the Rice to tell the people: ‘This gift is precious! If you do not respect it, you will lose it.’

Humans did not heed the warning. Immediately, the Spirit of the Rice withdrew its abundance and size. The giant grains shrank dramatically and hid themselves inside tough hulls (husks) to protect themselves.

Ta Meas knelt down and begged for forgiveness. He knew this was the punishment for ingratitude. From that time forward, humans had to strive diligently, remove the husk, and cultivate the rice with the utmost care.

Rice remains a precious gift from the sky. This story taught future generations that every meal we consume demands respect and diligent effort in work for life to be happy and prosperous.