An elephant loses its tusks six times in its life time. It will die when it loses them for the sixth and last time. The elephant bids goodbye to its near and dear in the herd and retires into the deep forest. There it stops eating and dies gradually.
The elephant's farewell is very touching. It is often compared to vanaprastha, where a Hindu householder takes leave of his children and grand children in a touching way and retires into the forest with his wife. There the old couple spend the remaining years of their life meditating on God.
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