Profit or Loss?

A farmer had a cow he loved very much, having raised it from its infancy with as much care and devotion as one bestows on one's child. His wife loved the cow no less, and Kamdhenu was the joy and pride of their lives. Hard times befell the farmer, and with a heavy heart, he sold the cow to the village zamindar. Five thousand rupees was the amount that he was paid by the zamindar but he had scarcely entered the doorway of his home when he heard his wife wailing, too grief stricken to even remonstrate with him for having sold Kamdhenu without even consulting her. The farmer had no choice but to rush back to the zamindar and plead with him to sell him back the beloved cow. The zamindar was a wily man, and it did not take him long to grasp that God had sent him an unexpected opportunity to make a profit, be it at the expense of the unfortunate farmer. He agreed to sell the cow back to the farmer, but demanded to be paid Rs 6000. Faced with prospect of an inconsolable wife if he returned home empty handed, the farmer paid the zamindar Rs 6000 and brought Kamdhenu home.

The next morning, he was summoned by the zamindar who confessed that his wife had not let him have a moment's peace since Kamdhenu's departure. Sell the cow to me, he demanded. The farmer was reluctant to sell, but he was not in a position to decline the village zamindar's request and invite the latter's wrath. So he decided to profit from the situation, and sold the cow back to the zamindar for Rs 7000.He returned home to find his clothes and other personal effects lying in the courtyard, neatly packed in large potlis. The message was clear ---- bring Kamdhenu back, or take yourself away.No amount of cajoling, persuasion,or pleading worked ----the farmer's wife was adamant. So the farmer returned to the zamindar, who smiled in glee and held out his hand for Rs 8000. With a heavy heart, the farmer handed over the money, got the zamindar to promise that he'd convince his wife not to badger him to buy Kamdhenu back, and trudged hom with the cow.

So Kamdhenu returned home, the farmer's wife was ecstatic, the farmer was happy too , except that he was a little bewidered whether, in the string of sales and purchases that had taken place, he had made a profit or loss.

Did the farmer make a profit? Or a loss? How much?