The Foolish Brahmin & the Crooks

Morale of the Story: " Trust yourself before you trust others."

One day a Brahman called Shambhu nath was returning home from a neighbouring village.He had gone there for a Havana ( sacrifice ) & got a plump goat as a reward. He was very happy.

Just then, three hungry crooks named Gopal ,Govind & Nathu happened to see him. "What a Plump Goat, it would make a fine dinner! Let's trick the brahmin and take away the goat from him" exclaimed the three of them.

And the three of them thought of a plan and came to a conclusion that it wouldn't be too difficult.

Gopal walked up to the Brahman and said, "O Brahman, how can you defile yourself by carrying a dog on your shoulder?" The Brahman was shocked. "You fool!" he cried,

"Don't you know a goat from a dog?" Gopal remained cool and said, "O Brahmin! Keep your temper. You are welcome to carry the dog if you wish." And he went away. But the Brahman already had his doubts.He thought to himself ,"Are my eyes playing tricks on me? Is it a goat or a dog." After a while he assured himself ,"No. To be sure it's a goat!"

The Brahman walked on a little farther when Govind stopped him and said,"O, Holy sir! You have a dead calf on your shoulders, it may have been very dear to you... But must you carry it on you shoulders? Have you forgotten that you are a Brahman?" The Brahman was really angry. "Are you blind? Can't you see that this is a live goat and not a dead calf?"

Govind had his answer ready, "Please don't be angry, Holy sir. I'm sorry." He too went away.Now the Brahman was in two minds. "What's the matter?" he thought, "Am I mad or are they?"

Hardly had he walked a few yards ahead when - The well-timed Nathu said, "O Brahman, drop the donkey before anyone sees you! People will talk." This time the Brahman thought, "No!  Three of them cannot be wrong!" The Brahman did not utter a word.

He pulled the goat off his shoulders, flung it to the ground… And ran away as fast as he could, telling himself, "That was no Goat! It was a goblin that kept changing its shape. How could the villager play such a mean trick on me!"

The three crooks laughed to their heart's content. As soon as he was out of sight Nathu shouted,

"Come on, friends! That was neatly done. Now you there, collect sticks and light a fire.

We two shall kill and skin the goat".

The End