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The Brahmin, the Thief, and the Demon

In a certain town, there lived a Brahmin who denounced all luxuries of life. His name was Drona, and he did not wear fine clothes, or use perfumes, or practice any lavish means.

He followed rigorous practices of worship even during cold, hot and rainy seasons. Due to this, his body had become lean and weak. His hair and nails also grew long due to his absence of maintaining them.

One of his devotees gifted him with a pair of calves. He took great care of the calves and fed them properly. In due time, they grew enviable fat.

One day, a thief noticed the calves and thought, “I shall steal these fat calves from him.”

He planned and returned with a rope to steal the calves in night. On his way, he met a demon with a very hideous appearance.

The thief was frightened on seeing him and asked, “Who are you?”

The demon replied, “I am a demon. I always speak the truth and hate liars. Introduce yourself!”

The thief confessed, “I am a thief and I am on my way to steal two calves from a devoted Brahmin”.

The demon and the thief struck a friendship as they were both truthful to each other, and they planned that the demon can eat the Brahmin, and the thief can steal the calves. Their works will be accomplished in the same place, so they went together.

The slipped inside the Brahmin’s home and hid themselves. They waited for the Brahmin to fall asleep, when they would get the opportunity to accomplish their works.

As soon as the Brahmin fell asleep, the demon came out of hiding and readied his teeth and nails to eat him.

Fearing that his purpose will be defeated if the Brahmin wakes up when the demon goes to eat him, he asked the demon to wait till he tied the calves with his rope and left.

But the demon disagreed, that if the calves started moo-ing when the thief was stealing them, the Brahmin may escape upon waking up, and his purpose will get defeated.

They got into an argument due to this, and the noise of their argument woke the Brahmin up.

The thief complained to the Brahmin that the demon was planning of eating him up. On this, the demon also complained to the Brahmin that the thief was planning to steal the calves from him.

The Brahmin at once started praying chants. Hearing this, the demon ran off. Then the Brahmin took out a stick and chased away the thief.

Moral: When thieves fall out, you stand to benefit.

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