A Simple Minded Brahmin and Three Rogues

Once upon a time, there lived a simple-minded Brahmin. One day, he bought a plump goat from his village to offer as a sacrifice to the Gods. He placed it on his shoulders and started off for home through the jungle. On the way, he was seen by the three rogues. When they saw the fat goes on his shoulders, they said to one another, “How can we get this goat away from him? It would make a delicious meal.” They thought it over and hit upon a plan.

Unnoticed by the simple-minded Brahmin, they ran through the jungle and waited at some distance from each other on the way leading to his home. When the Brahmin came up to the first rouge, the man bowed to the Brahmin pretending to show him respect and said, “Oh holy man! Why are you carrying a dog on your shoulders?”

“Dog!” said the Brahmin looking surprised, “Why, it is a goat which I’m taking home to offer as a sacrifice to my Gods.” AS the simple-minded Brahmin continued on his way, he kept mulling over the rouge’s remarks. After he had crossed some distance, the second rogue stopped him. The man bowed, making him feel that he was showing reverence to him. The rouge said, “Holly man! Why are you carrying a dog on your shoulders?”

This time the simple-minded Brahmin was so amazed that he put down the goat on the ground and looked at it with searching eyes to make sure what it was. Satisfied that it was indeed a goat, he placed it back on his shoulders and started walking hurriedly home.

But his mind was not at peace. As he raced to reach his home, he was still thinking about the incident when the third rouge greeted him. “Holy man!” the rouge cried out. “What’s this? Do you have to carry a dog, that unclean animal on your shoulders?”

That did it. The Brahmin was convinced that he had made a terrible mistake. He immediately threw the goat off his shoulders and ran off as fast as he could. The three rogues seized the goat, chuckled with satisfaction and said to each other. “It doesn’t pay to be a simpleton like the Brahmin. One should trust oneself.”

Holy Man, Goat, Rouge, Unclean Animal