In a certain town lived a Brahman named Sama Sarma who had undertaken the labour of maintaining the sacred fire. One day in the month of February, when a gentle breeze was blowing, when the sky was veiled in clouds and a drizzling rain was falling, he went to another village to beg a victim for the sacrifice. Sama Sarma said to a rich man,”I wish to make an offering on the approaching day of the new moon. Please give me a victim.” And the rich man gave him a plump goat. Sama Sarma checked the goat and found it fit for sacrifice, placed it on his shoulder, and started in haste for his own city.

On the way he was met by three rogues whose stomachs were pinched with hunger. On seeing the plump goat on his shoulder, three rogues planned to fool him, get the goat, and ward off the cold. So the first of them changed his dress, met Sama Sarma, the Brahman, and said to him: “O! pious Brahman, why are you doing a thing so unconventional and so ridiculous? You are carrying an unclean animal, a dog, on your shoulder. Are you ignorant of the verse: The dog and the rooster, the hangman, the ass, the camel, defile you. Don’t touch them, but pass.”

For that Sama Sarma angrily said: “Are you blind? Is this a dog or goat?”

“O Brahman,” said the rogue, “do not be angry. Go where you will.”

But when he had travelled a little farther, the second rogue met him and said: “Alas, holy sir! Even if this dead calf was a pet, still you should not put it on your shoulder. For the proverb says: Touch not unwisely man or beast that lifeless lie; else, gifts of milk and lunar fast must purify.”

Then the Brahman spoke in anger: “Are you blind, man? You call a goat a calf.” And the rogue said: “Holy sir, do not be angry. I spoke in ignorance. Do as you will.”

But when Sama Sarma walked only a little farther through the forest, the third rogue, changing his dress, met him and said: “Sir, this is most improper. You are carrying a donkey on your shoulder. Yet the proverb tells you: If you should touch a donkey – be it in ignorance or not – You must wash your clothes and bathe, to clean the sinful spot. Please drop this thing, before anyone sees you.”

So Sama Sarma vexed with all these, threw the goat on the ground, and walked towards home. Meanwhile, the three rogues met, caught the goat, and carried out their plan.

❖ Is there any man uncheated by new servants’ diligence, the praise of guests, the maiden’s tears, and roguish eloquence?

❖ one should avoid a quarrel with a crowd.

❖ Untruth spoken repeatedly appears to be truth.

❖ Believe your own eyes than what you hear.