Category Archives: INDIA
20. THE BRAHMIN, THE THIEF AND THE RAKSHASA
In a certain town, lived a Brahmin name Drona. He gave up wearing fine clothes, using perfumes and all the other luxuries of life.
His hair and nails grew long and his body lean, due to his rigorous discipline in the cold, hot and rainy seasons. A certain devotee of his, out of sheer pity, presented him with a pair of young calves.
Right from the beginning the Brahmin fed them well and they grew fat in due course. A thief saw these two calves and he thought to himself. ‘This very day, I shall steal away these two calves belonging to the Brahmin.’ So he took a rope to tie them up and started off. On the way, he met a Demon of hideous appearance. His teeth stuck out of his mouth, his nose was long, his eyes burnt frighteningly with fire, he had knotty muscles and a glowing red beard.
19. THE BRAHMIN AND THE DIAMONDS
Once upon a time there lived a clever Brahmin in a village. He performed poojas during the day time and robbed the unsuspecting travellers during the night time. Thus, by adopting unfair means and indulging in criminal activities, he had collected a lot of wealth.
One day, two merchants from some other town came to the village. They sold all their belongings and purchased six large size diamonds. On their return journey again they had to cross the jungle. So to save the diamonds from bandits they swallowed them up.
18. THE BRAHMIN AND THE DELICIOUS DISHES
Long ago, there lived a Brahmin in a village. He was a simple and honest man. But his wife was of a bad character. She had developed an illicit relation with a charming youth of the village.
When the Brahmin was away, the youth would visit his wife and make love to her. The Brahmin’s wife would cook delicious dishes for her lover. Then they would talk and enjoy the food together.
17. THE BRAHMIN AND THE COBRA
In a certain town, there lived a Brahmin, by the name of Haridatta. In spite of the fact that he worked extremely hard on his farm, he did not prosper. One day, the heat was unbearable and he was resting under the shade of a tree, on the farm when a cobra emerged from an anthill and confronted him with his hood raised. He thought to himself, “Perhaps this cobra is the deity of the farm. As I have not worshipped him before, my labour on the farm has proved to be fruitless. So, from today onwards, I shall start offering oblations to him.”
