21. THE BRAHMINS WHO GAVE LIFE TO THE DEAD LION
In a certain town, there lived four young Brahmins. They were great friends. Three of them were very well versed in the holy scriptures, but lacked in common-sense. The fourth was completely ignorant of the holy scriptures, but had good common-sense.
One day, these four friends had a discussion together. They said, ” What is the good of scholarship, if you cannot impress kings in far off lands by it, or earn money with it? So, let us travel east”. Accordingly, they set out.
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.
