The Brahmin and The crooks

Once a brahmin named Mitra Sarma decided to offer a lamb as a sacrifice to the gods. So he bought a big and healthy lamb and started for home carrying it on his shoulders. 

Three crooks, who were hungry and cold, saw the brahmin carrying the lamb. They decided to fool him and take away the lamb. They wanted to cook and eat it. 

The first crook stopped the brahmin on the way and said, “don’t you know that it is a sin to touch a dog, especially for a brahmin like you? Why are you carrying that dog on your shoulders? 

The brahim was angry. He shouted, “Are you blind? Can’t you see that I am carrying a lamb?” 

He moved on. 

The second crook approached the brahim and said in a surprised voice, “O learned man! Why are you carrying a dead calf on your shoulders? You have to purify yourself if you touch a dead animal.” 

The brahmin angrily told him, “Can’t you see that this is a lamb? I am going to offer it as a sacrifice to the gods. Stop bothering me now.” 

The third crook followed the brahim and said, “you appear to be a brahim. Then why are you carrying a donkey on your shoulders? If you touch a donkey, you have to take a bath fully dressed. Drop the donkey now.” 

Unable to bear this harassment, the brahmin threw away the lamb and went home. 

The crooks had a great meal!