The Brahmin, The Thief and The Ghost
Once a poor Brahmin lived in a village. He went from house to house and begged for alms. He led a simple life and did not have fine clothes or jewels.
One day a rich man gave him two calves. The Brahmin was very happy. Every day he fed them grass. Soon the calves grew big and fat.
A thief saw the calves and decided to steal them. So one night, he set up with rope.
But on the way, he met strange fellow who had sharp teeth and blood-red eyes. His body was yellow and he had a big beard.
The thief was frightened and asked, "Who are you, sir?"
The fellow replied, "I am a ghost named Truthful. Now tell me about yourself."
The thief explained that he was on his way to steal the calves from the Brahmin's house.
Hearing this, the ghost said, "I take one meal every three days." So I shall eat this Brahmin today. Let's go together.
They reached the Brahmin's house and hid themselves. When the Brahmin went to sleep, the ghost came forward to eat him.
But the thief stooped him and said, "Dear Sir, do not eat the Brahmin till I have stolen his two calves."
The ghost said, "My plan will be spoiled if I do so. There will be a lot of noise and the Brahmin will
surely get up."
The thief became angry. He said, "When you begin to eat the Brahmin, there may be a problem. Then I will not be able to steal the calves. You must wait."
They began to quarrel. Soon they were shouting at each other.
The Brahmin wake up and saw them.
The thief said, "Brahmin, this is a ghost who wants to eat you."
At once the ghost said, "Brahmin, this is a thief who wants to steal your calves."
The Brahmin looked at them. He said a prayer to God and saved himself from the ghost. Then he began to hit the thief with a stick. The thief ran away. Thus he saved his calves.
One day a rich man gave him two calves. The Brahmin was very happy. Every day he fed them grass. Soon the calves grew big and fat.
A thief saw the calves and decided to steal them. So one night, he set up with rope.
But on the way, he met strange fellow who had sharp teeth and blood-red eyes. His body was yellow and he had a big beard.
The thief was frightened and asked, "Who are you, sir?"
The fellow replied, "I am a ghost named Truthful. Now tell me about yourself."
The thief explained that he was on his way to steal the calves from the Brahmin's house.
Hearing this, the ghost said, "I take one meal every three days." So I shall eat this Brahmin today. Let's go together.
They reached the Brahmin's house and hid themselves. When the Brahmin went to sleep, the ghost came forward to eat him.
But the thief stooped him and said, "Dear Sir, do not eat the Brahmin till I have stolen his two calves."
The ghost said, "My plan will be spoiled if I do so. There will be a lot of noise and the Brahmin will
surely get up."
The thief became angry. He said, "When you begin to eat the Brahmin, there may be a problem. Then I will not be able to steal the calves. You must wait."
They began to quarrel. Soon they were shouting at each other.
The Brahmin wake up and saw them.
The thief said, "Brahmin, this is a ghost who wants to eat you."
At once the ghost said, "Brahmin, this is a thief who wants to steal your calves."
The Brahmin looked at them. He said a prayer to God and saved himself from the ghost. Then he began to hit the thief with a stick. The thief ran away. Thus he saved his calves.
