The Brahmin and the Goat

Once upon a time in a small village in India, there lived a pious Brahmin named Chandra. He was known far and wide for his devotion to the gods and his adherence to the path of righteousness. He lived a simple life, spending most of his time praying, conducting religious ceremonies, and teaching the holy scriptures.

One day, after performing a grand ritual in the temple, Chandra received a generous gift from a wealthy villager: a healthy, plump goat. The villager offered the goat as a token of gratitude, hoping that the Brahmin's blessings would bring prosperity to his household.

Chandra, pleased with the gift, decided to take the goat home. He tied a rope around the goat's neck and began his journey back to the village, walking along a narrow path through a dense forest.

As he walked, three cunning rogues saw him from a distance. They noticed the plump goat and quickly devised a plan to trick the Brahmin and steal the goat for themselves.

The first rogue approached the Brahmin with a look of surprise and exclaimed, "Oh revered Brahmin! Why are you carrying a dog on your shoulders? A holy man like you should never touch such an impure animal!"

Chandra was puzzled. "What are you talking about? This is a goat, not a dog!" he replied.

The rogue shook his head and said, "I am certain that you are mistaken. But if you are happy carrying a dog, who am I to judge?" And with that, he walked away.

The Brahmin continued his journey, but doubt began to creep into his mind. "Could it be that my eyes are deceiving me?" he thought.

A little further down the path, the second rogue appeared. He too acted astonished and said, "Respected Brahmin! Why are you carrying a dead calf on your shoulders? This is not appropriate for a man of your stature!"

Chandra's doubt grew stronger. He stopped and looked closely at the goat. It was still a goat, or so it seemed. He hesitated, but then shook his head and continued walking.

But as he approached the village, the third rogue approached him and shouted, "Brahmin, what madness is this? Why are you carrying a donkey on your shoulders? Have you lost your senses?"

Now thoroughly confused and frightened, Chandra thought, "Three different people cannot be wrong. This must be some sort of illusion or curse!" Fearing that the animal he was carrying was indeed some unholy creature, he quickly untied the goat and ran away, abandoning it on the side of the road.

The three rogues, laughing at their successful trick, quickly caught up to the goat, grabbed it, and disappeared into the forest.

When Chandra reached his home, he told his wife Shanta about the strange events that had occurred. "Chandra," she said gently, "I believe you have been deceived by those rogues. They have played a cruel trick on you to steal the goat. I heard from other villagers that these three men were seen plotting something earlier today."

The story of Chandra and the goat soon spread throughout the village, becoming a lesson about how even the wisest of men can be fooled by the words of the deceitful. From that day on, Chandra learned to trust his own eyes and instincts more than the words of strangers.