The Brahmin and the Three Crooks

Once upon a time, in a small village, lived a very religious and simple Brahmin named Mitrasharma. He made his living by performing rituals and sacrifices. One day, he was invited to a neighboring village for a grand sacrifice. After the ritual, the host was pleased with the Brahmin's service and gifted him a healthy, plump goat. The Brahmin was delighted. He thought the goat's milk would be useful for his family. He lifted the goat onto his shoulders and began his journey back home. His path led through a dense forest. In that same forest lived three cunning crooks. They had been hungry for days and were looking for easy prey. When they saw the Brahmin carrying a goat on his shoulders, their mouths watered. They decided to trick the Brahmin and take the goat for themselves. However, the Brahmin looked strong and carried a staff, so a direct attack was risky. They hatched a devious plan. The three crooks hid along the road at different intervals. When the Brahmin approached the first crook, he stepped out and laughed loudly, saying, 'O holy Brahmin! What are you doing? Why are you carrying an unclean dog on your sacred shoulders?' The Brahmin turned red with anger and replied, 'Can't you see? This is a goat, not a dog. You should get your eyes checked!' The crook humbly said, 'Sir, I only said what I saw, please don't be angry,' and walked away. The Brahmin continued walking, but a small seed of doubt was planted in his mind. A little further, the second crook met him. He said in surprise, 'Oh Sir, it does not suit a holy man like you to carry a dead calf on your shoulders. What will people say?' Now the Brahmin was truly confused. He put the goat down and looked at it carefully. It looked like a goat to him, but since two different people had called it something else, he began to lose faith in his own eyes. He started walking again. Finally, the third crook appeared and put his hand to his forehead, saying, 'Oh dear! What times have come! A learned Brahmin is carrying a donkey on his shoulders? Truly, the dark age of Kaliyuga has arrived!' Now the Brahmin completely lost his nerve. He thought that the animal must be some kind of magical demon or shapeshifter that was constantly changing its form—sometimes a dog, sometimes a dead calf, and sometimes a donkey! Terrified, the Brahmin abandoned the goat right there in the forest and ran toward his house as fast as he could without looking back. The three crooks then happily caught the goat and enjoyed a grand feast that day. Because the Brahmin valued the lies of others more than his own intellect and senses, he lost his valuable goat.