The Loyal Mongoose

In a small village, there lived a Brahmin and his wife. They had a young son whom they loved dearly. The Brahmin had a pet mongoose that he had raised since it was a baby. The mongoose was not just a pet; it was like a member of their family. The Brahmin's wife looked after the mongoose with the same affection she showed her own child. The mongoose, in turn, was extremely loyal and often sat by the baby’s cradle as a silent guardian.

One afternoon, the Brahmin's wife had to go to the well to fetch water. Her husband was already out on some work in the village. Thinking that the mongoose was there to guard the baby, she felt safe. She put the baby to sleep in the cradle and left for the well. Shortly after she left, a large, venomous black cobra emerged from a hole in the corner of the room. The snake began slithering toward the sleeping infant.

The mongoose immediately sensed the danger. Knowing that the snake could harm the baby, it lunged at the cobra without a second thought. A fierce battle ensued between the two. Though the mongoose was small, its agility and courage were unmatched. After a long struggle, the mongoose killed the snake, tearing it into pieces to ensure the baby was safe. In the process, the cobra’s blood stained the mongoose’s mouth and paws.

When the Brahmin's wife returned with a heavy pot of water on her head, the mongoose ran to the door to greet her, wagging its tail in joy. However, as soon as the mother saw the blood on the mongoose's face and paws, she was horrified. Her mind raced to the worst possible conclusion: she thought the mongoose had killed her baby. In a fit of blind rage and grief, she threw the heavy water pot directly at the mongoose. The weight of the pot crushed the poor animal, killing it instantly.

She rushed inside, screaming for her child, but stopped dead in her tracks. Her baby was sleeping peacefully in the cradle, and right beside it lay the mangled body of a dead cobra. The realization hit her like a lightning bolt. The mongoose hadn't harmed her child; it had saved him by risking its own life. She had killed her most loyal friend out of haste and lack of judgment. She wept bitterly, but the damage was done. Her impulsive action had cost the life of a faithful companion who could never be replaced.