The Brahmins Gift A brahmin once lived in a village, where he performed religious rituals.

On one occasion, a rich man gave the brahmin with a cow for his services. The brahmin began walking the cow home. On the way, three thieves saw the brahmin with the cow. They were lazy and wanted to cheat the brahmin, so that they could take away his cow. They hatched a plan.

The first thieve approached the brahmin and said, Are you a washer man, since youre pulling a donkey. The brahmin was annoyed at being mistaken for a washer man. He went on. A little later he was met by the second of the three. The second thieve asked him why a brahmin needed to pull a pig. Now the brahmin was confused, but he went on. Some distance later he was met by the third thieve, who asked him why he was pulling along a wild animal. Now the

brahmin was totally confused and also afraid. He thought that it was a devil animal that could take different forms. He ran away, leaving the cow behind. The three thieves laughed and were pleased with themselves for having tricked the brahmin out of his cow.