The Brahmin, the Thief and the Demon
Also known as Brahman, Chor aur Rakshas
- 3 minute read
- Ages 7-11
- Panchatantra Stories
A poor brahmin was given two good cows by a man he had performed a ceremony for, and he was very pleased with them, and he told several people about it.
Two visitors
A thief heard about the cows and decided to take them that night.
A demon also heard about the brahmin, and decided to eat him that night.
They met on the road outside the brahmin's house, in the dark, both heading the same way.
"Who are you?"
"I am a thief. I have come for his cows. And you?"
"I am a demon. I have come for the brahmin."
They walked on together for a moment, and then both of them realised the problem at the same time.
The argument
"I will go first," said the demon. "I will eat him while he sleeps and then you can take the cows at your leisure."
"You will not," said the thief. "If you go first he will wake up and shout, and the neighbours will come out, and I will not get near the cows. I go first. I take the cows quietly and I leave, and then you can do as you like."
"If you go first the cows will make a noise going out of the yard, and he will wake, and I will have to chase him."
"Cows are quieter than a man being eaten."
"That is not the point."
It went on. Neither would give way, because whichever of them went second was going to lose everything, and they both understood that perfectly.
The argument got louder.
The brahmin wakes
It got loud enough to be heard from the house.
The brahmin woke up, came to the window, and heard a demon and a thief on his road discussing the order in which they intended to rob and eat him.
He did what any sensible man would do, which was to shout the house down.
Lamps came on. Neighbours came out with sticks. The thief ran one way and the demon went the other, and the brahmin stood in his yard with two cows and a great many people asking him questions.
He kept both cows and he was not eaten, and he had done nothing at all to bring either of those things about.
Moral of the story
Two enemies who cannot agree will often destroy each other's plans without any help from you. Let them argue.
Questions and answers
- How did the brahmin get the cows?
They were given to him as payment for performing a ceremony.
- Who came to the house that night?
A thief who wanted the cows, and a demon who wanted to eat the brahmin.
- Why did they argue?
Each wanted to go first, because whoever went second would be left with nothing after the brahmin woke.
- What was the thief's argument?
That a man being eaten would make more noise than cows being led away, so the brahmin would wake and the cows would be lost.
- How was the brahmin saved?
The argument grew loud enough to wake him. He shouted, the neighbours came out, and both intruders ran.
Word meanings
- brahmin
- A member of the priestly class in traditional Indian society.
- ceremony
- A formal religious event with set words and actions.
- demon
- An evil spirit in a story.
- at your leisure
- Without needing to hurry.
Questions about The Brahmin, the Thief and the Demon
What is the moral of The Brahmin, the Thief and the Demon?
That enemies who fall out with each other often solve your problem for you. The brahmin did nothing and lost nothing.
Why can neither of them give way?
Because going second means getting nothing. Both understand this immediately, which is why the argument cannot be settled.
Is the story frightening?
No. The demon never gets near the house, and the whole thing plays as comedy. It suits ages seven and above.
Which book of the Panchatantra is this?
The third book, Kakolukiyam, which is about enemies and how to deal with them.