Panchatantra The Brahmin and the Thief
In a small village, there lived a kind-hearted Brahmin named Vishwanath. One day, while walking near the river, he found a golden necklace buried in the mud. Thinking it was a gift from the gods, he eagerly took it home and displayed it proudly in his hut.
Soon after, a clever thief named Chandraketu came to the village. He had heard of the Brahmin’s find and wanted to steal it. Chandraketu knew that the Brahmin was a good man who could be easily fooled. So, he devised a plan.
Disguising himself as a pious monk, Chandraketu approached the Brahmin and said, “I am a holy man. I can bless you with wealth and prosperity if you give me your golden necklace as an offering.”
The Brahmin, trusting the monk’s appearance and words, immediately handed over the necklace. Chandraketu took the necklace, bowed, and left the village, disappearing into the night.
The Betrayal
The next morning, the Brahmin realized that he had been tricked. He went to the local authorities and asked for help in finding the thief. Chandraketu, still disguised, returned to the village and overheard the Brahmin’s complaint.
Amused by the Brahmin’s gullibility, the thief went to the Brahmin and said, “Your necklace was meant for a good purpose. But you must learn to be cautious when dealing with strangers. A good heart is not enough to protect you from the deceitful.”
The Brahmin, humiliated by his mistake, learned the hard way that not everyone could be trusted, no matter their appearance or words.
Moral of the Story
- Appearances can be deceiving.
- Trust must be earned, not blindly given.
- Deception can be masked by kindness, but caution is necessary.
Interactive Elements
- Quiz Questions:
- How did the Brahmin acquire the necklace?
- What was Chandraketu’s disguise?
- What lesson did the Brahmin learn after being deceived?
- Word Meanings (with Links):
- Disguising: To change one’s appearance in order to deceive others (Read about disguises in history).
- Pious: A deeply religious person (Learn more about piety).
- Gullible: Easily tricked or deceived (Explore more about gullibility).
- Moral Dilemmas:
- If you were the Brahmin, would you have trusted the monk? Why or why not?
- What steps can we take to avoid being deceived by others?
- Opinion Prompt:
- “Have you ever been deceived by someone’s appearance? How did you deal with it? Share your thoughts on Mystorybook.me.”
Related Stories and Links
- Read another story about trust and deception: The Camel, the Lion, and His Foolish Friends.
- Discover tips on how to protect yourself from deception at Psychology Today.
- Explore more Panchatantra stories on Mystorybook.me.
Panchatantra The Brahmin and the Thief
