125. The Thief and the Demon



A thief was on his way to rob a brahmin's cow when he met a rakshasa-demon.
"You steal the cow, and I'll eat the brahmin!" said the demon.
When they arrived, the thief said, "I'll go get the cow."
"No," said the demon, "the noise will wake him. Me first!"
"No," said the thief. "Me first!"
They kept arguing.
"What's going on?" yelled the brahmin.
The thief said, "This demon wants to eat you!"
The demon said, "This thief wants to rob you!"
The brahmin pronounced a mantra to destroy the demon, and with a club he killed the thief.

Inspired byThe Panchatantra, translated by Arthur Ryder.
Notes: It is in Book 3, Story 11. For more about rakshasas, see Wikipedia.

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