The Brahmin Who Was Blinded with Ghee

In a certain place lived a brahmin whose wife was unfaithful. She used to make sweet cakes rich with ghee and sugar and carry them secretly to her lover.

One day her husband saw her going off with the food and asked: "My dear, what are you carrying? Where are you taking it? Tell me the truth."

She was quick, and invented an answer on the spot: "Not far from here is the temple of the blessed goddess. I have been fasting, and I am taking this as an offering to her."

And, with him watching, she took the whole of that food towards the temple, went to the river, bathed, and set about worshipping the goddess.

Meanwhile the brahmin had gone ahead by another road and hidden himself behind the goddess's image.

His wife finished her worship and began to pray: "Blessed goddess! By what means may my husband go blind?"

Then, from behind the image, the brahmin altered his voice and said: "If you feed him food made with ghee and sweet dishes every day, he will soon go blind."

The foolish woman believed that manufactured voice, and from that day fed the brahmin the richest ghee-laden food every day.

After some days the brahmin said: "My dear, I cannot see well any more." She was delighted: "The goddess has granted my prayer!"

Hearing it, her lover too grew easy: "My rival is blind now; what can he do to me?" And he began coming to the house without any fear.

One day, seeing him come in, the brahmin caught hold of him, took up a stick, beat him thoroughly, and cut off his nose before letting him go.

That is why I say: I know all of it — that I am the one being carried. I am biding my time, like the brahmin blinded with ghee.

सर्वमेतदहं जानामि यथा वाह्योऽस्मि दुर्धरैः । किंचित्कालं प्रतीक्ष्योऽहं घृतान्धो ब्राह्मणो यथा ॥

Moral: I know all of it — that I am the one being carried by these troublesome creatures. I am biding my time, like the brahmin blinded with ghee.

From the Panchatantra, Book III — Of Crows and Owls.