The Thief, the Demon and the Brahmin
A thief comes for the brahmin's oxen and a demon comes for the brahmin. Waiting outside his hut, the two begin arguing about who goes first.
In a certain place lived a very poor brahmin named Drona, who lived on alms. He had none of the comforts of bathing, clean clothes, perfume, garlands or betel; his hair, beard and nails had grown long, and his body was dried up by cold, heat and rain.
Some patron took pity and gave him a pair of oxen. He fed them on ghee, oil and gruel until they were sleek and strong.
A thief saw those oxen and thought: "I shall steal that brahmin's pair." At night he took a rope and set out.
On the road he met a fearsome creature — teeth like sharp spikes, a high nose, sunken cheeks, a dry mouth. Frightened, the thief asked: "Who are you?" It said: "I am a truth-speaking Brahmarakshasa. Now tell me who you are." The thief said: "I am Kruraka the thief; I am going to steal a poor brahmin's pair of oxen."
The demon was delighted: "Friend! I eat once every six days — so tonight I shall eat that brahmin. Our business lies in the same place." They went together and waited hidden near the house for the right moment.
When the brahmin fell asleep, the demon moved to eat him. The thief said: "That is not fair. Let me take the oxen first, and eat the brahmin afterwards." The demon said: "If the brahmin wakes at the noise of the cattle, my business is ruined." The thief said: "And if something interrupts your meal, I shall not get the oxen. So let me take them first, and you eat afterwards."
So the two fell to arguing, each insisting on going first — and the noise woke the brahmin.
Then the thief cried: "Brahmin! This demon means to eat you!" And the demon cried: "Brahmin! This thief means to steal your pair of oxen!"
At that the brahmin sprang up on his guard, called on his deity and drove the demon off with a charm, then picked up his stick and drove off the thief — and so he saved both his life and his oxen.
शत्रवोऽपि हितायैव विवदन्तः परस्परम् । चौरेण जीवितं दत्तं राक्षसेन तु गोयुगम् ॥
Moral: Even enemies, quarrelling with each other, worked to his benefit — the thief gave him his life, and the demon gave him his oxen.
From the Panchatantra, Book III — Of Crows and Owls.
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