In a quiet village, there lived a humble Priest known for his piety and simplicity. One day, he was generously gifted a goat by a wealthy villager as a token of appreciation for his religious services. Delighted with his new possession, the Priest slung the goat over his shoulder and set off for home.
As he walked along the path, three cunning tricksters observed him. Each was lazy and desired to take the goat without any effort. They huddled together and devised a plan to deceive the Priest and snatch the goat from him.
As the Priest continued on his way, the first trickster jumped out from behind a tree and exclaimed, “What a curious sight! Why is a respectable Priest like you carrying a dog?” The Priest was taken aback and replied, “This is no dog; it’s a goat, you foolish man!” The trickster feigned innocence, saying, “I’m sorry if I misled you. That’s just what I thought.” With that, he disappeared, leaving the Priest bewildered.
The Priest hadn’t gone far when the second trickster emerged, chuckling. “Why are you carrying a dead calf, Sir? It’s quite embarrassing for someone of your wisdom!” Angered, the Priest retorted, “This is not a dead calf! It’s a lively goat!” The second trickster shrugged, “Perhaps you just don’t know how a goat looks.” He then sauntered off, leaving the Priest in a state of confusion.
Just as the Priest began to regain his composure, the third trickster appeared, laughing heartily. “What’s this? A donkey on your shoulders? You’re the talk of the village!” The Priest’s confidence began to waver. Doubt crept into his mind as he wondered, “Could it be that this goat has transformed into something else?”
Frightened by the tricksters’ taunts and convinced that the goat must be some kind of phantom, the Priest suddenly threw the goat to the ground and ran away in a panic. The three tricksters burst into laughter, delighted by their success. They quickly seized the goat, reveling in their cunning.
Moral:
One should not let the words of others sway their judgment. Stay true to your own understanding and don’t allow deceitful individuals to manipulate you for their gain.
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