Page 220 - Kailaspati: Paramhans Hansdevji Avadhoot

better look for another prey and allow us to return home.
The cobbler, despite owning an able body, was born foolish. he took the merchant to be one known to the two other dacoits. Without any protest, he left that place. after the cobbler was gone, the merchant took the Brahmin aside and said, “see, you are a Brahmin, the best of all races. You are therefore an object of veneration from my end. so i am ready to offer you everything i have with me without a feeling of pain or loss. But why should i offer it to that Kshatriya? You yourself, take it all and bid farewell
to that Kshatriya”.
The Brahmin said, “Right you are, and i am asking him to
leave us.” he then went to the Kshatriya and said that the man was known to him, besides he was their house-priest. so it would be an act of sin to rob him of his money. so you had better leave us and allow me to escort this man to his place of residence. and after that i will meet you again.”
The warrior is a wicked one; he could well realize, but he made no protest. he could also realize that his words of protest would yield nothing better. he took it for granted that he was going to be a poor prey to the conspiracy of the duo. Before he left he said, if this man happened to be your priest, then i have nothing to say.
The Brahmin said to the merchant, “Now let me have your wallet.”
The merchant said, “it is very much yours. Why are you going to bear such a heavy load? i am here to help you as far as i can. The moment we will complete the walk through this forest, i will part with my wallet and hand it over to you.
The Brahmin took the proposal in the right spirit. With no protest, he began to walk forward. The dwelling house of the merchant was just beyond the forest. as he saw his house, he said to the Brahmin, “My place is yonder there. i invite you to take rest there and go your way thereafter.”
The Brahmin was very tired. he accepted the invitation of the merchant and went to his house to enjoy his hospitality. On entering his house, the merchant whispered to his wife, “Keep this wallet in the safe. Thereafter entertain this guest with all cordiality”.
190 Kailashpati