Rash action

The Baby and the Mongoose

In a city of the north lived a Brahmin. His wife gave birth to a son. At the same time, a mongoose,who lived nearby, had a male baby mongoose.

The Brahim wife adopted the mongoose's baby. She cared for him like her own baby, but she never left her own baby alone with the mongoose. She could not trust completely and faired that the mongoose might some days Harm her baby. The elders have said that one's own child, however bad, ugly, foolish or wicked, is his parent's darling. They also say that the bond with one's son is stronger than the bond with a friend, father or Brahmin's wife had to go to fetch water from the lake. She asked her husband to watch over their son. The Brahmin too had to leave for some work. He left his baby with the baby mongoose. The baby slept peacefully in his Cot.

Then, the mongoose saw a cobra entering the house. Sensing danger to Brahmin's baby the mongoose attacked the cobra and killed them. Just than, Brahmin wife returned with water. She saw the mongoose, with its mouth full of blood. She feared the worst had finally happened. Without thinking, the Brahmin's wife dropped the pot of water on the mongoose. The poor mongoose died. The Brahmin's wife then rushed to her baby's room and found him peacefully sleeping in his cot,and the cobra lying dead nearby. She now understand what had actually happened. The Brahmin's wife was struck by grief that she had killed the Mongoose who had been like a son to her. In the meantime her husband returned. The wife cursed him.‘You did not listen to me. You left our baby alone and went begging for alms. Self - interest is good, but too much of it will make you like that Brahmin, ' the wife said.

‘ Who was that Brahmin and what happened to him?’ asked the husband.

She told him the full story.