The Mongoose and the Brahmin's son

A Brahmin, Dev Sharma, lived with his wife in a town. One day, his wife gave birth to a son and they were very happy. On the very same day, a mongoose gave birth near his house, but the mother mongoose died soon after. Out of compassion the Brahmin and his wife adopted the baby mongoose and started looking after him as their own son. The Brahmin’s wife was a fond mother for both her son and the mongoose. She fed them and bathed them. Her son and the mongoose too were very fond of each other and spent all the time together. However, the Brahmin’s wife was always on guard, because she was conscious the mongoose was an animal. "He is a mongoose and will soon develop the animal instincts he has inherited from his species. Someday, he may harm my own son. I must always keep a watch on him." One day, as she went out with a pitcher to fetch some water she asked her husband to keep watch over their son as she had just put him to bed. "Please make sure the mongoose does not hurt him." But the Brahmin was careless. He got dressed and went out to beg for alms leaving the little mongoose and their son on their own. As it happened, during this very time a poisonous snake entered the house and was making its way to the son’s bed. When the mongoose saw this, he attacked his natural enemy. He had to defend the child, who was like a brother to him. Although he was small and the snake was strong, he fought with all his might and bit the snake into pieces, eventually killing it. His mouth and claws were all smeared with the snake's blood. The little mongoose was very proud of himself, and waited outside the house for the Brahmin's wife to arrive. He was eager to show his mother how brave he was. The Brahmin's wife was rushing back in a hurry when she saw the little mongoose coming towards her. She noticed he was covered in blood, and jumped to the conclusion that he must have attacked her son. Angry and upset, she threw the heavy pitcher full of water on the mongoose. The mongoose was killed on the spot. She ran inside, and was amazed to see her son sleeping safely in his cradle. She spotted the snake which had been bitten into pieces near the cradle. She then realized what had happened and was heart-broken. She had killed the little mongoose who had been like a son to her.