Once there lived a kind Brahmin in a small village with his wife. They had a little son. One day, as he was returning home, he came across a baby mongoose crying next to its mother’s dead body.
“Oh! Poor creature," thought the Brahmin. “If I leave it here it will surely die." He picked it up and took it home.
“Gowri, I found this little creature on my way home. Let us take care of him," he said to his wife. “Very well. Along with our son, I will take care of the mongoose also," replied his wife.
The mongoose grew up with love and care. He slept next to the Brahmin’s son in the cradle, drank milk, and played with the boy every day. As both grew, their friendship became like that of two brothers.
As days went by, the Brahmin’s wife began to have doubts. “After all, this is a wild animal. Sooner or later it will show its true colours," she thought. She put the mongoose’s bed separately and watched him carefully whenever he played with her son.
One day, when the Brahmin was away, Gowri decided to fetch water from the river. She saw her son sound asleep in his cradle, with the mongoose asleep at the foot of it. “This should only take a moment. I hope I can trust that mongoose," she said to herself before hurrying off.
Suddenly, the mongoose woke up, hearing a faint noise. He saw a large black snake crawling through a hole in the wall.
“The snake will harm my brother. Mother and father are away. I must protect him," thought the mongoose as the snake slithered towards the cradle.
The brave little mongoose pounced on the huge black snake. After a long, ferocious fight, he finally managed to kill it.
Just then, he heard the Brahmin’s wife returning. Joyfully, he ran out to meet her, trying to show through his animal signs that he had protected his little brother from a dreadful snake.
But as soon as Gowri saw blood on the mongoose’s mouth and paws, she thought, “This wretched animal has killed my little son!" In a fit of anger, she threw the heavy water pot at the mongoose, killing him instantly.
Entering the house with a heavy heart, she was amazed to see her little son still deep in sleep. On the floor lay a huge black snake with its head bitten off.
“Oh, what have I done!" cried the Brahmin’s wife. “I killed that faithful little mongoose who saved the life of my precious son!"