EIGHTH GOBLIN

The Specialist in Food, the Specialist in Women, and the
Specialist in Cotton. Which is the cleverest?

So the king went back under the sissoo tree, caught the goblin just
as before, put him on his shoulder, and started toward the monk.
And as he walked along, the goblin on his shoulder spoke and said:
"O King, listen once more to the following story to beguile your
weariness."


In the Anga country there is a great region called Forest. There
lived a great Brahman, pious and wealthy, whose name was
Vishnu-swami. To his worthy wife three sons were born, one after
another. When they had grown to be young men, specialists in
matters of luxury, they were sent one day by their father to find a
turtle for a sacrifice which he had begun.

So the brothers went to the ocean and there they found a turtle.
Then the eldest said to the two younger: "One of you take this
turtle for Father's sacrifice. I cannot carry a slimy thing that smells
raw."

But when the eldest said this, the two younger said: "Sir, if you
feel disgust, why shouldn't we?"

When the eldest heard this, he said: "You take the turtle, otherwise
Father's sacrifice will be ruined on your account. Then you and