A Clever Thief

Rajappa, a generous man, trusts his miserly friend Nagappa and buries a hundred silver coins under a banyan tree on his advice. Nagappa secretly digs them up. On returning from a pilgrimage, Rajappa sees through him and, with the village chief's advice, sets a clever trap. Greedy Nagappa is tricked into burying a hundred coins raised by pawning his wife's ornaments, and Rajappa quietly takes them.

Rajappa, a generous man, trusts his miserly friend Nagappa and buries a hundred silver coins under a banyan tree on his advice. Nagappa secretly digs them up. On returning from a pilgrimage, Rajappa sees through him and, with the village chief's advice, sets a clever trap. Greedy Nagappa is tricked into burying a hundred coins raised by pawning his wife's ornaments, and Rajappa quietly takes them.

Nagappa and Rajappa were close friends who lived long ago. Rajappa was open-handed. Having no children, he longed to visit holy places and had put aside 200 silver coins for it. His friend Nagappa was quite the opposite, a miser who always thought of money.

Nagappa and Rajappa were close friends who lived long ago. Rajappa was open-handed. Having no children, he longed to visit holy places and had put aside 200 silver coins for it. His friend Nagappa was quite the opposite, a miser who always thought of money.

Rajappa planned to take a hundred coins for the journey and keep the other hundred safe. He asked his friend for advice. Nagappa refused to keep the money himself, saying he might spend it and would then be unable to return it. Then he pretended to think and suggested digging a pit under the huge banyan by the temple.

Rajappa planned to take a hundred coins for the journey and keep the other hundred safe. He asked his friend for advice. Nagappa refused to keep the money himself, saying he might spend it and would then be unable to return it. Then he pretended to think and suggested digging a pit under the huge banyan by the temple.

Rajappa followed the advice. He buried a hundred coins and marked the place with stones. Then he left with his wife on the pilgrimage. That very night Nagappa, who had waited impatiently, dug up the coins. Soon his wife was wearing new ornaments in the village.

Rajappa followed the advice. He buried a hundred coins and marked the place with stones. Then he left with his wife on the pilgrimage. That very night Nagappa, who had waited impatiently, dug up the coins. Soon his wife was wearing new ornaments in the village.

When Rajappa returned, he went to the tree after dusk and found the stones in place but the coins gone. He searched other spots under the tree in vain. He knew only Nagappa had known about the hiding place. He did not accuse his friend but went to the village chief, who told him exactly what to do.

When Rajappa returned, he went to the tree after dusk and found the stones in place but the coins gone. He searched other spots under the tree in vain. He knew only Nagappa had known about the hiding place. He did not accuse his friend but went to the village chief, who told him exactly what to do.

Rajappa greeted Nagappa lovingly and said he had missed him. He then said fortune had favoured him and he now owned nearly a thousand coins. He asked Nagappa to come at dusk and help choose a spot under the banyan tree. He added that he might soon set out on yet another holy trip.

Rajappa greeted Nagappa lovingly and said he had missed him. He then said fortune had favoured him and he now owned nearly a thousand coins. He asked Nagappa to come at dusk and help choose a spot under the banyan tree. He added that he might soon set out on yet another holy trip.

Nagappa was nervous. Had Rajappa already seen the empty pit? Would he suspect him? He asked his wife Nagamani. She was calm and suggested a plan: pawn her jewels, take only a hundred coins for them and bury those in the same pit. Then Rajappa would feel safe and bury the thousand, which Nagappa would steal after Rajappa left.

Nagappa was nervous. Had Rajappa already seen the empty pit? Would he suspect him? He asked his wife Nagamani. She was calm and suggested a plan: pawn her jewels, take only a hundred coins for them and bury those in the same pit. Then Rajappa would feel safe and bury the thousand, which Nagappa would steal after Rajappa left.

Nagappa followed the plan, buried the hundred coins at dusk and hurried home. Rajappa had guessed something like this and was watching from a hiding place. As soon as Nagappa left, he dug up the coins and went home with them.

Nagappa followed the plan, buried the hundred coins at dusk and hurried home. Rajappa had guessed something like this and was watching from a hiding place. As soon as Nagappa left, he dug up the coins and went home with them.

For two days Nagappa waited, but Rajappa did not come. He grew impatient and went to Rajappa's house, saying that so large a sum should not lie at home. Rajappa said calmly that he had lent the entire thousand to the village chief. He could manage with the hundred buried under the tree until it was repaid.

For two days Nagappa waited, but Rajappa did not come. He grew impatient and went to Rajappa's house, saying that so large a sum should not lie at home. Rajappa said calmly that he had lent the entire thousand to the village chief. He could manage with the hundred buried under the tree until it was repaid.

Nagappa nearly fainted and stumbled home. His wife wailed about the loss of her ornaments. Rajappa kept the hundred coins that Nagappa had buried and taught his friend a lesson without any violence. Cheating brought Nagappa a bigger loss than he had ever planned for his friend.

Nagappa nearly fainted and stumbled home. His wife wailed about the loss of her ornaments. Rajappa kept the hundred coins that Nagappa had buried and taught his friend a lesson without any violence. Cheating brought Nagappa a bigger loss than he had ever planned for his friend.