In the village, Virtal lived three loafers. They bullied everybody and it was difficult for the common people to protest against their conduct because they were musclemen and violent.
One day they stole a fowl from a poor farmer’s roost and cooked and ate it.
The farmer gathered courage. Instead of complaining to the local authorities, he went to the king and reported the matter to him. The three young men were summoned.
“Did you steal the farmer’s fowl?” asked the king.
“My lord, the fellow had no fowl at all. Where is the question of our stealing it?” answered a young man.
The king pretended to believe him.
“What! Did you not steal my fowl and carry it to a place under the banyan tree by the lake?” asked the farmer.
Looking at the king, the second young man said, “My lord, there is neither a fake nor a banyan tree in our village!”
The king pretended to believe this too.
“What! Did you not do so on Monday, at the time of the sunset?” screamed the farmer.
Inspired by the king’s readiness to believe them, the third young man said, “My lord, there is neither Monday nor sunset in our remote village!”
“Enough. Throw these fellows in the dungeon!” ordered the king.
