They regretted their friend's loss, and later the three remaining Brahmins continued their journey.
After they wandered for some time, they reached a village. The villagers welcomed them in a very hospitable fashion, and offered them different houses to stay. They villagers decided that three different families will serve them with their dinner.
One Brahmin was served with sweet noodles. He remembered from scriptures, "Long tactics will surely take a man to destruction!" Thus, he did not eat the food, and remained hungry throughout the night.
Another Brahmin was served with a bowl of frothy soup, He remembered from scriptures, "Whatever is frothy and distended, does not last long!" Thus, he did not eat the food, and remained hungry throughout the night, too.
The third Brahmin was served a tasty food with a hole in the middle. He remembered, "Defects are an imminent sign of approaching danger!" Thus, he did not eat the food, and remained hungry throughout the night, either.
When the villagers came to know in the morning, that they did not have the dinners served for them, they laughed and ridiculed them.
Angrily, the three remaining learned fools started to depart from the village. As they started their journey, the villagers went a long distance with them - all the time, ridiculing, laughing and mocking them on their way.
The wise indeed say:
Empty knowledge brings ridicule.
