Mee Amadi Lai

Mi ga Laiga samnarambagi warini.
Mioibana soibadagi laiyamna miobabu lapna enthoklakhibagi warini. Wari asi khanglaba eikhoina aranba amuk toukhigadra? Makhada samlappa wari leijare.
Mi amasung Lai punna leiminnarami. Awatpa amata leitana,aram-khourangba khangdana,awa ana mayoknadana nungaina leiminnarami.
Adugumlaba nungairaba mafamdugi mayai chabukta uhei amakhak panba panbi ama hourami. Palliba uhei adu mi amata chaba yaramde. Laising khaktana yennaduna charami.
Matam kaya houkhraba matungda miwoi anikhak uheidugi maramda watanarami<><>
Mi (1) laiyamsingsi mabuk fatte makhoina uhei amakhak panbasi mioiba amatasu pijade. Uheisi ei mahao khangningi,yamnasu haoramgadaba malli.
Mi(2) hoine eisu khallamlibani, laisingsina eikhoibu namthaduna thaningba malli.Eibani hektuna mahao khangdoksira?
Mi(1) yaine handakisidi eibanni chathoklasi.
Asumna makhoi ani changduna watanaraga amagi marengbanda amana tonglaga heidu lonna heklaga chathoklammi.
Mathang gi numitta hei leiramdabagi warina mafamdugi wari oikhre. Hei pannaba laisingna laiyam gi makokta hei mangkhibagi pao tamle.
Laiyamgi makokki yathang matung enna karamna hei mangkhibano thigatpa houre.laiyamgi wakhaldadi hei asi mioibasingna soidana heklamgani thajei, adubu kanagumba mi amatanasu hei adugi maramda haidoklaktre. Ahoinadum laina chaba oiramgani hairak ee.
Asumna matam kaya changna thirabasu fanglaktabadagi 'wayel kati' paiba mapuna wayenbinaba, heidubu huranba mi/Lai du wayel katina chaptuna mi,Lai khangna wayenbinaba wakat thang gatkhre.
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Mi,Lai suna tilllaba mafam amada wayel kati paiba mapuna magi thouraba kati paiduna aranba touba/ngangba ama hekta chapkadagi ngaikhre. Mising gi ningaidagi laiyamsing hanna wayel katigi mamangda pareng leptuna amamamta oinachangsinkhre. Kanagumba Lai amatasu maral leitabadagi wayel katina chapkhidre.
Mi oibasing amuk pareng pareng leptuna amamamta changduna wayel kati paiba mapuda asumna hairami------"wayel kati pairiba mapu o,nanaigi khut asina laigi mangfadraba hei adubu hek hekpa oiraba nanaigi khut asi khuwaigi mamangda chapthatpiduna cheirak pibiyu. Nanaigi punsina khut yaodana punshi chuppa hingjage." Asumna hainaraga mi kaya mathang mathang changsillakpana maral leitaba mioising wayel katina karisu toukhidre.
Ngasaigi hei huranba anidudi maning ethang thangna leppiboire. Makhoi anigi matang yourakpada-----Mi (1) "wayel kati pairiba mapu o nanaigi khutsina hei dubu hekpa makta oiradi nanaigi khutsi kakpiro" haiduna makhuttu tingthoupada makhuttu wayel katina chapkhidre.
Houjik aroiba mi amakhak ngaire laiyamna khalli------- "aroiba mi si wayel katina chaptuna soidana cheirak fanglani."
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Aroiba mi aduna asumna hairak ee-------Me(2)"wayel kati paibiriba mapu o,nanaigi khutti lairi kbong asina hei adugi makhongda hek changlamlaba khong asi kakpiro" asumna hairakpada laiyamna khalli "ashh nungaiteda khong yaodaba mi ama uragani"adubu wayel katina magi makhongdu kakhidre. Karigi kakte magidi makhongdu heidugi makhongda changkhide Mi(1) gi marengbanda tongduna heidu makhutna hekhibani.
Aroiba midusu hei huranbagi cheirak fangkhidabaduda mi lai pumnamak ngaknare. Kana kana mi/ Lai chithahouba leibra yengbadasu pumnamak sure. Matangsida mi singna asumna hairak ee. "Heidu laina chaba oiramgani" "Laina chakhre" " Laina chakhre".

Hei huranbasu faba fangdre, laiga migasu chinda paodanaduna marei yetnare. Azumna nungaina engna chikna leiramba mafamdu wayetnabana pumnil nille.
Mi amasu laigi chayetnaba hellakpadagi laiyam khundinnaduna waep khara loure. Warepsingdugi matung enna----mioibadagi siba naidaba louthoktuna, aram khourangba, ana ayek kaya faohallaga laisingdagi lapna thamkhiduna makhoina warakpa matamda lai eikhoibu kouduna tengthahansi. Masi natradi lai eikhoi engna leiba fanglaroi.
Asumna warepnakhibadagi mioiba eikhoigi hounik oiriba mawong azi oikhibani hai.
Wari asi chumba lanbana ama oiraga warisida yaoriba mioibagi wakhallon, chatnalonchat, kayasi neinaraga wakhal lousing oibra yengsi asoiba heinabising semdikminnaduna tungi mirolsingbu nungai hounaba sintha pangminnaramsi.

Prince and the wicked Friend

Prince and the wicked Friend

A long time ago, a Prince and a Minister's son lived together at a palace. They shared a strong friendship. Once the Prince and the Minister's son had to leave the Palace for their education and the duo started walking. As they continued walking they came across a two sided turn of the road "let's part our ways from here; we'll meet here at the same point after one complete year of our education" and both departed from there. After completion of one year of education the Prince and the Minister's son met there at the same point.

While walking in the Jungle on their way back to the Palace the Minister's son said to the Prince, "Mate, it's the right time to show each other in the Jungle what we have learnt." Since both agreed on it the Minister's son displayed his magical power first. The Minister's son lied down on ground, chanted something on his palm and rubbed them on his face. Immediately a golden deer came out of his mouth and after playing for sometimes the deer went inside his mouth where it came out from.

As soon as the Minister's son finished showing his magical power the Prince started showing his talent. The Prince lied down on the ground, rubbed his face after chanting on his palm and a beautiful golden Parrot came out of his mouth and flew off to a branch. At this time the greedy son of Minister thought, "If I disguise to a golden deer and get inside his body I can become the Prince. And later on I'll become King and live happily ever after." Having this thought on mind the Minister's son disguised himself to a golden deer and disappeared inside the Prince's mouth. The Minister's son got up as the Prince and chopped off his own body into seven parts and burnt them with some dry woods.

Looking at the greedy Minister's son's activity the golden Parrot thought,"Eh! Mate, you are so awful. You set your own body on fire because you are jealous of me. Dismay! I have to spend the rest of my life as a wild bird!" With tears on his face the Parrot flew off in the empty sky.

When the Minister's son returned to the palace pretending as the Prince the Minister asked him, "Where is your mate?" "I and my mate parted our ways." Thus the Minister's son lived as the Prince and after the death of the old King the Minister's son became King of its place and lived happily.

On the other hand, the real prince who had transformed to a golden Parrot came across various places and apparently flew inside a Palace. He came near where the Princess was making cloth by Yongkham (A traditional machine to make clothes) and stood on top the leather (Shambal). Looking at the beautiful golden Parrot the Princess fell in love with it.

The Parrot came everyday near the Princess and once she said, "Hey Parrot! I am in love with you. Come and stand at my Yongkham. I'll catch and keep you in a golden cage and own you as mine." The Parrot replied to this, "Dear Princess! If you want to own me you have to promise that you will not sell me off or give me away." The Princess promised him and the Parrot flew and stood at her Yongkham. The Princess caught the Parrot and put him inside a golden cage. Just to look at the gorgeous golden Parrot people from far off visited the Palace.

The Minister's son also heard the news. He was furious; he thought it must be the real Prince who turned into a golden Parrot and was thinking how to get rid of the enemy. He wrote a letter to the King of the place where the Parrot was living, "I want to buy the Parrot how much you'll charge." The King informed his daughter about the letter. The Princess furiously replied a letter. After reading the letter the Minister's son wrote another letter, "If you refuse to give the Parrot to me then be prepared for a war."

The King, father of the Princess who was taking care of the Parrot was very old to fight against anyone. If they fight a war the King will die hence to save her father's live the Princess broke the promise made to the Parrot and gave it away to the Minister's son. The Minister's son carefully brought the Parrot to its Palace and he decided to kill it in front of all the people as a grand event. When the time came, the palace compound was gathered by huge number of crowd.

The Parrot would be taken out for a stroll round the Palace by the King, its Ministers and its slaves and after the stroll the Parrot would be slaughtered to death. Before its death the Parrot, when the King was on a stroll, was crying. Leima, watching the golden Parrot cry, wife of the Minister's son who was once the Prince's wife also started crying.

Looking at the Queen, Leima, the Parrot said, "Dear Leima, I am the real Prince-your dear husband. Once, while returning home after completion of education with my mate, the Minister's son in a Jungle we showed our talents to each other. While I was turning into a golden Parrot the greedy son of the Minister turned into a golden Deer and went inside my body which was lying on the ground and he turned into Prince and now living as a King. He is not the real Prince." Leima and the Parrot discussed what they are supposed to do in front of the people.

When the King returned at the Palace after its stroll, Leima as discussed earlier with the Parrot in front of many people looked at the King and said, "Dear mighty King, you had gone outside to study magical power for one complete year, what all did you learn? Please show us today what you have learnt in front of many people gathered here."

The King resisted for long but finally he had to show. In front of the huge crowd a clean sheet of cloth was laid on the floor. The King lied down on top of the sheet, chanted something on his palm and rubbed them on his face. Then a beautiful golden Deer jumped out the King's mouth and played on the ground. Looking at this wonderful trick of the King people applauded and praised him.

Meanwhile, as discussed earlier Leima opened the golden cage and the Parrot flew off the cage and went inside the body of the King which was lying on the ground. When the golden Deer tried to get inside the King's body he found the body was alive and the golden Deer ran into a Jungle.

The real son of the King told the truth to all the people gathered and he lived as a King of the place happily ever after.

"The End"

** From Manipur folk tale Book called "Fungawari Singbul" by B. Jayantakumar Sharma**.

A Contest Of Wit

A Contest Of Wit
- A Manipur folk-tale -

..................Once, long ago, in a village there lived four friends named Chaoba, Chaobhal, Chaonu and Chaoton. They grew up together and loved one another very much.

One day, they were roaming about and reached a nearby village. There they happened to see a beautiful young girl who had come to the village pond to fetch water.

Each one of them was struck by the beauty of the girl. " I must marry her," each one of them thought without revealing what was going on in his mind to the other three.

The next day, each of them separately visited the girl's house and began to court her. As each one of them came to ttje House at different times, none of them knew what the others were doing.

The girl received and treated them equally. Things went on in this way for full three months. Then the girl began to think, These four young men are very close friends and they do not know that each of them is courting me.

A scene in the village

But one day they will know the truth and then they will be so angry with one another that they may become enemies . So it will be right for me to bring all of them together one day and reveal that all of them have been courting me. I shall then marry the one among them who will prove himself to be the most clever."

So, the clever girl made her plans.

Thus, when Chaoba came to see her, she said, "Dear brother, you have been courting me for three months. Things should not go on like this any longer. So, if you really love and wish to marry me, then please come here the next Monday at dusk and hide yourself behind the bamboo grove on the western side of my house. When my mother is asleep, I shall come out to the front courtyard and call you. Then you can come out of your hiding and I shall marry you."

She then said the same thing to the other three friends too, except that she told one of them to hide himself behind the bamboo grove on the south. To another she said that he should hide himself on the north, and to the fourth one she suggested that he should hide himself near the front gate.

And on the appointed day, as darkness descended Chaoba came to the bamboo grove on the western side and hid himself behind it. So did Chaobhal behind the bamboo grove on the southern side.

And Chaonu too hid himself behind the bamboo grove on the eastern side. Last of all came Chaoton, who hid himself behind a grove near the front gate.

And then as night advanced, the girl came out to the front courtyard and cried out loudly, "The time has come. I'm ready you can come out."

As soon as she uttered these words the four friends rushed out from their hiding places, and each one of them tried to grab the girl's hand. Just at that moment, the girl's mother with whom the girl had confided everything came out of her house.

In the light of the lamp that she had brought out the four friends saw and recognised each other. They realised what each one of them had been doing without the knowledge of the other three. They then began to laugh at one another's activity.

Chaoba then said, "Dear friends, this is a clever move by this girl. She has done it to make us know that each one of us has been courting her separately. So, instead of quarelling, we should find out a way to settle who among us should marry her."

The others agreed to this proposal. The girl then proposed that there should be a contest of wit among them. She said that each of them should tell a riddle and the one who could tell the cleverest riddle would marry her. The four young men readily agreed. They then invited some elderly neighbours to be the judges of the contest.

First of all, Chaoba began to tell his riddle. " Dear friends", he said, "my father once planted a mango tree. After the death of my father I wanted to make a boat and so I cut down the mango tree. You know it took me one whole month to cut down the tree. Then I thought the tree was too long for the boat and I decided to cut off the top-end of the tree. And so one day, after an early meal, I began to walk towards the top-end of the tree. But, the tree was so long that by the time I reached half of its whole length it was already sunset. So I had to spend the night by the tree trunk. The next day I reached the top-end of the tree, but again it was already dark. So I could cut the top-end only the next day. You see it took me a one and a half month to complete the work, beginning iiom the cutting down of the tree to the cutting off of the top-end. Now friends,it is for you to decide how long and how big the mango tree was."

The three friends were baffled. "It is indeed a huge tree, and we have never seen one so big," they all agreed.

Chaobhal then began his riddle. "My father had a buffalo. It had horns set wide apart as much as they were long. One day a crane flew from the tip of the right horn to reach the tip of the left horn . The crane started early in the morning but by the time it was dark the bird had reached only the first half of the distance. It had to spend the night on the head of the buffalo. The next day, the crane started early in the morning and again, by the time it reached the left horn, it was already dark. Now my dear friends, it is for you to determine how far one tip of the horn was from the other.

The three friends agreed, " Yes, the buffalo must indeed be very huge."

It was now Chaonu's turn to tell his riddle. After pondering awhile he began, " My father built a house having twelve rooms for me. One day I took a broom and began to sweep the floor starting from the front porch, right from the early morning. But by the time night came, I had reached only the middle part of the house. So I had to spend the night there and it took me the whole next day to complete sweeping the floors. Now, it is for you, friends, to determine the length, the breadth and the height of the house that my father built for me."

The other three friends agreed that it was really a big house.

It was now Chaoton's turn to tell his riddle. But no idea came to his mind immedialtely. He remained silent for a few minutes. Everyone began to think that he was not clever enough to tell a riddle. The girl, who was actually in love with him, and who very much wanted him to win the contest, became a little disappointed.

Some moments passed in this way.

Then an idea struck Chaoton and he began thus: "Like the father of each one of you, who left things for you, my father too left a drum for me. It was so big that one day I beat it on its left side and moved to beat the right side. But it was already night by the time I reached the middle of the drum's length. So I spent the night there itself and started for the other side on the following day. Of course I reached the right side only when it was dark. Now, friends, it is for you to determine the size of the drum that my father left for me."

The three friends winked at one another thinking that it was, compared to their own, not a clever riddle.

So Chaoba questioned him, "Where did your father get the trunk of the tree to make a drum that big?"

And Chaoton answered very confidently, "Well, you see, my father used the trunk of the mango tree that your father had planted. For the leather work my father used the hide of the buffalo that my friend Chaobhal's father owned. It took one whole year to make the drum."

But then Chaonu said, "The drum could not have been left in the open. Where was it kept?"

"Well, the village people kindly dragged it into the house which was built by your father, replied Chaoton with a hearty laughter.

The village elders now began to consider which riddle was the cleverest one. And finally, they all agreed that Chaoton's riddle was the best one and the girl was very glad at the result of the contest of wit.

Then the happy villagers arranged the marriage ceremony even at that hour. The girl's mother, being a widow and having no one to live with her, Chaoton and his wife lived with her, happily ever after.

"The End"

The Seven Poor Sons - Laira Macha Taret

" The Seven Poor Sons
- Laira Macha Taret -
- Animal Fables- "

Folk tale of Manipur.....................

Once upon a time, there lived a poor couple who had seven sons. They cannot even once feed their children properly so they decided to abandon them in the forest. So one day, the mother cooked bread for each of them and the father took them to the forest on the pretext of searching fruits. The youngest son was very clever; he did not eat the bread but instead left trials of their route with pieces of his bread.

When they reached deep into the forest, the father told them that he had to attain his nature call and asked them to wait there for him. It was almost dark, but their father did not return to them. The brothers were lost in the forest. However, the youngest brother followed the trial he had made and the brothers reached home late at night.

So the next day, the mother made breads for them and they came to the jungle again. The youngest one as usual left trials of their route. When they reached deep inside the forest, the father vanished again. And when they were about to return home, the bread trials were not found and they were lost in the forest.

The brothers not knowing the way back home started moving north in search of their home. As they walk towards north, they saw a small light coming from a house. As they reached the house, the brothers asked if anyone was there and let them stay there for the night.

A lady answered there call and they went inside the house. The brothers were getting ready to sleep when suddenly the lady wore a coat made of leather and started growing taller. She grew taller and flew away from the house.

In the same house, the seven sons of the demon were also sleeping. The demon sons wore crown on their heads. The brothers went in to sleep beside the demon brothers. Six of the brothers were very tired and slept the moment they took the bed but, the younger brother could not sleep.

The younger brother moved around the house and found lots of human skeleton inside the house. Now he came to realized that it was the house of the demons. So he came back to the room where his brothers and the seven demon sons were sleeping. He took the crowns from their heads and put it on the heads of his brothers and himself and slept.

After a while, the demon came back. She took off her coat and came inside the room where they were sleeping. She started touching the heads of the sleeping children and killed the ones without the crowns. After that, she too went to sleep. After a while she started snoring very loudly.

At that moment, the younger brother woke up his brothers and told them that it was the house of the demon and they had to go now or else they would be in trouble. As they came out of the house, the younger brother took the demon's coat. And when he wore it, he became taller and bigger. It was magic coat and with the help of the power, he took his brothers and flew to a hill far away from the forest.

When the demon woke up, he realized that she had killed her sons instead of the other children. The angry demon started following the brothers, but as she doesn't have the coat, she was slow. The brothers could see the demon following them from the top of the hill, so they hide behind the huge rocks. As the demon started climbing the hill, the brothers pushed down huge stones and killed the demon.

After killing the demon, the brothers flew north with the help of the coat. They saw a palace and went inside it. They narrated the incident and king was very happy on hearing the good news. The king was happy because his kingdom gives one human each everyday as tribute to the demon.

So happy was the king that he gave half his land to the brothers and also many other gifts. The brothers went to fetch their parents and they lived happily ever after.

"The End"

Art Work - Phurailatpam Banti.

The Python's Promise

"The Python's Promise / Lairen na washak ngakpa"

.........short folk tales of Meitei's.

Once upon a time there used to live a clever fox in a bushes. One day he was walking along a river singing in a very loud voice.

So loud and melodious was his voice that it woke up the Python King of the river.

The Python thought that it was such a good voice and surely he could teach my two kids singing lesson. He was very delighted.

So he came out of the river in search of the singer. After following the voice, he met the old fox.

He said, "You have such an enchanting voice, so I came searching for you. Please tell me where do you stay and what is your name?"

The fox replied, "My name is Kundopa, I stay nearby the river bank."

After a formal introduction, the Python told him his proposal.

The fox couldn't help imagining how tasty the baby python would be, and didn't want to lose the God sent opportunity. Both agreed to the idea of teaching singing lessons to the python babies.

The next morning, the Python King brought the babies to the old fox. As soon as he left, the fox killed the babies and ate them.

After ten days, the Python King came to visit his kids but nobody was there at the fox's place.

He search for a long period of time but couldn't find them so he returned home heartbroken. He wanted to know what had happen to his babies.

For days he searches for the fox and the fox hide from the python. Now he assumes that his babies must have been killed by the fox, so he took a vow to kill the fox the moment he sees him.

One day, the fox came out in search for food as he has not eaten properly for a while. Unfortunately, he met the Python. Seeing the python he ran away.

The python now believes that the fox must have killed his babies, so he ran after the fox to kill him.

As the fox ran, he stumbles and falls but fortunately he fell into a closed natural structure.

The python saw him there but couldn't reach him because he was big.

As he waited for days for the fox to come out, the fox was busing digging a way out.

The fox after finding a way out escapes by fooling the python and the python died out of starvation.

Moral: We should not just trust someone without knowing who they really are.

Sandrembi and Chaisra

"Sandrembi and Chaisra"
- The wicked Step-mother -

A manipuri Folk tale....................

Once upon a time, there lived two stepsisters called Sandrembi and Chaisra. After the death of their father, they were brought up by their mothers. Chaisra was the lone child of her mother while Sandrembi had a younger brother. Chaisra's mother always thought of harming Sandrembi, her brother and mother. Sandrembi's mother never nurtured any ill feelings for Chaisra and her mother.

One day, the two mothers went fishing. Sandrembi's mother caught a large number of fishes. Chaisra's mother could not catch any fish. Instead she caught a number of snakes and she put all of it in her tungon. The tungon was full of snakes.

As dusk approached, they were tired. They took rest under a fig tree full of ripe fruits. Chaisra's mother climbed the tree and cried, "Sister, open your mouth. I'll throw down ripe figs." Sandrembi's mother opened her mouth. A ripe fruit was dropped.

"Sister, is it good? Close your eyes and open your mouth for more," cried Chaisra's mother again. This time, she took her tungon and poured all the snakes into the mouth of Sandrembi's mother. Immediately, Sandrembi's mother died. Chaisra's mother pushed the dead body into the water and came home alone.

Sandrembi was worried when she saw Chaisra's mother coming back alone. She asked about her mother. "Your mother is still fishing. She didn't want to return with me," was the only reply. As night fell, Sandrembi and her brother felt helpless.

She wept bitterly and went to sleep without eating. Late in the night, her mother came in her dream."Sandrembi, my daughter, I have been murdered by your step mother. I have turned into a turtle. Come and catch mc in the morning. Put me in a pitcher inside the kitchen and keep it there for five days. 1 will turn to my human form."

Sandrembi woke up and cried. At dawn, she went to catch the turtle. She caught many fishes but threw them back to the water. Finally, she caught the turtle. She carefully brought it home. Chaisra's mother was waiting for her. "How much fish did you catch?," she asked. "Mother, my tungon is empty. I couldn't catch any fish today," replied a worried Sandrembi.

"Then go to the kitchen and cook food," ordered the angry woman.

Chaisra saw Sandrembi putting the turtle in the pitcher. She told her mother about it and they hatched a plan. Chaisra started crying for water and her mother told her to drink water from the pitcher in the kitchen. The turtle was discovered. The wicked woman ordered Sandrembi to boil it in water.

A helpless Sandrembi had to obey her wicked step-mother. She started boiling the turtle in a pot. A voice cried, "Oh daughter! the heat has reached my feet." Sandrembi wept and pulled the firewood out. Chaisra"s mother shouted angrily, "Slap this disobedient girl." Chaisra slapped Sandrembi.

Then she started burning the firewood again. The voice kept crying, "Oh daughter! the heat has reached my waist. Now it has reached my chest. It has reached my neck". Finally, the turtle died. Chaisra and her mother ate it greedily. Then, they threw the bones near the house.

At night, Sandremi's mother came in her dream again and said, "My daughter! collect the bones. Wrap them and keep them in a basket for seven days. I will try to change to my human form". The girl did the same. Curiosity and eagerness tempted her. On the sixth day, she opened the basket. As the number of days fell short, a swallow flew out of the basket. The helpless girl wept bitterly.

Time passed. Sandrembi and Chaisra became full-grown girls.One day, they went out to fetch water. Sandrembi's clothes were old and torn while Chaisra wore beautiful new clothes. The king passing by saw them. He fell in love with Sandrembi because her beauty struck his heart.

He came closer and said, "O fair lady, I am thirsty. Please give me some water". Sandrembi was afraid of her cruel step-mother and said, "I am sorry, Sir, please drink water from my sister". The king quietly went away without drinking, Chaisra narrated everything to her mother at home.

Next day, the wicked woman gave the torn clothes to her daughter and she gave Chaisra" s beautiful new clothes to Sandrembi. As they came near the river, the king was waiting for them. Riding on his horse, he came near and said," O fair lady, I am thirsty."

He immediately caught Sandrembi by the waist, pulled her up on his horse and took her to the palace. There they got married and Saridrembi became the queen. The following year, she gave birth to a son.

Chaisra and her mother became very angry. Again they hatched a plot to kill Sandrembi. They came to the palace to invite her for a meal. The king agreed but did not allow her to take their young child.

Sandrembi came for the meal alone. After eating, she found Chaisra wearing her clothes. She said, "Sister, I am getting late. My baby must be crying. Give my clothes back." Chaisra took out the clothes and threw them under the bed. Sandrembi crept under the bed to collect her clothes.

As she came out, Chaisra and her mother poured boiling water over her. She died immediately. Her soul turned into a dove and flew away. Now, Chaisra put on the clothes and went to the palace. The king was surprised to see the ugly woman. He asked, "What happened! why are your eyes sunk, your heels are also cracked?"

"My lord, remembering my departed parents, I wept and my eyes sank. Thinking about my baby, I ran fast. Thus, my heels got cracked," came the reply. The king remained silent.

A few days later, the dove flew in to the garden of the palace. The gardener was cutting grass. The dove started singing:
"O gardener of the King,
Go, tell your queen,
Go, tell your king,
Don't harm my young child,
Sandrembi sitting on a tree Chaisra sitting on the throne O king forgetful of wife
Have you forgotten your real wife?"

The gardener was surprised to see a bird singing in human language. He immediately informed the king, who came out and said, "O dear dove, if you are my beloved Sandrembi, please come and eat the grains from my palm." The dove flew down and ate the grains. The king kept the dove in a small cage. In his dream, Sandrembi appeared and said, "My lord, keep me for seven days. I will change into my human form." The king woke up and hid the cage.

One day, the king went hunting. In his absence Chaisra killed the dove and cooked it. When the king returned, he was furious to find the cage empty. Chaisra said, "My lord, it tried to harm our child. I got angry and killed it. I have cooked it. Please eat it."

The king shouted angrily, "Throw it away immediately." She threw it near the palace. After a few days, a beautiful mango tree started growing on the spot. It grew into a huge tree. It bore only one fruit. The king kept a close eye on the fruit. One day, the gardener plucked it and took it home.

Next morning, the gardener looked for a knife to cut the mango. He could not find a knife. The following day, with knife in hand, he looked for the mango. He couldn't find the mango. Like this, it went on for seven days. On the eighth day, the mango turned into a beautiful woman. She cooked food for the gardener.

When the gardener came home, he was surprised to find delicious food. The woman hid herself in a dark corner. It went on like this for a few days. One day, the gardener decided to find out the mystery. He quietly hid himself near his house. When the beautiful woman came out to prepare food, he rushed in quickly. To his surprise, he found that she was none other than Sandrembi. She told him her sad story. The gardener went to the king and narrated everything. The king sent his men to escort Sandrembi to the palace.

Then, the king ordered Sandrembi and Chaisra to fight a duel in front of the people. Both were given a sword each. The swords were swords of justice. Chaisra first struck at Sandrembi but nothing happened.

The sword did not touch her body. Sandrembi's turn came. She struck at Chaisra. The sword struck Chaisra's body. She died on the spot instantly. Everyone rejoiced. Sandrembi became the queen once again. Thus, the king and the queen lived happily thereafter.

The Human Python

"The Human Python"
- Taibang mee na lairen onba -

A manipuri short Folk tale....................

Once upon a time there lived a father and a son. After seasonal work in the field, they always go to the hills to cut woods from the nearby forest.

One fine day, they went to collect the chopped wood from the forest.

On reaching a perfect spot for cooking lunch, the father started preparing to cook and the son went in to carry out the woods.

The father started making preparation for cooking.

He found a piece of wood nearby to cut the Sareng that they brought while suddenly he with a fearful voice called out his son's name.

The son on hearing his father's voice rush to the spot and was shocked to see his father's position.

Half the body from the knee of his father had turned into a python. The son asked how all of that has happened.

The father replied that as he cut the Sareng into pieces on the wood, his body turns into python, so the son told him to stop cutting the fish.

The father told him that he cannot live as half man and half python forever so he insisted on turning into a full python and started cutting the fish.

The son cried and tried to stop him but in vain.

Now the father has turn into a python lay in front of his son. The son cried a lot and seeks his father's blessing.

The father told his son that now as he has turned into a python, he can no longer be with them but he will return every year to visit him and to guard his land and he was advised to leave out his share of food. Saying this, the father left.

"The End"

Motto: Parents always loves their children. Even though the father had turned into a python, he was willing to guard his son's land visiting him every year.

Art Work - Phurailatpam Banti.
A Manipur folk tale translated from a Book in Manipuri "Fungawari Singbul" compiled by B. Jayantakumar Sharma