Seven Breads
- Tan Taret -
- Animal Fables-
Fungawari Singbul by B. Jayantakumar Sharma *
Art Work - Phurailatpam Banti
Animal Fables:
Funga Wari Singbul: Page 62
Tan Taret
Once upon a time in a land, there lived a widow and his son. His son was an extremely lazy one. Because of his laziness, their family became poorer day by day. They survive on the daily earning of his mother. She scolds him everyday but was of no used to him.
However, one day, the lazy son thought of travelling so that he can find his luck and asked his mother to make him seven breads (Tan).
The mother made the breads and packed it with the banana leafs. With the packed breads, the Katan (lazy boy) asked his mother to push him so that he can move forward which made him go till the banyan tree by the pond to rest.
As it was hot, he thought of resting under the tree and was planning to eat the breads. He opened the packing and started to count the breads saying loudly, “Whom should I eat first? Should I eat the eldest one, or the next? Or should I eat the youngest one first, or should I eat all the seven at once?”
Now there were angels taking bath in the pond, and they saw and heard the Katan, but human could not see them because they were Gods. The angels thought that Katan was about to eat them and were really afraid.
So they came in front of Katan and said, “Please do not eat us, we will give you something which would grant you any wish you make.” and gave him a white goat. They advised him to ask for anything he want and then beat the goat to get it.
As Katan came back home along with the goat, it became dark. He seeks shelter of house, and seeing the poor condition of the house he said, “Please do not worry about tonight’s dinner, I will arranged it. Give me three plates and three bowls.”
He demanded rice and curry and beat the goat thrice and behold came the rice and curry. The poor couple were amazed by the magic and wanted to keep the goat for themselves. The night when Katan was sleeping, the couple changed the magic goat with a normal goat.
Next morning, Katan heads home with the other goat and told his mother the whole story of the magic goat and the angels. The mother even though she does not believe her son kept quiet.
Like the previous night, Katan demanded rice and curry and beat the goat but nothing happen. Katan then beat the goat many times till his mother stopped him but nothing happened.
Katan now feels cheated by the angels and asked his mother to make seven Kabok Khoidums (rice-cake) so that he can take revenge on them. So Katan went to the same spot and did the same thing, and when the angels came out, he told them the whole story.
Afterwards, the angels gave him a bat and a rope. Katan now heads home with the new gifts.
As before, he stopped at the same house. The couple was happy to see Katan and when he went to sleep, they came in to check the new gift. The moment they came close to the gifts, the rope tightens them and bat started beating them.
The couple was beaten so badly that they promised never to still again and also give back the magic goat to Katan. He now came back home with the magic goat. With the help of the magical goat, Katan and his mother lived happily ever after.
Moral: One should never steal.
* This is a Manipur folk tale translated from a Book in Manipuri "Fungawari Singbul" compiled by B. Jayantakumar Sharma. E-pao.net thanks B. Jayantakumar Sharma for giving permission to be reproduced in this website. Translation done by Team e-pao. This was webcasted on September 05, 2012.
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