Indian Fairy Tales · Chapters
Chapters explained
Chapter companions for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.
Chapter 1
Dedication
A brief dedication to a child named Phil, setting a personal and affectionate tone for the book.
Chapter 2
Indian Fairy Tales
A collection of Indian fairy tales featuring moral lessons, cunning animals, and magical transformations, exploring themes of gratitude, justice, and the consequences of greed.
Chapter 3
The Lion and the Crane
A crane (the Bodhisatta) removes a bone stuck in a lion's throat, saving his life. When the crane later asks for gratitude, the lion threatens him instead. The crane rebukes the lion's ingratitude and flies away. The Buddha identifies the lion as Devadatta the Traitor and himself as the crane.
Chapter 4
How the Raja’s Son Won the Princess Labam
A Raja's son, forbidden by his mother to hunt on the fourth side, disobeys and discovers a jungle of talking parrots. Their king, Hiraman, mentions the Princess Labam, sparking the prince's obsession. Despite his parents' pleas, he sets out to find her. On his journey, he helps an ant colony by sparing their sweetmeats, earning the Ant-Raja's gratitude and a promise of aid. He then removes a thorn from a tiger's paw, gaining the tiger's loyalty. Later, he cleverly acquires magical items (a flying bed, a wish-granting bag, a water bowl, and a beating stick and rope) from quarreling fakirs. Using the bed, he flies to Princess Labam's country. Disguised and aided by an old woman, he secretly visits the princess at night, first giving her a shawl, then a ring, revealing his identity. The princess agrees to marry him, but her father sets an impossible task: crush oil from eighty pounds of mustard seed in one day or die.
Chapter 5
The Lambikin
A tiny lambikin sets off to visit his granny, promising predators he will return fatter. After gorging himself for seven days, he hides inside a drum made from his brother's skin to avoid being eaten. He tricks several animals, but the clever jackal recognizes his voice and devours him.
Chapter 6
Punchkin
A Raja with seven daughters marries a cunning widow who becomes a cruel stepmother. The youngest daughter, Balna, is forced to marry a seven-headed prince and is later imprisoned by the enchanter Punchkin. Her son grows up, discovers his mother's fate, and uses cleverness and a magical parrot to defeat Punchkin, freeing his family and all the enchanter's victims.
Chapter 7
The Broken Pot
A miserly Brahman named Svabhavakripana, who has collected a pot of rice by begging, spends the night fantasizing about future wealth—buying goats, cows, buffaloes, mares, and eventually a grand house and a wife. In his daydream, he imagines scolding his wife and kicks out, only to break the pot and cover himself in rice, illustrating the folly of making foolish plans for the future.
Chapter 8
The Magic Fiddle
A sister is drowned due to the ill-will of her brothers' wives, who conspire with a Bonga. She is transformed into a bamboo, which a Jogi makes into a fiddle. The fiddle's music moves her brothers to tears. The Jogi is tricked out of the fiddle by a village chief, whose son discovers the Bonga girl emerging from it. She cooks for him, and he catches her; they marry. Later, her impoverished brothers visit, and she reveals her identity, upbraiding them for their neglect.
Chapter 9
The Cruel Crane Outwitted
A crane, the Bodhisatta, devises a plan to eat fish from a drying pond by pretending to transport them to a larger pond. He successfully eats all the fish, but when he tries to trick a crab, the crab outwits him by gripping his neck with its claws and ultimately kills him, demonstrating that deceit and cruelty lead to downfall.
Chapter 10
Loving Laili
Prince Majnun, son of King Dantal, is destined by divine command to marry Laili, the daughter of Munsuk Raja. After a brief encounter, Majnun leaves, and Laili, driven by love, wanders for twelve years, eventually being swallowed by a Rohu fish and later restored to a hideous old woman. She is transformed into a little white dog to win Majnun's love, but he is initially terrified of her. With guidance from his father, he sets a condition for her to regain her youth.
Chapter 11
The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal
A Brahman frees a tiger from a trap, but the tiger immediately threatens to eat him. The Brahman appeals to a pipal tree, a buffalo, and a road, all of which argue that ingratitude is natural. A clever jackal then tricks the tiger back into the cage, saving the Brahman.
Chapter 12
The Soothsayer's Son
Gangazara, the second son of a soothsayer, inherits only his horoscope which predicts poverty, ten years of imprisonment, death on the seashore, and some happiness afterward. He journeys to Benares, rescues a tiger, a serpent, and a rat from a well, and against their warnings also rescues a goldsmith. The goldsmith later betrays him, leading to his imprisonment. The tiger and serpent armies threaten the city until the king releases him. Gangazara eventually meets his brother near the seashore and dies of joy, but is restored to life by the god Ganesa. He marries the princess of Ujjaini and fulfills his horoscope.
Chapter 13
Harisarman
Harisarman, a poor and foolish Brahman with many children, enters the service of a rich householder named Sthuladatta. After being neglected during a feast, he pretends to possess magical knowledge to gain respect. He steals his master's son-in-law's horse, then 'divines' its location, earning honor. Later, summoned by the king to find stolen treasure, he accidentally frightens the thief Jihva into confessing, and recovers the treasure. His luck continues when he correctly guesses a frog in a covered pitcher, leading to great wealth and status.
Chapter 14
The Charmed Ring
A merchant's son wastes his inheritance on a dog, a cat, and a snake, earning his father's wrath. The snake, revealed as Raja Indrasha's son, rewards him with a charmed ring, pot, and spoon. The ring conjures a house and a golden-haired princess, whom he marries. An ogress steals the ring for a prince, but the cat and dog recover it, restoring the hero's wife and home.
Chapter 15
The Talkative Tortoise
The future Buddha, born as a minister's adviser to King Brahmadatta of Benares, seeks to cure the king's excessive talkativeness. A tortoise, carried through the air by two wild ducks by biting a stick, cannot resist speaking when villagers comment, falls into the king's palace, and splits in two. The Bodhisatta uses this as a lesson, warning the king that those who talk too much come to grief, and the king reforms.
Chapter 16
A Lac of Rupees for a Bit of Advice
A poor blind Brahman and his wife, dependent on their son, send him to seek fortune in another country. He becomes caretaker of a golden temple for a generous king. His wife later finds him and receives a scrap of paper with three pieces of advice, which she sells to the prince for a lac of rupees. The prince is banished by his father for the purchase, but the advice saves his life when a host tries to kill him, helps him survive a visit to his sister's kingdom, and ultimately leads to reconciliation with his blind parents and his father's regret.
Chapter 17
The Gold-Giving Serpent
A poor Brahman farmer named Haridatta discovers a serpent he believes is the guardian deity of his field. He begins offering it milk, and in return, the serpent leaves a gold coin each day. When the Brahman's son takes over the task, greed drives him to try to kill the serpent to seize all the gold, but the serpent bites and kills him instead. The grieving Brahman returns to the serpent, but the serpent refuses to restore their friendship, citing the son's attack and the father's loss. It gives him a costly pearl and tells him never to return.
Chapter 18
The Son of Seven Queens
A king with seven queens but no children is promised a son by a fakir. He becomes bewitched by a white hind who demands the eyes of his seven queens as a condition to marry him. The king complies, blinding and imprisoning the queens. The white hind becomes queen. The son of the seven queens grows up, learns of his mothers' plight, and sets out to recover their eyes. With the help of a clever princess, he retrieves the eyes, acquires a magical cow and million-fold rice, and ultimately marries the princess. The clever bride helps him reunite with his father and punish the white witch.
Chapter 19
A Lesson for Kings
Two righteous kings, Brahma-datta of Benares and Mallika of Kosala, both seeking faultfinders to improve themselves, meet on a narrow road where neither chariot can pass. Their charioteers debate who should yield, ultimately deciding based on the righteousness of each king. The king of Benares is praised for conquering anger with calmness, wickedness with goodness, stinginess with gifts, and lies with truth, leading Mallika to yield and acknowledge his superior virtue.
Chapter 20
Pride Goeth Before a Fall
Ten cloth merchants returning home with their earnings are ambushed by three robbers in a forest. The robbers strip them of all possessions and force them to dance. One clever merchant uses a secret trade language in a song to coordinate his fellow merchants, who then overpower and tie up the robbers, reclaiming their goods and weapons.
Chapter 21
Raja Rasalu
Raja Rasalu, born to Raja Salabhan and Queen Lona, is hidden in an underground palace for twelve years due to a prophecy that his parents would die if they saw his face before that time. After eleven years, he grows restless and rides out into the world, breaking pitchers at a well and confronting his father, who turns away in fear. Spurned, Rasalu sets off to play chaupur with the dreaded King Sarkap. Along the way, he shelters with a headless corpse (Sarkap's brother) who advises him to make dice from bones to counter Sarkap's enchanted dice. He also rescues a cricket from a fire, receiving a grateful feeler. At Sarkap's court, Rasalu uses his own dice and a kitten to outwit Sarkap's rat, winning back his arms and horse, then Sarkap's kingdom and head. He spares Sarkap on condition of a vow, takes the newborn princess Kokilan as his wife, and returns after twelve years to marry her.
Chapter 22
The Ass in the Lion’s Skin
A hawker dresses his ass in a lion's skin to let it graze freely in fields, but when villagers discover the trick after the ass brays, they beat it to death. The future Buddha observes and comments on the folly of pretending to be what one is not.
Chapter 23
The Farmer and the Moneylender
A poor farmer, suffering under a moneylender, seeks out Ram and receives a magical conch that grants wishes. The moneylender steals the conch but cannot use it, then forces a bargain to get double of whatever the farmer wishes for. The farmer eventually outwits the moneylender by wishing to be blind in one eye, causing the moneylender to become blind in both and fall into a well to his death.
Chapter 24
The Boy Who Had a Moon on His Forehead and a Star on His Chin
A poor gardener's daughter, who daily plays with the King's daughters, boasts that she will one day have a son with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin. The King, overhearing this and desiring a child, marries her. After a year, the four jealous Queens trick her into misusing a magical kettledrum given by the King to call him in need, causing him to ignore her later when she truly falls ill. They then blindfold her at childbirth and steal her son, replacing him with a stone. The boy is raised by a fairy, grows into a handsome prince, and eventually reunites with his mother and father, exposing the Queens' treachery. The King kills the wicked Queens, and the family lives happily ever after.
Chapter 25
The Prince and the Fakir
A childless king meets a fakir at a crossroads and is promised two sons in exchange for one. The fakir later returns and, through a clever ant's conversation, discovers the king's true sons hidden in a cellar. He takes the eldest, who eventually outwits and kills the fakir by throwing him into a boiling cauldron. The prince frees the fakir's prisoners and animals, then travels to another kingdom where he marries a princess who recognizes his royal marks. He proves his worth in a hunt and is eventually made heir to the throne.
Chapter 26
Why the Fish Laughed
A queen is offended when a fish laughs at her question about its gender. The king orders his vizier to explain the fish's laughter within six months or face death. The vizier despairs, but his clever son travels and meets an old farmer. Through a series of cryptic questions and answers, the farmer's wise daughter interprets the young man's riddles. She reveals that the fish's laughter indicates a man disguised as a woman in the palace plotting against the king. The vizier's son returns, exposes the plot, and marries the farmer's daughter.
Chapter 27
The Demon with the Matted Hair
The Bodhisatta, born as Prince Five Weapons, ventures into a forest inhabited by a fearsome demon. Despite being caught by the demon, he remains fearless and uses his inner wisdom to subdue the demon, converting him to virtue. The story illustrates the power of courage and righteousness over evil.
Chapter 28
The Ivory City and Its Fairy Princess
A prince accidentally wounds a merchant's wife while practicing archery, leading to his banishment. Accompanied by the vizier's son, he embarks on a journey, narrowly escaping robbers, and eventually reaches the Ivory City where he wins the hand of the fairy princess Gulizar. After a triumphant return with treasure and troops, he reconciles with his father and becomes a beloved ruler.
Chapter 29
How Sun, Moon, and Wind Went Out to Dinner
Sun, Moon, and Wind dine with their uncle and aunts Thunder and Lightning. Their mother, a distant Star, waits alone. Sun and Wind selfishly feast without saving any food for her, but Moon secretly hides portions under her fingernails. Upon return, Star curses Sun and Wind for their selfishness, making Sun's rays hot and Wind's breath parching, while blessing Moon to be cool and calm forever.
Chapter 30
How the Wicked Sons Were Duped
A wealthy old man divides his property among his sons while still alive, only to suffer their neglect and cruelty once they have their inheritance. A friend advises him to pretend that a debt has been repaid with bags of stones and gravel, leading the sons to believe there is more wealth. The sons become attentive and kind until the father's death, when they discover the bags contain only stones.
Chapter 31
The Pigeon and the Crow
The Bodhisatta, reborn as a pigeon, lives in a kitchen basket hung by a cook. A greedy crow befriends the pigeon to gain access to the kitchen's food. The crow feigns illness to avoid foraging and instead steals fish from a prepared dish. The cook catches the crow, plucks its head feathers, and rubs it with spices as punishment. The pigeon mocks the crow with verses and leaves, predicting further trouble. The crow eventually dies from its injuries.
Chapter 32
Notes and References
This chapter provides an extensive scholarly overview of the history, sources, and transmission of Indian folktales, focusing on the Jataka tales, the Bidpai literature, and the influence of Buddhism. It discusses the spread of Indian story motifs to Europe, the role of metempsychosis and animism, and the work of early collectors like Miss Frere, Miss Stokes, and Captain Temple. The chapter also examines the comparative study of folktale incidents and the likelihood of India as a source for many European drolls and fairy tale elements.
Chapter 33
I: The Lion and the Crane
This chapter presents the Jataka tale of the Lion and the Crane, tracing its origins, parallels across cultures, and historical transmission from India to the West. It discusses the fable's appearance in classical, medieval, and modern collections, and hypothesizes an Indian origin with two routes of dissemination: one through Demetrius Phalereus to Phaedrus, and another through Buddhist sources to Hebrew and European traditions.
Chapter 34
II: Princess Labam
This chapter presents the tale of Princess Labam, exploring themes of direction taboos, grateful animals, bride-wagers, and tasks. It includes parallels to other Indian and European folktales, discussing the likelihood of cultural borrowing from India to Europe, possibly through Arab intermediation during the Crusades.
Chapter 35
III: Lambikin
This chapter presents the Panjab droll 'Lambikin,' noting its parallels with the English 'Three Little Pigs' and suggesting a common origin through the motif of a small animal rolling downhill in a container to escape a predator.
Chapter 36
IV: Punchkin
This chapter presents the tale of Punchkin, an ogre whose external soul is hidden in a series of nested objects. The story includes motifs of a mother transformed, an envious stepmother, and a ring recognition. The commentary traces the idea of the external soul across many cultures, from India to the Hebrides, arguing for the migration of this tale from East to West.
Chapter 37
The Broken Pot
This chapter traces the migration of the fable 'The Broken Pot' from its Indian origins through various translations and adaptations, including the Arabian Nights and La Fontaine, illustrating the transmission of folktales across cultures and the origin of the proverb 'Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.'
Chapter 38
VI: The Magic Fiddle
This chapter presents a Santal folktale about a magic fiddle, with source notes and parallels to European variants. The story involves a Bonga spirit, low-caste aborigines, and a murderous sister, but the editor notes that the version is mutilated and lacks the true ending, which would have included the denunciation of the magic fiddle under the 'Singing Bone' formula.
Chapter 39
VII: The Cruel Crane Outwitted
This chapter presents the Baka-Jātaka (No. 38), where the Buddha is the Genius of the Tree. The tale involves a crane that deceives and eats fish, only to be outwitted and killed by a crab. The story spread into the Bidpai literature and appears in many versions, including an early English translation by North. The chapter also discusses the transmission of illustrations alongside the tales across cultures, from Buddhist stupas to Latin, Hebrew, and Arabic manuscripts.
Chapter 40
VIII: Loving Laili
This chapter presents the tale of Majnun and Laili, conventional lovers in Indian folklore akin to Romeo and Juliet. It includes motifs such as living in animals' bellies, restoration of beauty by fire, and resuscitation from ashes. The commentary notes the white skin and blue eyes of Prince Majnun as possible relics of Aryan conquest, linking skin color to caste and solar myths.
Chapter 41
The Tiger, the Brahman, and the Jackal
This chapter presents the fable of a tiger trapped in a cage who promises a Brahman not to eat him if released, but upon being freed immediately threatens to devour him. The Brahman seeks judgment from a tree, a buffalo, and a road, all of whom side with the tiger due to human ingratitude. Finally, a jackal tricks the tiger back into the cage, demonstrating the triumph of cunning over brute force and the theme of justice and karma.
Chapter 42
X: The Soothsayer’s Son
A story of ingratitude, contrasting the gratitude of beasts with the ingratitude of man, traced from ancient Indian sources through the Jatakas to medieval European collections like the Gesta Romanorum, and even cited by Richard Cœur de Lion to rebuke ungrateful English nobles.
Chapter 43
XI: Harisarman
Harisarman, a poor Brahman, uses his wits to gain a reputation as a soothsayer. When a theft occurs, he is tasked with finding the culprits. Through a series of lucky coincidences and clever remarks, he successfully identifies the thieves, earning rewards and establishing his reputation.
Chapter 44
XII: The Charmed Ring
This chapter discusses the folktale 'The Charmed Ring,' tracing its parallels across various cultures from India to England, including the familiar 'Aladdin and the Wonderful Lamp.' It highlights the incident of the aiding animals and the magic ring motif, noting the widespread distribution of the story. The chapter also examines specific incidents such as the rat's-tail-up-nose to recover a ring from an ogress, arguing for an Indian origin and possible transmission via the Gipsies, as evidenced by an English variant from an English Gipsy.
Chapter 45
XIII: The Talkative Tortoise
This chapter presents the Jataka tale of the Talkative Tortoise, who is carried through the air by ducks but falls to his death when he opens his mouth to respond to taunts. The story appears in the Bidpai literature and its many offshoots, with variations in the cause of the catastrophe.
Chapter 46
Lac of Rupees
A tale of a young man who, through a series of wise pieces of advice, saves the king's treasures from thieves and is rewarded with a lac of rupees. The story traces its origins to Buddhist literature, notably the parable of Kulla Pauthaka, and is compared to versions from Cornwall and other traditions.
Chapter 47
XV: The Gold-Giving Serpent
A Brahmin discovers a snake in his field and, believing it to be the field's tutelary spirit, offers it milk each day. The snake rewards him with a piece of gold. When the Brahmin sends his son to make the offering, the son, greedy for the snake's supposed treasure, tries to kill it but is fatally bitten. The Brahmin mourns but attempts to resume the offerings; the snake refuses reconciliation, stating that neither can forget the injuries done. The chapter traces the fable's transmission from Indian sources to Latin and Greek versions, arguing for the Indian original's completeness.
Chapter 48
The Son of Seven Queens
This chapter discusses the folktale 'The Son of Seven Queens,' tracing its origins and parallels across various cultures. It highlights the motif of a son born to seven co-queens, a concept unique to polygamous societies, and notes similarities with other tales such as 'Punchkin' and Sicilian variants. The chapter also explores the evolution of the 'envious stepmother' trope from an original 'envious co-wife' and references common folktale devices like the 'letter to kill bearer' and 'letter substituted.'
Chapter 49
A Lesson for Kings
This chapter presents the Rājovāda Jātaka, an early moral allegory that teaches kings about justice and righteous rule. The Jataka's moralizing tone is evident, and it even extends to other tales like the Tar Baby story.
Chapter 50
Pride Goeth Before a Fall
This chapter explores the theme of pride leading to downfall through various folktales, including a story about a crane that deceives fish and is ultimately killed by a crab, and a tale of a talkative tortoise who falls to his death after being carried by ducks. The chapter emphasizes the dangers of arrogance and the consequences of overreaching.
Chapter 51
XIX: Raja Rasalu
This chapter presents the legend of Raja Rasalu, a possibly historical figure from the eighth or ninth century, focusing on his adventures and the game of Chaupur, which is sometimes considered the origin of chess. The narrative includes gambling for life, a motif found in Celtic and other folktales, and notes that the full story continues with Kokilan marrying Raja Rasalu and a tragic conclusion involving a lover's heart, paralleling tales like the Decameron and the Tristan cycle.
Chapter 52
The Ass in the Lion's Skin
This chapter discusses the Jataka tale of the Ass in the Lion's Skin, tracing its parallels in Somadeva, Aesop, Babrius, and Avian. It notes that the Indian version provides a plausible motive for the masquerade, unlike the standard Aesopic version, and argues for an Indian origin of the fable.
Chapter 53
The Farmer and the Moneylender
This chapter presents a modern Indian version of a fable found in Avian, suggesting an Indian original that may predate the Christian era. The tale is compared to similar stories in Aesop, Jacques de Vitry, Bozon, and Rudyard Kipling, highlighting the cultural transmission and borrowing of fables across time and geography.
Chapter 54
XXII: The Boy with Moon on Forehead
This chapter presents an Indian fairy tale about a boy born with a moon-shaped mark on his forehead, a common motif in Indian folklore. The story explores themes of destiny, disguise, and social status, with parallels to European fairy tales featuring heroes with celestial birthmarks. The narrative includes the hero's disguise as a menial servant, a recurring incident in both Indian and European traditions.
Chapter 55
XXIII: The Prince and the Fakir
A Baluchi tale, communicated by Mr. M. L. Dames, involving a prince and a fakir, with remarks on the rarity of unholy fakirs.
Chapter 56
Why the Fish Laughed
This chapter presents a Kashmiri folktale that incorporates the formula of the Clever Lass who guesses riddles, including a unique sex test. The story is analyzed for its parallels in European collections and its spread from Indian folk literature to modern European folk literature, as discussed by scholars like Prof. Benfey.
Chapter 57
XXV: The Demon with the Matted Hair
This chapter examines the Jataka tale of Prince Five Weapons and the Demon with the Matted Hair, tracing its parallels to the Uncle Remus story of Brer Rabbit and the Tar Baby. It argues for a causal connection between the Indian original and the African-American variant, suggesting transmission via Buddhist missionaries through Africa and then to the New World via the slave trade. The chapter also discusses the identification of Buddha with the hare (as in the Sasa Jataka) and proposes that the tale may allegorically represent an eclipse of the moon, with the demon as Rahu.
Chapter 58
The Ivory Palace
A tale of love at first sight through a magical mirror, where a prince falls in love with a princess he has never met. With the help of a faithful friend, he journeys to win her, facing trials including a poisoning attempt. The story explores themes of love, destiny, and friendship, with a distinctively Indian flavor in its calm depiction of treachery.
Chapter 59
Sun, Moon, and Wind
A traditional tale from the Deccan about Sun, Moon, and Wind being sent by their mother, the Star, to dinner. The Sun and Wind are greedy and forget to bring food back for their mother, while the Moon remembers and shares her portion. The story serves as a moral lesson about gratitude and selflessness.
Chapter 60
How Wicked Sons Were Duped
This chapter discusses the folktale of wicked sons who are duped by their father, exploring its variants across cultures including Gaelic, Anglo-Latin, and Kashmiri versions. The commentary examines anthropological interpretations, particularly Mr. Gomme's theory linking the tale to archaic customs of putting elders to death and surrendering estates, while also critiquing the dangers of applying anthropological methods without first establishing origins and diffusion.
Chapter 61
XXIX: The Pigeon and the Crow
The chapter presents the Lola Jataka, an animal fable illustrating the consequences of greed and ingratitude. A pigeon kindly brings a greedy crow to a kitchen to share food, but the crow's gluttony leads to its capture and punishment by the cook. The story serves as a moral lesson, typical of Jataka tales, showing how greed leads to downfall.
Chapter 62
Endnotes
The endnotes provide references and citations for the sources used in the book, including works on the history of the Aesopic fable, accounts of related literature, and the vast collection of unpublished Finnish folktales.
