# XI: Harisarman explained — Indian Fairy Tales

> Chapter companion for Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs.

## What happens

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.

## Themes in this chapter

### Cunning and Wisdom

Harisarman uses his wit and fortunate coincidences to appear as a wise soothsayer, solving the theft through cleverness rather than actual divination.

## Character check-ins

### Harisarman

The poor Brahman who pretends to be a soothsayer and uses cleverness to solve a theft.

### Raja Indrasha

The Raja who employs Harisarman and tasks him with finding the thieves.

## Key lines

> The most remarkable of the parallels is that afforded by the Grimms’ “Doctor Allwissend” ( No. 98), which extends even to such a minute point as his exclamation, “Ach, ich armer Krebs,” whereupon a crab is discovered under a dish.

A striking similarity is found in the Grimms' tale 'Doctor Knowall,' where the protagonist's exclamation 'Oh, I poor crab' coincidentally reveals a hidden crab.

_Highlights the cross-cultural borrowing and shared motifs between Indian and European folklore._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters/xi-harisarman
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/indian_fairy_tales_se/chapters