This story was published on Fairytales of India Podcast by gaathastory in February 2018. Listen to this two part episode below.
Listen to Part I of this story by clicking below
Listen to Part II of this story
Summary of this story:
A young boy is taken from his mother by four Queens who promise her a reward. The boy is hidden in a box and later swallowed by the King's dog, Shankar, who wants to protect him. After six months, Shankar brings the boy out of his stomach, and this pattern continues for two years. Eventually, the King's cow, Suri, swallows the boy, and then the King's horse, Badal, takes him in. The horse and the boy escape from the King's palace, causing chaos.
Badal, a horse, takes the King's son on a journey to another country. After staying in a jungle for ten years, Badal instructs the boy to leave him and find service in the new country. The boy disguises himself as a common man and becomes a servant to a grain merchant. The youngest princess of the King becomes intrigued by the boy's beautiful singing in the palace garden and tries to discover his identity. The boy seeks advice from Badal, who tells him to claim that he is a poor man from his own country seeking service. The princess eventually decides to choose her own husband and invites many kings and their sons to the palace. The boy, now a servant, observes the proceedings but is not participating as a suitor.
The princess marries a poor servant against the wishes of Kings and Rajas who had come as suitors. Her six sisters, who had married rich princes, mock her for her choice. The princess becomes sad because her husband does not hunt like her sisters' husbands. One day, he reveals his true identity as a prince to his horse, who transforms him into a handsome prince. He then goes hunting and shoots all the game, leaving his brothers-in-law hungry and thirsty. He offers them food and water in exchange for allowing him to brand them with a red-hot pice. They agree and return home.
Later, when the prince arrives at the palace, no one recognizes him. The servants call the princess, but she denies that he is her husband. The prince convinces her by recounting their interactions and showing her the necklace, ring, and handkerchief she had given him. She is grateful to have such a husband and praises his appearance. The prince then exposes his six brothers-in-law as thieves in front of the king and everyone in the court, causing them great embarrassment.
Prior to his marriage, the prince's horse, Badal, had informed him of his true heritage and promised to take him back to his father's country. Two months after the prince's revenge on his brothers-in-law, Badal urges him to return to his father's kingdom. The prince asks his wife's permission and they receive the king's blessing along with many gifts and guards for their journey.
Upon reaching the prince's homeland, the king initially fears an invasion but is relieved when the prince assures him of his peaceful intentions. The prince invites all the people of the kingdom, including the king's four wives, to a grand feast, except for the gardener's daughter, who is overlooked. The prince notices her absence and reveals her identity as the former wife of the king, now working as a servant in the palace.
The audio version has two parts for better listening experience
Part I
Introduction
"The Boy Who Had a Moon" is a captivating tale set in a kingdom where a gardener's daughter dreams of having a son with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin. Her dreams catch the attention of the childless King, who marries her, making her his fifth queen. The King gives her a kettle-drum to summon him if she needs him while he's away hunting. However, the King's other four queens trick her into misusing the drum, leading the King to ignore it when she truly needs him during childbirth.
Birth of a Boy
The gardener's daughter gives birth to a beautiful boy, just as she had dreamed. However, the four wicked Queens, driven by jealousy, deceive her and replace her newborn son with a stone. They then give the baby to a nurse with instructions to kill him or take him away. The nurse, unable to harm the child, hides him in a box and abandons it in the jungle. The King's dog, Shankar, discovers the child and, moved by his innocence, swallows him whole to protect him.
Part II
Guardianship and Growth
Shankar, Suri the cow, and Badal the horse, in turn, become the child's guardians, each swallowing him to keep him safe and bringing him out periodically to check on his growth. The child, now a young prince, grows in their care, hidden from the world. However, each time a guardian reveals the child, a servant witnesses the event and reports it to the wicked Queens, who then plot to have the guardian killed. Each time, the guardian manages to escape death and pass the child onto the next.
The Prince's Return and Vindication
After ten years, the prince, now a young man, is sent to find service in another country. He ends up working for a grain merchant and catches the attention of the King's youngest daughter with his beautiful singing. The story ends on a cliffhanger, with the prince visiting his horse in the jungle and the princess intrigued by the mysterious singing man.
About this Story
This story, titled "The Boy Who Had a Moon..." was originally translated by Joseph Jacobs and has been rewritten and revised by Amar Vyas for gaathastory. The tale is a classic example of folklore, featuring elements of magic, deception, and justice. The narrative showcases the themes of good versus evil, the power of destiny, and the strength of innocence. The story's unique narrative structure, with its episodic nature and cliffhanger ending, adds to its charm and appeal.
