MONIMALA
MONIMALA
The story Monimala is another well-loved fairy tale from Bengal.
MONIMALA
MANIMALA, THE UNDER-WORLD PRINCESS
Once, a prince and his friend, the minister’s son went for a country tour. They travelled far and long and reached a hill when it became dark. Hence, they decided to spend the night on a tree-top.
MONIMALA
It was quite late at night when a terrible sound woke up the prince and the minister’s son from their sleep. They saw a bright light all around. And in that light they saw a huge python swallowing their horses. The son of minister said, “Prince, don’t feel scared. The light is none else than a serpent-stone! We must get the gem.” The prince said, “O god! But how will you get it?” “Don’t worry. I’ll get it,” said his friend.
MONIMALA
The minister’s son quietly climbed down the tree and crept to the place where the snake had left its gem. He threw a handful of mud on the gem. The forest became dark. The prince and the minister’s son sat quietly. The light of the gem suddenly went off. The python rushed to the place with a terrible hissing sound. But there was no gem. Python was angry. Its eyes were red like fire. It started spitting venom. The python went mad losing its gem. It went madly around the forest pulling down trees and killing animals. At last it struck its head on a rock and died.
MANIMALA THE UNDER-WORLD PRINCESS
In the morning both the friends climbed down the tree and went to the place of the gem. The minister’s son took out the gem and they both went near a lake. As soon as they entered, the water divided showing a path to the under-world. They walked through the path and saw a huge palace. They entered the palace. In one room, they heard terrible hissing sound. The room was full of snakes of different sizes and colours. The floor was of snakes, the ceiling was of snakes, the walls, the pillars were all of snakes. In the middle of the room on a bed of snakes lied a beautiful girl. She too was covered with snakes. Since the two friends had the serpent-stone with them, the snakes did no harm.
MANIMALA THE UNDER-WORLD PRINCESS
The minister’s son said, “She is the princess of the under-world.” Then he touched the stone on the forehead of the sleeping princess. The princess slowly opened her eyes. She sat up and her eyes met with the eyes of the prince. They both stared and stared and stared at each other. The minister’s son smiled and took out a garland from the prince’s neck. He put it on the neck of the princess. Then he took out a garland from Monimala’s neck and put it on the neck of the prince. The minister’s son then said with a smile, “You both are married now. You stay here for some time, while I go and make arrangements for taking you back to our kingdom.” Saying this, the minister’s son left.
MONIMALA
Princess told Monimala all the stories of the earth and she told him all the stories of the under-world. Few days passed in this way. One afternoon while the prince was asleep, Manimala thought of seeing how the earth looks like. She sneaked out of the palace with the serpent-stone. The water of the lake divided on its own and a staircase appeared. Monimala climbed up the steps and reached the surface of the lake.
MANIMALA THE UNDER-WORLD PRINCESS
She was spellbound with what she saw. Monimala looked all around her. She had never seen all this before. She swam in the lake and played with the swans. Now, the prince of that country came to that forest with his men for hunting. The beautiful Monimala charmed him. He wanted to marry her. But as soon as Monimala saw the prince she dived into the lake and vanished. The prince could not get her. He turned mad thinking about her.
MANIMALA THE UNDER-WORLD PRINCESS
Back in the palace everyone was worried. The prince was quite well when he went for hunting. Then what had happened in the forest that he turned completely mad. The royal doctors even failed to cure the prince. The announced, “Whoever cures the king can marry my daughter and get half my kingdom.” Many people came from far and wide. But no one could cure the prince. Now an old woman was present in that forest and she had seen everything secretly.
MONIMALA
The old woman came to the royal court and said, “O king, I am an old woman. If you promise to marry your daughter to my son Pencho, I can cure the prince.” The king agreed. Next day Pencho’s mother went to the lake on a boat. In the afternoon Manimala again came to the surface of the lake with the serpent-stone. Pencho’s mother said, “Princess I know a very beautiful place. I can take you there.” Manimala agreed and got into her boat. Without any delay she sailed her boat directly towards the palace. As soon as the prince saw Monimala he became well.
MANIMALA THE UNDER-WORLD PRINCESS
The king told Pencho’s mother to bring his son to the royal court. The prince and Monimala’s wedding was fixed. But Manimala said, “I have taken a vow of not marrying for a year. So after a year I shall marry.” The king agreed and kept her in a room under guard. Pencho was missing for a long time. So his mother sent people in search of him. Back in the under-world palace the snakes become active in absence of the serpent-stone. The snakes wound the prince and their poisonous breath led the prince to a deadly sleep.
MANIMALA
The minister’s soon returned with men and palanquin to take the prince and Manimala back to the palace. He stood near the lake taking the names of the prince and Manimala. But no one replied. The minister’s son understood something wrong had taken place. He spoke with the people of the land and learnt everything. He asked them how Pencho looked like.
MANIMALA
Next day he disguised as Pencho and went to the old woman. He said, “Ma, look your Pencho has come.” The old woman was overjoyed to see her Pencho. She immediately took him to the royal palace. The king married Pencho to his daughter. At night in their room, the minister’s son told his wife everything. The princess agreed to help her husband.
MONIMALA
The next morning Monimala said to the king, “I’m ready to marry the prince. I’ll go today to the lake and take a bath to end my vow.” The king was pleased and ordered his men to make arrangements for the princess to go to the lake. But Manimala said, “No, please do not send any men with me. I shall go there only with pencho and the princess.” The king agreed and gave permission.
MONIMALA
At the bank of the lake the minister’s son took the serpent-stone from Manimala and went into the lake. As soon as he entered the palace with the serpent-stone, all the snakes moved away. The prince opened his eyes and saw his friend. They came out of the lake. Then the prince and the minister’s son went back to their kingdom with their wives.
And they all lived happily ever after.
