Laphumaton : Translated from "Manipuri Fungga Wari"
- Part 2 -

James Oinam *

An illustration for 'Laphumaton'

Laphumaton: Translated from 'Manipuri Fungga Wari': Part 1
Book Title: Manipuri Fungga Wari
Compiled and Edited by: I.R. Babu Singh
Publisher: Sahitya Academy
Printer: Jaishree Press, Calcutta
Year: 2005

Under advice given by his servants who had heard of the three beautiful wives of Laphumaton, the narrow-minded, hard-hearted king thought of taking the wives of Laphumaton as his queens. One day he sent a servant to summon Laphumaton.

As Laphumaton appeared before the king, the king said, "Listen Laphumaton, among my ploughed land hajam seeds (skeel tree) would be scattered. By tomorrow you must pick up all the seeds into these two baskets. If you leave any seed, you will be in big trouble."

Laphumton returned home very sad. His wife Khunureima asked, "O beloved, why are you so sad? What happened at the palace?"

"My lady, among ploughed land of the king hajam seeds would be scattered, and by tomorrow I have to pick them all, filling two baskets without leaving any seed. If I fail, I will be punished."

"Dear husband, do not worry about it. I will pick them all," Khunureima told her husband.

At night Khunureima came out and prayed to her father to send her one thousand pigeons. Her father sent one thousand pigeons for his daughter. When the pigeons appeared before the princess, she told them, "In the courtyard of king's palace, you will find hajam seeds scattered among the ploughed land. You must gather them all leaving no seeds behind. Then return home to my father."

The pigeons flew to the palace and gathered all the seeds. No seed was left behind. Then they flew back home.

The next day, the king sent his servant to check whether the work was done. The servants reported, "The baskets feel more full than yesterday before the seeds were scattered."

"Laphumaton seems to be able to do wonders," the king was amazed and became thoughtful.

Again, the king sent his servant to fetch Laphumaton. He said, "Listen Laphumaton, in this pond two baskets of paddy will be thrown in. By tomorrow morning you must pick them up."

Laphumaton came back home. Nganureima on seeing sad look on her husband's face asked, "What punishment has been given to you by the king at the palace?"

"My lady, two baskets of paddy will be thrown into the pond. I have to pick them all. Otherwise, I will be punished."

"If that is so, do not worry. Leave it to me," assured Nganureima.

Late at night Nganureima came out and asked her father that he has to send five hundred ducks. The king sent his daughter five hundred ducks. The ducks appeared before the princess, "O mother, we have come. What can we do?"

"Go to the king's pond. You will find basketful of paddy thrown into it. You must gather them all leaving no seed behind. Then go back home."

The ducks went to the king's pond and dived into it. They picked every paddy in the pond. Placing the paddy safely they went back home.

The following morning when the king summoned his servants, they replied, "There seems to be more paddy than thrown into the pond."

The king became fearful and summoned Laphumaton again to the palace.

"Tomorrow, a bonfire will be made in the hole dug in front of my courtyard. You must jump into it," ordered the king.

Laphumaton came back home feeling devastated. On seeing him, his wife Shabireima asked, "What punishment has the king given to you?"

"The king will make a bonfire with dry woods and ghee in a hole dug in his courtyard. I have to jump into it," replied Laphumaton in dejected manner.

"Please do not worry. We will do something about it," calmed Shabireima.

At night Shabireima called her father and asked for three hundred porcupines. At her father's command, three hundred porcupines came to the princess.

"Dear friend, what is it you want?" asked the porcupines.

The princess called them into the house, "Dear friends, you must dig a hole big enough for a man from here to the courtyard of the king where they have dug a hole in the ground to make a bonfire."

The porcupines dug a burrow big enough for a man to pass through up to the place where the bonfire place was built. Then they left for home.

The next day, Laphumaton had his meal. While preparing to leave for the palace, Shabireima said, "Beloved, circle the pire and then jump from the southern side. You will find a burrow large enough for you to stand. Follow the burrow, it will take you straight to our home."

Laphumaton touched his mother's feet. She blessed him, "Son, do not be angry, do no wrong to anyone. God will bless you."

When he reached the palace, the king said, "It is evening now, jump into the bonfire."

Laphumaton went around the bonfire and praying to the fire god jumped into it. Following the passage built by the porcupines he came out in his house near the kitchen fireplace.

The three wives filled the burrow and Laphumaton took rest in his bed.

The king ordered his men to fill the hole made for bonfire. Then he asked his men to go to Laphumaton's house, "Now that Laphumaton is dead tell his wives to come to the palace so that that can be made queens."

Three of king's men came. When they reached Laphumaton's house, they found the house was locked. One of the men knocked the door, "Listen ladies, now your husband is dead. The king has sent for you to make you queens."

Laphumaton who was resting in bed replied, "O servants of the king, it is difficult for the wrong to stand against the right. Rightful deeds are like trees that stand its ground. Tell that to the king."

The men were scared out of their wits hearing Laphumaton's voice. They gave the exact message given by Laphumaton to the king without changing anything.

The king reflected, "I wronged an innocent man just because I am a king. That is why I am carrying this burden in my heart."

From that day, the king treated Laphumaton like a friend. He became like a second king.

With his wives Laphumaton lived a contended life ever after.

Translator's note:

Four characters in this story have been named. The names of three characters can be understood from the story. Khunureima calls her father to send her pigeons. "Khunu" means pigeon in Manipuri and "reima" (leima) means "princess". Nganureima comes from the word "nganu" which means duck. Similarly, Shabireima comes from "shabi" for porcupine(?) in Manipuri.

It bears asking why the protagonist has been named Laphumaton. "Laphu" means plantain and "maton" means "top" (or perhaps "bud" here). The stem of plantain has many layers.

In this story, we see many traits (or personalities) of Laphumaton that were hidden like layers of plantain stem or not evident earlier but developed later like a bud. Laphumaton obeys the king like a loyal servant but he can also be a friend and live like a second king when the time comes.

When the time comes, he protests against the king (when the king's servant came for his wives) even though he even jumped into fire at the bidding of the king although the order seems peremptory and unjust.

Concluded.....