Ka Henna Pambei Mahei : Folktale from Kannaba Wari Khara

James Oinam *

Ka Henna Pambei Mahei :: Illustration from the Book 'Kannaba Wari Khara'

Ka Henna Pambei Mahei (The Outcome of Wanting Too Much)
Kannaba Wari Khara (Few Useful Stories): Part 2

Author: Raghumani
Publisher: L. Devrani Devi
Brahmapur, Nahabam
First Print: 1988

Long time ago four Brahmin sons went to foreign lands to earn wealth. They met a saint on the way. They bowed to the saint and told him their hearts’ desire.

The saint took out four lamps from his bundle and gave them to the four men and said, “Take these lamps in your hands and go to the Himalayas straight. The place where the lamps fall out of your hands, you will find wealth.”

Taking the lamps in their hands, the four friends went in the northern direction.

After going a long distance, the lamp in one of the Brahmins’ fell suddenly. They dug up the place and found a mine of bronze. The Brahmin from whose hand the lamp fell said, “Let’s go back to our lands. This wealth is sufficient to make us all comfortable.”

The three friends said, “What’s the use of having these bronze only? We three will go further to see what else is stored in our fate?”

The first friends returned to his lands taking the bronze.

The three friends continued ahead taking one lamps each in their hands. They did not even take rest. Suddenly, the lamp in the hands of the second friend fell. When they dug the place up, they found a lot of silvers.

The second friend was satisfied with the silvers he found and went back home carrying the silvers.

However, the third and fourth friends went ahead with their journey.

After walking for days, the lamp fell from the third friend’s hands.

When they dug up the place, they found a gold mine. The third friend was extremely happy.

He said to the fourth friends, “Friends, let’s return. What’s the use of going ahead? Let’s us take all these gold and go back home.”

However, the fourth friend did not agree. He wanted something valuable—pearls, gems, etc.

Seeing the greed of the friend, the third friend said, “Wanting too much is never good. Most of the time it will be counterproductive. It is said, wanting too much is sin. This sin will be the downfall of men. Let’s go to our lands taking these golds.”

But the fourth friend did not even listen to what the third friend was saying. He went ahead to a mountain in front of them.

The fourth friend reached the foothills of the mountain. When he reached the top of the mountain, he saw a man standing there. On his head, like a wheel something was constantly spinning.

Coming close to the man, the fourth man said, “What is happening sir? How did you fall in such a situation?”

But even before he had finished his words, the wheel escaped from the other person’s head and came over his head and began spinning. He was taken by surprise, “What’s is this? Why is this spinning over my head?

Oh, this is so hot? I can’t live in peace?”

Smiling the man said, “Friend, wanting too much if you had not come in this direction, this would not have happened. I also came here with the lamp wanting too much. That is why for a long time I have been suffering here. Until another greedy person comes here you will have to stand here.”

Crying the fourth friend said, “How can I live here alone? What will I eat?”

The man said, “Friend, this is a land of delusion. There is no hunger or thirst. Only thing that exist here are the heat and regret.”

Saying that the man left the place.

Did you hear children, what the fourth friend got for wanting too much?