The Story of Leishemba : Translated from "Manipuri Fungga Wari"
- Part 2 -

James Oinam *

An illustration for 'The Story of Leishemba'

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

The elephant was questioned by the people, "Elephant, why did you trample an innocent man?"

The elephant replied, "I am innocent. The bird Konghar flew into my nose and clawed at my tender nostril. In pain I ran and accidentally trampled the man."

Then Konghar was asked, "Little Konghar, why did you fly into innocent elephant's nose?"

Konghar replied slowly, "I am innocent, a wild pig suddenly ran into my nest built among the plantains. I was frightened and by mistake flew into the nose of the elephant."

Then the wild pig was questioned as to why it ran into Konghar's nest.

"Yes, I ran into the bird's nest. I don't know why but a swarm of ants bit me while sleeping. My body was itching all over that's why," replied the wild pig.

Then the ants were questioned by the people. The ants replied, "In the middle of the night, a crab broke our anthill. Finding no place to live, we went to the wild pig's place by mistake and bit him." Then the crab was questioned, "O crab, why did you break the anthill?"

Upon this the crab, he replied, "I was resting peacefully under the tree when a walnut fell over me and broke my shell. In pain I ran over the anthill and broke it."

"O walnut, why did you fell upon the crab?" asked people.

"I did not fell intentionally. A little squirrel was jumping in the branches and the small branch bearing the nut broke and fell," replied the walnut.

The squirrel was questioned next. He replied, "The sparrows chirped. Thinking it was morning I woke up to pick some walnuts. But it was still dark. In the darkness, a walnut fell by mistake."

Turning the sparrows, he was asked, "O sparrows, why did you chirped?"

The sparrow had no answer. Instead, it kept chirping.

All of them held the sparrow guilty. They broke one leg of the sparrow and separated it from its body.

Then they discussed among themselves who will eat the broken leg of the sparrow.

"Since the tiger is the greatest, he should eat the leg," they decided.

When the leg was offered to the tiger, he replied, "Thank you everyone for this honour. However, even though I am strong, man can defeat me. Hence, it should be offered to man."

When the leg was offered to man, he replied, "It is true I am intelligent. However, the sun is stronger than me."

Hence, the leg was offered to the sun.

The sun said, the clouds can beat the sun so it should be offered to the clouds.

Upon asking to the clouds, it said that the boulders can stop the great clouds so it should be given to the boulders.

When the boulder was approached, it replied, "It is true what you are saying. But the bird called Chenba is greater than me. It can run over me and even soil over me. The leg should be offered to him."

Chenba said, "That is true. However, I am old and Malumchikui bird is above me. Hence, I think it will be right to give the leg of the sparrow to Malumchikui."

Malumchikui agreed that he is the eldest of all. He invited all to let them see his nest. In the nest, human hair, tiger's hair, fish, and all kinds of birds' hairs were found. Everyone agreed that he was above all. Then Malumchikui ate the leg of the sparrow.

From that day, whenever sparrow sits on trees, you will find him standing on one leg only.

Concluded.....