Collected and translated By Dils Lakshmindra Kr. Sinha THE STORY OF PA’NI During the Satyayuga, there lived a small and poor family comprising of a medium aged couple, two sisters and a bother. The youngest member of the family was a girl; she looked very beautiful and lovely. She was growing up like a water lily. She was called Pa’ni meaning water. Her elder sister got married to a farmer in a nearby village. One day her sister invited them all to a feast arranged in her house. On their way to in-laws house, they had to cross a hilly river. The crossed it one after the other. Pani’s father crossed the river first, then her mother followed by her brother. While Pani was crossing the river, her langou (lower garment) was carried away by the river current. Looking at her thighs her brother exclaimed – “Mother. Look, Pani’s thighs are so beautiful!” This innocent but apparently indecent remark offended her sentiment. She stood still at the middle of the river; went back and climbed on atop of a big tree at the river side. Her brother said her ‘sorry’ and requested her to get down. He said in a singing voice: Paniro Pani, aine gore jikga” “Oh Pa’ni, come on and let us go home.” Although Pa’ni broke down into a cry, she refused to get down and said: “Naitou dada naitou Agete tor bonok osilu Ajite tor moilok oilu.” “No, no, oh brother. I shall never come. I was your sister yesterday I have become your wife today.” Her father came and said : “Oh Pa’ni, come on and let us go home.” She replied : “No, no, oh my father, I shall never come. I was your daughter yesterday
Her mother came and said : “Oh Pa’ni, come on and let us go home.” She replied : “No, no, oh my mother, I shall never come I was your daughter yesterday I have become your in-law today.” Pa’ni refused to get down, but they stood under the tree waiting for her. After a prolonged wait, they found it fruitless and as such they left in remorse in the evening. Pa’ni sat on a branch of the tree started meditation calling the name of Lord Shiva. She started fasting and did not take anything, not even a single drop of water. One day a One Lord Shiva came to her in the form of a nightingale. The beauty of Pa’ni charmed the bird. It came close to her and said : “Oh Pa’ni, I like you very much. I like to befriend you.” Pa’ni replied with a smile: “But I have no wings. I cannot fly like you. How can I be your friend?” The nightingale said: “This cannot be a problem. If you consider my wings as a hindrance to our friendship, I am ready to cut it down instantly.” Pa’ni prevented her from doing such and said, - “The wings are the gift from heaven. You need not cut it down. Let’s be friends.” The nightingale began to bring food for Pani from the forest. One day Pa’ni wished to fly like her friend. She requested her friend to go to the village so as to bring a bundle of hiss (waste yarn). The bird flew to the village and brought a bundle of yellow and black hiss. Pa’ni began to weave a wing with the help of the nightingale. Now Pa’ni got her artificial wings attached to her body. But she could not fly with the wings. She made an attempt to fly but could not and fell to the ground. But she kept on trying but failed every occasions and she got seriously injured. One day Lord Siva noticed her pain and restless struggle. He felt pity for this pretty girl and transform her into a beautiful yellow bird. Pa’ni became so happy! Both the friends started singing. They flew high in the sky. They mingled in the clouds and went away to a distant land to love freely and happily. However, people believe that Pani still visits the villagers in search of her parents. She comes in the guise of a small and beautiful bird; the colour of her body and beak is yellow with a black lining over her wings and her head and legs are covered by tiny black feathers. The villagers often greet her with a smile and say, - “Look at that small bird. See how beautiful she is! She is Pa’ni. She is coming in search of her parents! She loves them too much!
from one branch to another in the groove of the trees of her native village! Note, the author have two volumes of folk tales i.e. Bishnupriya Manipuri Falk Tales and Sensitiei Ear, A collection of Bishnupriya Manipuri Falk Tales. He is the President of the Nikhil Bishnupriya Manipuri Sahitya Parishad Assam and prolific writer in Bishnupriya Manipuri Language.
Fleepit Digital © 2021