Folk-Tales of Bengal

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

38488

Title

Folk-Tales of Bengal

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

Rev. Lal Behari Day's "Folk-Tales of Bengal" collects traditional stories gathered from village elders and storytellers. These tales explore themes of fate, transformation, and moral lessons through narratives involving kings, magical animals, and supernatural beings, offering a glimpse into the rich folklore of the region.

Summary up to 500 words

In *Folk-Tales of Bengal*, Rev. Lal Behari Day presents a rich collection of traditional stories gathered from village storytellers, capturing the essence of Bengali folklore. The book opens with "Life's Secret," where a king's two queens vie for favor; the favored queen's son, Dalim Kumar, discovers his life is bound to a fish in the palace tank. His stepmother, the disfavored queen, seeks to kill him but fails due to the boy's innocence and the protective nature of the fish. The narrative shifts to "The Story of Prince Sobur," where a prince is cursed and only a merchant's daughter, disguised as a holy mendicant, can cure him using a magical remedy involving bird dung. Their reunion restores the kingdom's harmony. Another tale, "The Origin of Opium," follows a mouse granted speech by a sage, who transforms it into a cat, dog, ape, boar, and elephant based on its changing desires. Ultimately, the creature is turned into a beautiful woman who marries a king but dies by drowning. The sage reveals she was born a mouse and that her body will grow into a poppy tree, explaining the origin of opium as a powerful medicine. In "The Story of the Rakshasas," a princess whose family was eaten by demons learns to give life to bones and destroy the demons with a magical charm, resurrecting her loved ones. Finally, "The Bald Wife" tells of a woman driven from her home after losing her hair, who regains her beauty and wealth through blessings from plants and a sage, only to lose it again when she disobeys instructions by bathing twice. These stories blend magic, morality, and cultural wisdom, illustrating the interconnectedness of fate and the consequences of human actions.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

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2026-07-08 09:50 UTC

Categories

• Folklore
• Regional Literature