The Tale of Two Snakes

Once upon a time in a kingdom so far, far away that not even a treasure map could find it, there was a king. Oh boy, this king had a lot on his plate! He wasn't just worried about where he left his crown; he was worried 'cause his son was as thin as a pencil.

Even the best doctors, the kinds that usually say, "Say ahh!" and tell you to eat your veggies, had no idea how to help. They said, "Your Highness, it's a really big problem. There’s a snake in the kiddo's tummy!"

So the young prince, tired of feeling like a wiggly balloon that’s losing air, sneaked out of the castle. He ran away to another kingdom and lived in a temple, eating food given to him by really nice people.

In this new kingdom, there were two princesses. Every morning, one would say, "Daddy, you're so awesome! You make us so happy!" But the other one would say, "Dad, we make our own luck in life, you know!"

Well, that made the king mad, like when you can’t beat the final level in a video game. He said, "Find this girl a husband, pronto!"

Guess who they find? Yep, our temple-living, skinny prince. They get married faster than you can say, "Happily ever after," and off they go exploring like they're in a big adventure game.

One day, the prince got really tired and had to take a nap under a tree. His wife went to buy some snacks. When she came back, she found TWO talking snakes! One was coming out of an anthill and the other was coming right out of her husband's mouth!

The anthill snake said, "Why do you keep making the prince sick? Don't you know if he drinks a soup made of special seeds, you're toast?"

The mouth snake said, "Well, why are you keeping all that gold? If someone pours hot water over you, you're done for!"

And just like that, they went back to where they came from, but not before the princess heard everything.

So what does she do? She makes that special seed soup super quick and gives it to her husband. Boom! He starts feeling way better!

Then they pour hot water on the anthill and guess what? They find two big pots of shiny gold!

From then on, they were as happy as you are when you get an extra scoop of ice cream. They lived happily ever after, laughing all the way, with no more tummy-snakes and lots and lots of gold coins to spend.

King Devashakti, strong and tall,
Had a son, the frailest of all.
Though many doctors came to see,
None could cure his strange malady.

Inside his tummy, a snake did hide,
Making the young prince's strength subside.
Seeing his father's growing despair,
The prince left to breathe some fresh air.

To another land, he did go,
Living in a temple, life was slow.
The ruler's daughters, wise and true,
Had lessons they'd daily construe.

One said, "Father, you're our joy,
Our precious gem, no decoy!"
But the second, with thoughts profound,
Spoke truths that made the king astound.

"Results we face are of our making,"
She'd say, the palace foundation shaking.
The angry king decreed in haste,
"Find her a spouse, no time to waste!"

In the temple, they found the prince,
His health declining, ounce by ounce.
Married to the wise daughter soon,
They explored, under sun and moon.

One day, under a tree's cool shade,
The prince rested, while the princess trade.
Returning with food, to her shock and dismay,
She saw two snakes, conversing away.

One snake from the anthill, one from the prince's lip,
Revealed secrets on their little trip.
Cumin and mustard, the prince should sip,
To send away the snake on its trip.

And for the gold, the other did boast,
Hot water and oil, near the anthill post.
Armed with this knowledge, without a pause,
The princess acted for their cause.

Cumin and mustard, in a soup she stirred,
And soon the prince was healed, as he'd heard.
The anthill's treasure, soon was theirs,
Two pots of gold, no more despairs.

With health restored, wealth untold,
The prince and princess' story unfolds.
Hand in hand, in love so grand,
They lived joyfully, across the land.