Once upon a time, there was a king named Devashakti who was very worried about his son. His son was skinny and frail, getting more so each day.
Even the best doctors from far away lands couldn't make him better, because he had a snake living inside his tummy. No matter what they tried, nothing worked.
Feeling upset seeing his father sad and tired of feeling weak, the prince quietly left the castle one night and journeyed to another kingdom. He lived in a temple, surviving on food given to him by kind-hearted people.
The ruler of this new kingdom had two young daughters, who were very wise. Every morning, they would respectfully greet their father to ask for his blessing.
One daughter would say, "Dear father, we are so lucky to have you. You bring us all the happiness in the world." But the other daughter would say, "Father, it's true that we only receive the rewards of what we do ourselves."
The second daughter's words made the king angry. One day, he ordered his advisors to find someone, anyone, for her to marry. "She should learn the results of her own actions!" he said.
The advisors found the prince living in the temple and married him to the princess. She was a devout girl, treating her husband with respect and love. Happy with her new life, they set off to explore other parts of the kingdom, as they didn't want to make the temple their home.
One day, as they were traveling, the prince became tired and needed to rest under a tree. The princess went to buy some food from a market nearby. When she came back, she saw a snake slithering out from a nearby anthill and another snake emerging from her sleeping husband's mouth.
She overheard the snakes' conversation. The snake from the anthill asked the other, "Why do you keep making this handsome prince sick? You know, if he drinks a soup made of cumin seeds and mustard, you won't survive!" The other snake replied, "And why do you guard two pots of gold that you don't need? If someone pours hot water and oil over your anthill, you won't survive either!"
After their chat, the snakes retreated, but the princess had learned their secrets.
She quickly prepared a soup of cumin seeds and mustard for her husband. In no time at all, he started feeling better and stronger. Then, they poured hot water and oil on the anthill and found the two pots of gold the snake was hiding.
With the prince's health improving and two pots full of gold in their possession, they lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time, there was a king named Devashakti who was very worried about his son. His son was thin and weak, and he got worse every day.
Even the best doctors from distant lands couldn’t help him because there was a snake living in his stomach. Nothing they tried seemed to work.
Feeling sad for his father and tired of being weak, the prince quietly left the palace one night. He traveled to another kingdom and lived in a temple, surviving on food given to him by kind people.
In this new kingdom, the king had two daughters who were very wise. Every morning, they would greet their father and ask for his blessing.
One daughter would say, "Father, we are lucky to have you. You bring us happiness." The other daughter would say, "Father, we only get what we earn ourselves."
The second daughter’s words made the king angry. One day, he told his advisors to find someone for her to marry. "She must learn the results of her own actions!" he said.
The advisors found the prince living in the temple, and he married the princess. She was kind and treated her husband with respect and love. Happy with her new life, they set out to explore other parts of the kingdom, as they didn’t want to live in the temple.
One day, while they were traveling, the prince got tired and rested under a tree. The princess went to buy food from the market. When she came back, she saw a snake slither out of an anthill and another snake come out of her sleeping husband’s mouth.
She overheard the snakes talking. The snake from the anthill asked, "Why are you making this prince sick? If he drinks cumin seed and mustard soup, you won’t survive!" The other snake replied, "Why do you guard two pots of gold you don’t need? If someone pours hot water and oil on your anthill, you won’t survive either!"
After the snakes left, the princess knew what to do.
She made cumin seed and mustard soup for her husband. Soon, he felt stronger. Then, they poured hot water and oil on the anthill and found two pots of gold.
With the prince healthy and two pots of gold, they lived happily ever after.
Once upon a time, there was a king named Devashakti who was very worried about his son. His son was thin and weak, and he got worse every day.
Even the best doctors from distant lands couldn’t help him because there was a snake living in his stomach. Nothing they tried seemed to work.
Feeling sad for his father and tired of being weak, the prince quietly left the palace one night. He traveled to another kingdom and lived in a temple, surviving on food given to him by kind people.
In this new kingdom, the king had two daughters who were very wise. Every morning, they would greet their father and ask for his blessing.
One daughter would say, "Father, we are lucky to have you. You bring us happiness." The other daughter would say, "Father, we only get what we earn ourselves."
The second daughter’s words made the king angry. One day, he told his advisors to find someone for her to marry. "She must learn the results of her own actions!" he said.
The advisors found the prince living in the temple, and he married the princess. She was kind and treated her husband with respect and love. Happy with her new life, they set out to explore other parts of the kingdom, as they didn’t want to live in the temple.
One day, while they were traveling, the prince got tired and rested under a tree. The princess went to buy food from the market. When she came back, she saw a snake slither out of an anthill and another snake come out of her sleeping husband’s mouth.
She overheard the snakes talking. The snake from the anthill asked, "Why are you making this prince sick? If he drinks cumin seed and mustard soup, you won’t survive!" The other snake replied, "Why do you guard two pots of gold you don’t need? If someone pours hot water and oil on your anthill, you won’t survive either!"
After the snakes left, the princess knew what to do.
She made cumin seed and mustard soup for her husband. Soon, he felt stronger. Then, they poured hot water and oil on the anthill and found two pots of gold.
With the prince healthy and two pots of gold, they lived happily ever after.
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.
Far away, not close to where you are.
Staying alive, even when things are hard.
Words of kindness or prayer for good things.
People who give helpful ideas or guidance.
A place where people pray or worship.
Things people do, not just think or say.
To move smoothly like a snake on the ground.
A small hill made by ants for their home.
To hear something accidentally without trying to.
To protect something from harm or danger.
Far away, not close to where you are.
Staying alive, even when things are hard.
Words of kindness or prayer for good things.
People who give helpful ideas or guidance.
A place where people pray or worship.
Things people do, not just think or say.
To move smoothly like a snake on the ground.
A small hill made by ants for their home.
To hear something accidentally without trying to.
To protect something from harm or danger.
What was the problem with the king's son at the beginning of the story?
Where did the prince go after he left the palace?
What did the king's second daughter say to her father every morning?
How did the princess find out how to cure her husband?
What happened after the prince drank the cumin seed and mustard soup?
Steady and patient, a slow tortoise dares to race against a confident hare. Who will cross the finish line first?
While the grasshopper dances through summer, the ant works hard, gathering food. Which one will survive when winter arrives?
A thirsty crow finds a pitcher with water too low to reach. What clever trick will he use to get a drink?
A king's elephant and a dog form a friendship, are suddenly separated, but they are reunited by the king and live happily.
The powerful North Wind and the gentle Sun try to make a traveler take off his cloak to prove who is stronger. Which one will succeed?
When a farmer brings a bundle of sticks to his sons, they stop arguing. How did a simple bundle of sticks teach them?
A lion spares a tiny mouse who promises to return the favor one day. How could such a small mouse possibly help a lion?
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