The Return of Rooprani
Encounter in the Forest
Devapal, the king of Rajgarh, had gone to inspect the frontier of his kingdom. While returning to his palace through a forest, he came upon a beautiful damsel weeping under a tree.
The king dismounted his horse and asked the damsel, “Who are you? What makes you sit here alone and weep?”
“My name is Mohini. I lived at the far end of this forest. A giant devoured my parents, and I am the only survivor. I was not married, so I have no place to go,” she replied.
A New Proposal
The king was so charmed by the young lady that he immediately proposed, “In that case, why not accompany me? I will be delighted if you consent to marry me.”
The young lady blushed and whispered, “I am willing to marry you on the condition that I will be allowed to have my way in everything. Nobody should question or check me!”
<p“I accept the condition,” said the king. He summoned a palanquin and carried the young lady to his palace.
Jealousy in the Palace
The king already had a queen named Rooprani. Because Rooprani had failed to give birth to any children, the king had decided to marry again, unaware that Rooprani was already pregnant. However, the noble Rooprani welcomed Mohini like her own sister, instructing the maids of the palace to ensure that the younger queen was not inconvenienced in any way.
Contrarily, Mohini’s attitude towards Rooprani was filled with jealousy, even though she never showed it in her behavior.
The Deception Unfolds
When it was time for Rooprani to give birth to her child, Mohini told the king, “Nobody except me should be present near the elder queen at the time of delivery.” The enchanted king complied with Mohini’s whim.
When Rooprani experienced labor pains, all her maids and nurses had to leave her room. Mohini alone remained with her. The king waited outside the queen’s apartment, filled with anxiety and curiosity.
An hour later, Mohini rang the bell, calling the king inside.
But what a shock awaited him! Rooprani lay senseless, and beside her was a duck made of wax.
“O King! Look at your heir. Give it a kiss,” said Mohini with a giggle.
“I don’t understand what you mean or what I see,” murmured the king.
“Well, this is all your dear elder queen has given birth to—a wax duck!” explained Mohini.
Rooprani’s Departure
The king left the apartment without another word, feeling gloomy, and refused to see Rooprani. The only person he spoke to was Mohini, who soon convinced him that Rooprani was a curse and had humiliated him with the ridiculous toy.
One day, the king sent word to Rooprani that he would consider it a blessing if she left the palace.
The heartbroken Rooprani complied immediately and went into a forest to live in a deserted hut.
A Revelation
However, her sadness did not last long. Soon after her arrival in the forest, a holy man met her while carrying a child in his arms.
“My daughter! This is your child. As soon as it was born, Mohini, the witch, sent it out of the palace through a secret passage with orders to kill it. But when her servant saw me watching her, she fled, leaving the child alive. Now, my daughter, take charge of your son. You will soon experience good days again,” he said.
Under the holy man’s care, Rooprani and her infant prince lived happily.
The King’s Troubles
As days passed, the king faced a series of unforeseen troubles. His elephants, horses, and cattle died for no apparent reason. Drought struck the kingdom, fires broke out in various places, and the people were filled with panic. The king himself fell ill.
One evening, the holy man met the king’s minister and revealed all the misdeeds of Mohini. He explained why the king and the kingdom were suffering. The minister was horrified to learn that Mohini was, in fact, a witch who sought to destroy both the king and his kingdom.
The Confrontation
The holy man then handed the minister a wax duck, a piece of iron, a stick of magnet, and a small loaf of bread. He instructed him on how to use them.
The next day, when the king came to the court, the minister proposed to show him something amusing. Curious, the king allowed it. The minister brought a large cauldron filled with water and floated the wax duck on it.
Holding the loaf of bread, the minister asked the king, “My lord! Can this wax duck feel any desire for this bread?”
“‘How can a wax duck feel anything, my wise minister?” the king replied.
“My lord, if a woman can give birth to a wax duck, a wax duck can also show feelings. The truth is, both occurrences are impossible. However, things which cannot truly happen might appear to happen!” the minister observed, moving the bread closer to the duck’s beak. The duck moved, seemingly attracted to the bread, as the magnet in the bread pulled the iron hidden in the duck’s beak.
The Final Revelation
As the king marveled at the spectacle, the holy man entered the court, accompanied by Rooprani and her son. News of the magic had reached Mohini, and she hurried to the court. The holy man uttered a mantra and sprinkled a little water on Mohini, instantly transforming her into a crow. With a hoarse cawing, she flew away.
The amazed king, the holy man, and his minister explained the events to him. His joy knew no bounds when he regained his true queen and the little prince. With Rooprani’s return, who was pious and pure, fortune returned to the king and the kingdom. The king recovered from his illness, and good rain followed a bumper crop throughout the realm.