The Tale of the Golden Lotus
Once upon a time, there lived a man named Ratan. Ratan had a wife named Radhika, who had an insatiable affinity for gold. Her incessant nagging for more gold drove him to such despair that he contemplated suicide.
Intervention of a Fairy
Ratan resolved to end his life and heave a rope over a branch. But as he tried hanging himself, the branch snapped, sending him crashing to the ground. Subsequently, a fairy emerged from the broken branch and addressed Ratan. The fairy, already privy to Ratan’s plight, gifted him three magical pills. Each pill would yield a lot of gold, but he must take one each day, strictly after dinner.
The Dream and the Golden Lotus
Excited at the prospect, Ratan hastily took the pills and rushed home. After dinner, he swallowed one, instantly falling into a deep slumber. He dreamt of a green valley in the heart of which was a crystal-clear pond, guarded by a water sprite. The pond was home to a solitary golden lotus, which the sprite directed him to take home. Ratan woke up from his dream to find a golden lotus lying next to his outstretched hand. Elated, he shared his dream and presented the golden lotus to his wife.
The Greedy Wife
However, Radhika’s greed exceeded her husband’s wildest expectations. She demanded more golden lotuses and Ratan, succumbing to her demands, swallowed another pill. Again, he returned from his dream with a golden lotus. Radhika’s dissatisfaction led to a fierce quarrel, attracting a crowd, and eventually reaching the ears of the king. The king summoned Ratan, accusing him of disturbing the peace. Ratan recounted his extraordinary journey, from the brink of death to procuring the golden lotuses.
The King’s Experiment
The king was skeptical of Ratan’s narrative but decided to verify the authenticity of the tale himself. He ingested the third pill, falling into a similar slumber as Ratan. Dreaming of the same green valley and clear pond, the king encountered the same nymph. Unlike Ratan, the king attempted to clasp the nymph’s hand. She warned him to instead look at the pool. The clear waters turned blood red, unveiling venomous water snakes and a demonic creature. The nymph revealed the demon and she were intertwined—killing the demon was key to winning her over.
The King’s Sacrifice
The king, drawn towards the nymph, sacrificed his own blood to destroy the demon. He awoke to find the nymph on his bed, surrounded by radiant golden lotuses. Astonished, he questioned if his dream had become reality, to which the nymph affirmed ‘Yes, Sire.’ The king wed the nymph and they lived contentedly. Ratan was rewarded generously by the king for his indirect role in the king’s fortune, becoming a trusted official at his court.