A Tale of Eagle and Fox- Festival of Jitiya / चील्हो-सियारीन (जितिया)

Documented by Coralynn V. Davis and Carlos Gomez
Transcription and Translation by Pranav Prakash

Teller: Runa Das
Location: Ranti
Date: 9/12/16

September 12, 2016: Session A6
Maithili Folklore 16_09_12_a_6

View the transcription in Maithili.

[ और? ]

[What next?]

और कोनो दोसर ?

And now another tale?

जित्तीया पाबन हमरा सबके मिथिला में बहुत पैग पाबेन मानल जाएछै ।

The festival of Jittiya is considered one of our biggest festivals in Mithila. 

लोग पुत्र के…अथि से करेछै । 

People do it…that is…for son. 

[दीर्घायू के लेल] 

[for long life]

दीर्घायू के लेल, पूत्र के…मने…अपन स्वस्थ प्रसन्न रहै…मने..ऐ दुआरे । 

in order to ensure the long life of sons…that is…for the wellbeing of their health…that is…for these things. 

त जित्तीया पाबेन होएत रहै । 

So, the festival of Jittiya was being celebrated. 

त सब कुछ जित्तीया पाबेन…चन्द्रसारिता नगरी में…ए…चन्द्रकान्ता नगरी में चन्द्रसारिता नदी बहैत रहै । 

Then, everything during the festival of Jittiya…in a city called Candrasāritā…er…a river called Candrasāritā used to flow in the city called Candrakāntā. 

ओहिठाँ में सबकोए जाए… गेलै, हमरा सब के तेल-खैर लै के नहाए छै । 

Everyone would…go there. It is our custom to take a bath with ‘oil-and-paddy.’ 

त तैल-खैर लै कऽ नेहैले । 

So, everyone took a bath with “oil-and-paddy”. 

नहाए क सबकोए उपर भेलै, आदमी सब सहै वला रहै, दोसर दिन सहतियै ।

After the bath, everyone — everyone who would later be fasting —  came out of the river. They would fast the next day. 

उपवास राएखतियै, तै दुआरे एक दिन पहिले अस्नान कैल जाएछै । 

Since they would subsequently be fasting, they bathed one day before the fast was set to begin. 

बढ़ियाँ सॅ माथा-ओथा धोए कॅ से । 

They cleaned themselves — their heads and other parts — very thoroughly. 

त ओए नदी के किनारा में एकटा पेड़ रहै, पेड़ के नीच्चा में रहैत रहै एकटा सीयार ओर ऊपर में एकटा चील…रहैत रहै ।

On the bank of the river, there was a tree. A jackal lived below the tree, and an eagle lived in the tree…they were living there. 

त चीलो सीयारो…रहै ।

So, there were eagle and jackal…living there. 

त उ दुनु देखल्कै नऽ, त ऊ दुनु में बहुत दोस्ती रहै । 

Then, when they saw each other…so they became very close friends.

कहल्के कि, “गै बहीन”, कहल्के, “गे बहीन, इ सब की करै छथिन ?” 

She called, “O sister,” she asked, “O sister, what are they doing here?”

त कहल्खिन, “इ सब कि करै छथिन, इ सब जित्तीया पाबेन…” सीयारो पूछैल्खैन चीलहोड़ के । 

To which she replied, “What they are doing is that they are performing Jittīya rituals…” The jackal had asked the eagle. 

कहल्कै, “इ सब जित्तीया पाबेन करै छथिन, तै दुआरे नहाए-सोनाए छथिन ।”

She responded, “They are performing Jittiya rituals, that is why they are bathing and cleansing themselves.” 

त कहल्के, “अपनो सब करबै ?” 

The jackal queried in response, “Should we also do this?”

त कहल्के, “नै, आदमी के इ सब पाब…उपवास, ब्रत…इ सब आदमी के छीयै । 

Then she said, “No, this is a festival for humans…fasting and abstaining…This is for humans to do.

हम सब तऽ जानवर छीयै, हमरा सबक इ सब नै पार लागत ।” 

Since we are animals, we will not be able to accomplish all this.” 

तैय्यो बहुत जीद करलखिन, “नै, नै…मने…अब हम…तू नै करबै त नै कर, हम करैछियै । आहाँ के नै करैके यऽ, त नै करू, हम करैछी ।” 

Yet she was very insistent, “No, no…that is…now I…if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it, I will do it. If you don’t want to do it, don’t do it. But I will do it, I am doing it.”  

तऽ…तऽ चीलहोड़ कहल्खिन, “तऽ हमहूँ किया नै करबै ? हमहूँ कऽले छीयै ।” 

Then…then, the eagle said, “Well, why don’t I do it as well? I will also do it.” 

त कहल्खिन, “त ठीक छै । कर ।” 

So, she answered, “Then, ok. Let’s do it.” 

दुनु गोटे, उहा सबकोए चढ़ा के गेल छलै, तेल-खैर, वेहै लगा लेल्खिन, वेहै अस्नान-उस्नान कै क दुनु गोटे सहै लागल्खिन । 

Both of them used whatever “oil-and-paddy” was left over by others, both of them applied it. They took a bath there, and the two of them commenced their fast. 

सहै लागल्खिन, त राएत भेलै । 

They began their fasting, then night descended. 

तऽ…राएत भेलै तऽ चीलहो त ठीक रहथिन । 

Then…night fell, and the eagle was doing fine. 

अपन चिड़ियाँ रहथिन, सूतल रहथिन अपन खोता में । 

She was a bird, so she was asleep in her nest. 

अ सीयारो जे रहथिन, हुन्का राएत में बहुत भूख लाएग गेलै, पियास लाएग गेलै । 

And the jackal who was there, she was very hungry during the night, and she was thirsty. 

एकदम परेशान भै गेल्खिन । 

She was very distressed. 

जानबर रहथिन, हुन्का त…अथि…नै रहै, सहै के…। 

She was an animal, she was…that is…not used to this, not used to fasting…

त परेशान भै गेल्खिन, त उ कि केरतऽथिन, छटपटाए लागल्खिन भूख सॅ ।

So, she was distressed, but what could she do? She was restless due to her hunger. 

त…ओए गाँव में एकटा तेली जाति के कोए मएर गेल छलै..ओकरा सब कोए जला कॅ अ चेल गेल रहै, त ओकर कुछ बचल शेष भाग रहै । 

So…someone from the “teli” caste had passed away in that village. Some people had burnt the dead body and left. But some of the corpse remained unburnt and was still lying there.

तो उ चुप-चाप सियारो निकल्खे अपन अथि से, पेड़ के नीचा में अथि बनल रहै, ओए में रहैत रहथिन, ओए से निकाएल के लऽ आएन लखिन अ उ माँस अपन खाए लागल्खिन, राएत कऽ । 

So, she silently came out of her den. Her den had been constructed at the base of the tree, and she had been living there. She went to the funeral ground, brought out some unburnt meat, and began eating during the night. 

उ तऽ जानबर रहथिन, खाए लागल्खिन, त चिलहो के आवाज़ एले खाए के । 

She was, afterall, an animal. When she began to eat, then the eagle heard the sound of someone’s eating.

त पूछल्खिन, “गे बहीन सीयार, केना छैं ?” 

So, she asked, “O sister jackal, how are you?”

त कहल्खिन, “केना छी ? से तऽ मुँह बहुत भाड़ी लागै छौ ।” 

To which she replied, “How am I doing? Well, I feel like my mouth has become heavy.” 

खाएत रहथिन, त हुन्कर मुँह भाड़ी लागैन । 

She was eating. Of course, her mouth would feel heavy. 

त कहल्खिन, “नै, सहल छी, तै दुआरे मुँह भाड़ी लागेयऽ ।” 

She replied, “Don’t worry, since you are fasting, that is why your mouth feels heavy.” 

कहल्खिन कि, “ कटमट की बाजे छौ ?” 

She asked, “What is making a crick-cracking sound?”

“त उ हड्डी सब कटमट बाजे यऽ,” से कहल्खिन । 

“My bones are making a crick-cracking sound,” she replied. 

मना कै देल्खिन । 

She refused to admit the truth. 

चीलहो बुझैत रहै जे कुछ गड़बड़ कै रहल छै । 

The eagle too understood that something wrong. 

लेकिन उ अपन शांत रहथिन जे, “ठीक छै, अपन ।” 

But she kept quiet, thinking “That’s alright, it’s her choice.” 

त दुनु गोटे सहल्खिन, फेर दोसर आदमी सब…भोड़ भेलै…सब कोए नेहेले-सोहेले, पारण करेल गेल, खीर-ओंकड़ा लॅ कॅ, पारण करेल जाएछै । 

Both of them had fasted thus. On the second day, all the people arrived again…it was morning…everyone bathed and cleaned themselves, they broke their fast with khīr and sprouts. They broke their fast. 

तऽ सब चढ़ैलके, खीर-ओकड़े लॅ कॅ पारण करलकै । 

Then, everyone offered their khīr and sprouts to their deities, and everyone broke their fast. 

पारण करलकै तऽ, उहो सब पारण करलखिन । 

When they broke their fast, then these two animals broke their fast, as well. 

ओकर बाद दुनु गोटे नदी में कहल्खिन कि, मने, “अपन समाप्त कै ले छी ।” 

Both of them went to the river and said to each other, that is, “Let us end this together.” 

तऽ उ झंप (jump) लै लेल्खिन नदी में । 

Then they jumped into the river. 

दुनु गोटे चिलहोड़ सीयारो नहाए-सोनाए कॅ, पारण कै कॅ, झंप लै लेल्खिन ।

Both of them, eagle and jackal bathed and cleaned themselves. Having broken their fast, they jumped into the river. 

[ झंप की भेलै ? ]

[ What doe you mean by “jump”? ]

मने, पैन में डूब गेल्खिन । 

I mean, they drowned themselves in the river. 

डूब कॅ अपना के समाधि लै लेल्खिन ।

They drowned themselves in the river because they wanted to reach the ultimate state of life (samādhi)

त समाधि लै लेल्खिन । 

So, they attained the final state of life. 

तेकर बाद…म…दुनु पुण्य करने रहथिन, सहल रहथिन, त, मने, कुछ भगवान के अंश एले हुन्का में, त दुनु राजा के बेटी बनल्खिन ।

Afterwards…er…both of them had done some virtuous deeds in their lives, so some elements of the god were present in them. That is why both of them were reborn as the daughter of the king. 

कोनो राजा रहै, हुन्कर लड़की बनके दुनु जनम लेल्खिन । 

There was a king. They were reborn as daughters of that king. 

त चिल्होड़ त लेल्खिन रहै धन के आकांक्षा से…अ…चिल्होड़ लेल्खिन रहै पुत्र के आकांक्षा से, ब्रत करलखिन रहे, जे, “हमरा बहुत ज्यादा…बेटा हुए ।” 

So, the eagle had the wealth she desired…no…The eagle had wished for a son, she had prayed during her fast, “Let me have many…sons.”

और इ करलखिन धन के लोभ से सीयारो । 

Whereas the jackal had fasted a yearning for wealth.

दुनु राजा के बेटी भेल्खिन । 

Both were reborn as daughters of the king. 

तऽ चिल्होड़ के, मने, पैग भेल्खिन दुनु राजा…राजकुमारी…तऽ चिल्होड़ जे रहथिन, उ दुनु, मने…चिल…सीया…चिल्होड़ कह देल्खिन जे “हमरा याद रहै ए जनम के बाद अगला जनम में ।” 

Then the eagle…when she grew older then both the king…the princesses….then that eagle, both of them…the eagle…the jacka…the eagle ended up telling others, “I want to remember what happened in this life when I am in the next life.” 

तऽ भगवान हुन्का याददाश्तो देनै रहैन । 

Thus, the god had given her indelible memory. 

याद रहैन हुन्का सब कुछ । 

She remembered everything.

तऽ दुनु गोटे के बियाह हुए लागल, तऽ सीयारो के खूब धनी-मनी घर में बियाह हेल और चिल्हो के, मने, ओत्तेक, मने, साधारण राजा सब से शादी हुए लाग्लैन । 

So, the two of them were married. And, the jackal was married into a very rich and wealthy royal household, but the eagle was, I mean, she was married to a king of modest means.

तऽ दुनु के राजा बियाह कऽ देल्खिन । 

And so, the king arranged marriages for both of them.

तब उ रहथिन महाराज चिल्होड़ । 

Now she was the empress eagle.

तऽ इ अपन अथि करलखिन रह, तऽ हुन्का पुत्र भेलेन, तऽ हिन्का सातता पुत्र भेलैन । चिल्होड़ के । 

So, what she did next was she bore sons. She had seven sons. The eagle had seven sons. 

और सीयारो त ब्रत खण्डित कै देल्खिन रैह, तैं दुआरे हुन्का जे बच्चा होएन, से खतम भै जैय, मएर जाय । 

And the jackal had broken her vow of fasting, that is why whenever she bore a child, it perished right away. All of them died.

मएर जाएन, तै दुआरे हुन्का, मने, पैग भेल्खिन, त उ राजा रहथिन ।

They would die. Therefore, she…I mean…she grew up, and her husband was the king.

हुन्का हरदम इर्ष्या लागै जे, “हमर बहीन के सातता बेटा ऐच्छ । 

She was always jealous, lamenting that, “My sister has seven sons. 

हमरा तऽ धनै लै कऽ, की हैत ? हमरा बच्चै नै यऽ एकोटा । 

“What shall I do with all of this wealth? I haven’t even one child.

हमरा कुछ होयेछैन, धन राखे वला कोए नै ऐच्छ ।” 

I wish I had someone. There is no one who can manage of my wealth.” 

तो उ अपन बहीन के हमेशा कहथिन कि…तऽ बहीन जे चिल्होड़ देखथिन जे, “हमर बहीन के बच्चा नै छै,” त उ कहथिन अपन बेटा सब के जे − मौसी कहल जाए छै – जे, “मौसी के जाए के परणाम कहियै रोज़ ।” 

In this way, she used to complain to her sister all the time…then her sister, who was the eagle, when she learned that, “My sister is unable to bear child,” then she instructed all her sons that whenever they meet their mausi — maternal aunts are called mausi — that, “you should offer your respect to your mausi everyday.” 

मने, मुलाकात करिहैन, बात-चीन करिहैन, मौसी के अच्छा लागेत, नीक लाग्तै ।

That is, they should to try to visit their mausi, and converse with her, so that their mausi feels good, she feels nice. 

कहल्खिन, “ठीक छै ।”  

They replied, “OK!”

उ सब बच्चा सब आबै, खेलै लॅ जाए, शिकार खेलै लॅ जाए, तहियौ परणाम करैत रहै आ लौटतौ कला परणाम करैत रहै । 

Whenever those children would come, whenever they used to go out to play, whenever they used to go hunting, they would offer their respects to her, and whenever they would return to their homes, they would offer their respects to her. 

आ इ देखथिन त हीन्का बहुत इर्ष्या लागै जे, “हमर बच्चा नै यऽ अ एकरा बच्चा छै ।”  

And whenever she would see them, she was filled with jealousy brooding that, “I don’t have a child, and she has children.” 

तै एकदिन राजा रूस गेल…अ…मने…रूठे के मने, कोप-भवन रहैछै रानी सब के, ओए में चैल गेल्खिन । 

That’s why the king was angry one day…that is…she was sulking, that is, she went to her fretting-chamber. There is a special fretting-chamber for queens, she went in there. 

रूएस गेल्खिन जे राजा मन्बै लॅ एल्खिन, “की बात छीयै जे आहाँ रूसल छी अ खाए पीयै नै छी ?” 

She was seething, so the king came to see her, “What’s the matter? Why are you upset? Why are you not eating or drinking? 

अन्न-पाएन त्याग देल्खिन । 

She had given up food and water.

त कहल्खिन कि जे, “हमरा कुछौ नै, हमरा…अथि…एकटा बात कहै लॅ चाहै छी ।

Then she replied, “I have nothing…I have…that is…I have an issue that I want to discuss with you.”

हमरा मन के बात पूरा नै हैत, त हम नै करब, नै कुछ खाएब-पीयब ।” 

If the issue occupying my mind is not resolved, then I will not do anything, that is, I’ll not eat or drink. 

त कहल्खिन, “आहाँ के मन के बात की ऐच्छ, से बताऊँ ।” 

So, he asked, ”What issue is occupying your mind? Tell me.” 

त कहल्खिन, “नै, आहाँ पहिले, सपथ…मने…लीय जे “हम…मनोकामना पूर्ण करब…हम इच्छा पूर्ण करब ।’” 

Then she replied, “No, first, pledge to me…that is…take a vow that, “I…will fulfill your wishes…I will grant you all that you desire.”

त कहल्खिन, “ठीक छै ।” 

So, he agreed, saying, “All right.” 

पहिले त कहल्खिन, “हम पति-पत्नी छीयै, हमरा दुनु में की सपथ ? आहाँ जे कहब, से हम करब ।” 

At first, he said, “We are husband and wife. Why do we need take vows among ourselves? Whatever you will say, I will do it.” 

त कहल्खिन, “नै, नै, एहन बात नै छै । आहाँ सपथ लीय ।” 

Then she replied, “No, no, it isn’t about that. Take a vow.” 

राजा सपथ लै लेल्खिन । 

The king pledged to fulfill her wishes. 

त कहल्के, “हमर बहीन के सातों बच्चा छैन, ओकरा राएते मरवा दियौ । 

Then she said, “My sister has seven sons. Have them killed during the night.

मरवा के, ओकर हम सबके सीर चाही, और सातों के साता ढ़ाबा में खून चाही ।” 

After killing them, I want all of their heads and the blood of seven bodies in seven pots.”

त कहल्खिन, राजा कहल्खिन, “केहन बात छै ?

Then he replied, the king replied, “What kind of talk is this?” 

आहाँ के बाल-बच्चा नै यऽ, बहीनों के बच्चा यऽ, ओकरो चाहे छीयै मरबा दैय लॅ ।” 

You don’t have your own children. Your sister does have children. You would have her children killed, as well.” 

त कहल्खिन, “नै करब, तऽ हम आहाँ से सपथ लेनै छी, अपन जानब, आहाँ पाप के भाग य ।” 

Then she said, “If you don’t do this, then, since you have already promised me, you face its consequences, you will be partaking some sin.”

आब राजा चण्डाल सबके हुकुम देल्खिन । 

Now the king gave all the chandals the order. 

सब राजा सब गेल्खिन…चण्डाल सब गेलै । 

Everyone and the king proceeded…all the chandals proceeded with her order. 

सातोंटा चण्डाल लाएग गेलै ओए दिन जे गेलै उ सब सिकार खेलै लॅ । 

All seven boys were followed by chandals. They were headed to do some hunting that day. 

तऽ राएत के, मने, साँझ के सबके गर्दन काएट के, और चण्डाल सब सातटा { खाँसी } खून लै कॅ एलै । 

Then, during the night, that is, in the evening, all those chandals slit the throats of  those children. They returned with the blood of seven children. 

हुन्का रानी के देल्कै ।

They gave them to the queen. 

रानी उठल्कै, सातोंटा सिर और सातटा खून । 

The queen lifted up those seven heads and seven kinds of blood. 

एकटा चँगेड़ा में झाँप के, जेना सनेस जाएछै, मने, मिठाई-उठाई लै के जाएछै । 

She got a wicker basket, and she hid their heads in it. She arranged the basket as if it were a gift basket, like those baskets filled sweets and delicacies which are sent as gifts to others. 

त उ अपन बहीन औएठमाँ सनेस भेज देल्खिन । 

Then she sent this gift basket to her sister’s place. 

बहीन….म….म….सब जित्तीया करनै रहै हुन्कर औएठमाँ । 

Her sister…er…er…everyone in her house was fasting for the Jittiya festival. 

सातो पुतोह जित्तीया करनै रहै, अपनो जित्तीया करनै ।

Her seven daughters-in-law were fasting for the Jittiya, and she too was fasting. 

तऽ कहल्खिन पुतोह के जे, “के खाएत, आए त कोए नै खैत, मौसी के ओएठमाँ से सनेस एले, जाय कॅ सिर आगूँ में राएख दियौ । 

So then she said to her daughters-in-law, “Who is going to eat from this gift basket? No one wants to eat today. The gift-basket which mausī has sent to us, fetch it and put it in front of the sanctum.

त हमरा सबके कतौ से सनेस आबै छै, त पहिले सिर आगू घर में राखल जाएछै । त कहल्कै, “सिर आगू घर में राएख दियौ ।” {खाँसी} सिर {खाँसी}…

So, whenever we receive a gift basket from somewhere, we first place it in front of the sanctum. That’s why she said, “Put it in front of the sanctum.”

[ सिर आगू घर की भेलै ? भगवती घर? ]

[ What is the sanctum? It is the room for worshipping the Goddess? ]

भगवती घर । 

The abode of the Goddess.

भगवती के घर में राएख देल्खिन । 

She put it in the Goddess’ room. 

अपन राएत के बच्चा सब के इंतजार करलखिन, लड़का सब नै लौटल रहै । 

Through night, she was waiting for all of her sons. None of the boys returned. 

त बैठल रहथिन रानी अपनै…जे…, “बच्चा सब नै लौटल हेन ।” 

So, she was sitting all by herself…thinking that…, “None of my sons have come back yet.”

बच्चा सबके त मरबा देल्खिन रहैन । 

All her sons had been killed already. 

राएत कॅ जितवाहन भगवान एल्खिन ब्रत सब कॅ देखै लॅ । 

In the night, the Lord Jitavahan came to see how everyone was fasting. 

जिनवाहनो भगवान के छै जे सब के…अथि…राएत कॅ देखै छथिन…जे ब्रत के सब करनै छै । 

Even Lord Jitavahan needs to see everyone…that is…at night, he looks into whether everyone has done their fasting.

और सबके…अथि…अढ़ाई चुड़ुक के खून पीयै छथिन ब्रती सब के जे…अथि…ओही से हुन्कर जीवन यापन होयेछै, ओरोँ आशीर्बाद दै छथिन सबके…बच्चा सब के । { खाँसी }

And from everyone…that is…he drinks two and half chuduka of blood from the body of everyone who is fasting…that is…his life is sustained by this drawing of blood, and he gives blessings to everyone who offers their blood to him…to all the children.

[ खून पी पी के ? ] 

[ after drinking their blood? ]

रक्षा करै छथिन । कहल जाएछै । कहल जाएछै । 

He protects us. This is what is said. This is what is said. 

[  Shall I get some water? ]

[ Shall I get some water? ]

[ कहल जाएछै दंत कथा में । दुल्हा कनि पाएन दियौन ]

[ This is what they say in oral stories. Son-in-law, please give her some water.]

त कहल्कै, “ठीक छै ।”

Then she replied, “OK.”

[ हेय्या छै गिलास ]

[ The glass is here. ] 

[ पाएन हीन्का दियौन पीबै लॅ, से कहैछै । ] 

[ Give her some water to drink, that’s what he is saying. ]

[ अऽ, नै, ओकरा गला कनिटा कुचकुचाएत रहैछै । ]

[ I see, no, her throat usually riles a little bit. ]

कहल्कै, “ठीक छै ।” 

She replied, “OK.” 

[ कोनो बात नै छै । ]

[ No problem. ] 

“ठीक छै से अथि…म…अथि करलकै…राएत के भगवान एल्खिन देखल्खिन, “बाप रे, एकर…! 

“That’s fine, that is…er…he did it…when God arrived in the night, he saw the basket, “Oh my! er…!

ब्रत करनै य सब, और एकर सबके…मने…ब…मने…सबटा बेटा खतम भै गेलै हँ !”

All of them are fasting, and all of their…that is…er…that…all her sons are dead!” 

गेल्खिन जेठाँ…नन्दन बन में…शिकार खेलैत रहथिन, तऽ अपन कँगूरिया अँगूरी में भगवान के रहै जे अमृत…त…उ अमृत चीड़ के…अमृत छींट देल्खिन सब पर । 

He went there…in the Nandan forest…where they had gone to hunt. And he had life-giving nectar in his little finger…he cut his finger…he sprinkled the nectar on them.

सब ऊइठ गेल्खिन…बच्चा…मने…सब राजकुमार सब । 

All of them came back to life…all of her children…that is…all of the princes.

कहल्खिन जे, “देखियौ, आहाँ सब के एना एना मौसी मरवा देलक रहै, से आहाँ सब आइंदा, मने, अपन माए के कहबै एकर फैसला कै ले लॅ, किया कि आए तऽ हम एलौँ रहॅ, तै दुआरे आहाँ सब कॅ अथि करलौं, अ जै दिन हम नै रहब, तै दिन आहाँ सबके कै रक्षा करत ?” 

Then he said, “Look, your mausī had you all killed in such-and-such a manner. From now on, all of you be cautious. That is, you should ask your mother to adjudicate this matter. This is because, since I was passing by here, I was able to do something for you, but on another day when I am not here, if this happens, who will protect you all?

त कहल्खिन, “ठीक छै ।” 

They replied, “Yes, OK.” 

ओ सब एलै, फेर मौसी के गोड़ लाग्लकै, त मौसी के दिमाग एकदम ऊइड़ गेलै जे, “अरे, एखनि त मरबा देल्यै रह । फेरो लेकिन इ सब जिन्दा केना छै ?” 

They came back, and they again offered their respects to their mausi. Then their mausī was utterly shocked and thought, “What the heck, I had them killed moments ago, so how is it that they have come alive now?”

तेय्यौ कुछ नै कहल्कै ।

Still she said nothing. 

“बहूत राएत भै गेलौ ?,” पूछल्खिन । 

“Is it very late at the night ?” she asked. 

त कहल्कै, “हाँ, मौसी, खेलै लॅ बहूत दूर चैल गेल्यै रही, राएत भै गेल ।” 

To which they replied, “Yes, mausī, we went very far in the pursuit of the hunt, it’s night already.” 

त, “ठीक छै, एकरा, अथि…{ खाँसी }…ठीक छै, राएत एतै भै गेल, कोनो बाएत नै, हम जाए छीयै ।” 

Then she said, “OK, this…that is…that’s fine, it’s gotten to be late in the night. No problem, I am leaving.”

चएल एलै, त माए से पूछल्के…माए पूछल्कै, “राएत किया भै गेलौ ?” 

They came back. Then their mother asked….their mother asked,  “Why is it so late night?”

त कहल्कै, “की करबै से ओहिना राएत भै गैल। भोरे कहबै खिस्सा ।” 

Then they replied, “What to do? It’s already so late in night. We will tell the story in the morning.” 

त भोरे, उठल्खिन सब कोए, पारण-उरण कैरतथिन त कहल्खिन कि जे, “देखी नऽ, मौसी की सनेस पठैल्खौं हँ ।” 

When morning came, everyone got up. Since they all were to break their fast, she said, “Go see what mausī has sent in her gift basket.” 

तऽ, गेलै, तऽ ओए में सातो भाए गेलै ताड़, सिर भै गेलै ताड़ अ सातोंता के खून भै गेलै ताड़ी । 

So, they went. In that basket, the head of all seven brothers had turned into coconuts, they became coconuts, and their blood became toddy.

त उ देखल्खिन ऊघाएर कऽ । 

Then they uncovered the basket and saw what was there. 

तब कहल्खिन, “इ सातों जे ताड़ छीयै, से हमर सातों भाए के सिर छी, अ सातों ताड़ी, सातोंता ताड़ी, हमर सबक, सब भाए के खून छीयै । से एना-एना मौसी करबैल्कै रहै ।” 

And so they said, “These seven coconuts which you see here are the heads of our seven brothers. And the seven packets of toddy, seven bags of toddy, they are our blood, the blood of seven brothers. Our mausī ordered such-and-such things to be done to us.”

तैं हुन्का बहुत दुख भेलैन चिल्होड़ के । 

So, she was very chagrined, the eagle was. 

कहल्कै, “ठीक छै । हम..”

She said, “Well, OK then! I…” 

अपन बहीनो के खबर भेजल्खिन, “माएका आ, नैहिरा आ ।” 

She sent a message to her sister, “Come visit your natal home, come visit your parent’s place!” 

अ उ अपनों नैहिरा गेल्खिन । 

So, she went to her natal home.

अ अपन पिता के कहल्खिन जे “आहाँ सभा लग्बाऊ, ओए में फैसला हम कराएब ।” 

And she said to her father, “You should organize a public meeting; I want this adjudicated in that meeting.” 

त कहल्खिन, “ठीक छै ।” 

And he replied, “All right.”

त सभा लाग्लेन ।

So, the public meeting was organized. 

उ दुनु गोटे एल्खिन, दुनु बहीन कहल्खिन, “सोना के खेड़का बनाएल जेतै । दाँत खोदै लऽ ।” 

Both of them went there. Both sisters said, “A gold tooth-pick will be made. For picking the teeth.”

सोना के खेड़का बन्लै । 

A gold tooth-pick was made. 

अ…दुनु…बहीन…म…अथि…अ दुनु बहीन दाँत…अथि…खोद…सभा लाग्लै । 

And…both sisters…er…that is…and both sisters will pick their teeth…that is…they will pick their teeth. The meeting took place. 

पूरा राज्य के लोग एलै रह । 

Everyone in the kingdom came to attend the meeting. 

त कहल्खिन, “दुनु गोटै, इहो दाँत खोदतै, हमहूँ दाँत खोदबै ।” 

Then they said, “Both of us will pick our teeth, she will pick her teeth, and I will pick my teeth.”

त चिल्हो दाँत खोदलकै, त हुन्का से खीड़ा-ओँकुड़ी निकल्लै । 

When the eagle picked her teeth, some bits of cucumber and sprouts came out of her mouth. 

अ सीयारो जे दाँत खोदथिन, हुन्का से ढेपै-ढेपै मोस निकलै ।

And when the jackal picked her teeth, large chunks of meat came out from her mouth. 

खेनै रहथिन…म…माँस मृतकै के…ओए जनम में । 

She had eaten it…that is…the meat of the dead body…in her last birth. 

तब सबको कहलखिन जे, “एना-एना हम सब चिल्होड़-सीयारो रहौं,” उ पूरा खिस्सा कहल्खिन । 

Then she recounted their story to everyone, “We were an eagle and a jackal in the past and such-and-such happened.” She told the whole story. 

से, “इ हमरा, मने, अथि, करलक { खाँसी } ब्रत करैलऽ । 

She said, “She made me, that is, she urged me to fast. 

अ इ अपन ब्रत खण्डित करलक, त एकर कोए खण्डित भै गेलै ।

But she abandoned her own fast, so her things got destroyed. 

एकर बच्चा सब नै जिन्दा रहैछै । 

Her children do not survive. 

और हमर, मने, हम नै ब्रत पूरा करलौं, त हमर बच्चा सब जिन्दा रहैय । 

And my…that is, I completed my fasting, so all of my children are alive. 

से इ हमरा साथे एना-एना करलकै ।” 

So, she has done such-and-such things to me.”

तब सीयारो के सब दूर्छी-दूर्छी करलकैन, सब हुन्का दुत्कारलकैन ।

Then everyone criticized the jackal, everyone rebuked her.

तकर बाद से सियारो अपन घर गेल्खिन । 

Afterwards, that jackal left for her own home.

तब लोग कहैछै, “जेहन चिल्होड़ के होय, तेहन सब के होए । सबटा सातों बच्चा जिन्दा रहै अ जेहन सियारो के होय, ओहन केकड़ो ने होय ।” हम सब खर-खोटैछे येहा बात कहैछी ।  

And thus, people say, “The way it turned out for the eagle, may it be like this for everyone. All her seven children were alive. The way it turned out for the jackal, may that never happen to anyone.” When we pick our teeth, we say the same thing.