Hari Madhav Babu and the Wedding Chamber / हरि माधव बाबू के कोहबर

March 2, 2017: Session 2
Maithili Folklore Story 17_03_02_02

Documented by Coralynn V. Davis and Carlos Gomez
Transcription by Nidhi Anand and Translation by Neeraj Kumar
Translation edits by Coralynn V. Davis

Teller: Arhulia Devi
Location: Patwara, Rajanagar
Date: 03/02/17

View the transcription in Maithili.

एक राजमे एकटा राजा रहिथ। हुनका तीन गो बेटा रहैन।

Once there was a king in a kingdom. He had three sons.

तऽ ऊ तीनू बेटा के बजा कऽ पहिले बड़का के पूछलखिन जे बौआ रौ राज तालुका लिखल हेतौ तऽ बेटा कहलकय बाबूजी हमरासँ तऽ नै हैत. 

He called for his three sons and asked the eldest first, “Hey, son, would you be able to compose a treatise on the affairs of state? His son replied, “No, father. I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

मंझला से पूछलखिन, ओहो कहलखिन बाबुजी हमरासँ नै हैत.

He asked the second one. He also said, “No, father. I wouldn’t be able to do it.”

छोटका के कहलखिन, कहलकय हँ बाबुजी हम लिखब. 

He asked the youngest one. He said, “Yes, father, I shall write it.”

ऊ राज तालुका लिखय लै निकलि के चलि गेलखिन. 

He then went out to write the treatise on matters of the state.

राज तालुका जे लिखऽ गेलखिन हुनकर नाम रहय हरि माधो बाबू .

The son who went to write the treatise on state affairs was named Hari Madho Babu. 

तऽ ऊ चलि जे गेल लिखय लै कि नय राजा ओहि ठाम एहन रहय जे गेट एकटा जे लागि जाए, बंद भऽ जाए. 

Then as he went off to write it… the gate at the king’s premises was such that it would automatically shut.

तऽ ऊ जे लिखय लेल चलि गेल तऽ एहन रहय जे शाम जे भऽ जाय नऽ तऽ बाहर के लोग बाहरे रहि जाय आ अंदर के अंदरे निकैला बाहर ओइजा से ।

Then he went off to write. And as the evening would fall on the place, people who were outside remained outside and only those who were already inside remained inside.

शाम, शाम भऽ गेलय तऽ ऊ जे लिखऽ कऽ आयल, एकटा गाछ  रहे दुरा पर अशोक के ओइ गाछ पर जा कऽ से ऊ बैठ रहल। 

In the evening, when he returned after writing, he climbed the Ashoka tree at the gate and sat on it.

आब कि करत ऑर्डरे छै नै जाय के भीतर तऽ केना जैत। गाछ पर बैस रहल। 

What could he do now? There was no order to go inside, so how he could go? He remained sitting in the tree.

ओइ राजा के जे दु गो पुतहू रहय, बड़की आ मंझली से बड़का जादूगिर रहै, डाइन।  

The two, the eldest and the second daughters-in-law of the king were witches. 

ऊ गाछ के हाँकय, दुनु। इ दुनू के से कोनो राजा ओइठीड के हकार रहै जे अहाँ सब एबय। 

They were able to fly to the tree, both of them. These two had received an invitation to a function in some other kingdom, requesting that they “Please attend the function.”

राजा के होए छै ने राजा रानी के से अहाँ सब एबय। जेना हिनके ओइ जँ हम गेलियय, हमरे ओइ जँ एलखिन तेनाही।

As often happens with kings and queens. “You all would attend, please.” (Just like I went to her place or she came to attend a function at my place.)

तऽ ऊ अपन गेल, जाइत जाइत जे गेल कि नै , सब जे सुति रहलय तऽ दुनु दियादीन गाछ पर चढ़ल आ गाछ के नेनेहे चलि गेल। 

So they went. As they were leaving, and since everybody had fallen asleep, both sisters-in-law (to each other) climbed the tree and flew off with it.

नेनेहे चलि गेल कि नै तऽ बादमे जा कऽ गाछ के से कतौ राखि देलक आ इ अपन चलि गेल ओहिमे अपन गबय बजबय लै, गीत गबय लै, हकार पूरै लै। 

Off they went.  Then later, they left the tree somewhere and went to attend, sing, play music, and such, to attend the function.

ओ उतरि कऽ ओइ गाछक जड़िमे, राजा के छोटका बेटा ओहि गाछ पर बैठल रहय आबि कऽ जे आब राति कऽ कतऽ जैब। ओ आबि कऽ नीचामे उतरि कऽ बैसल।

At that point, the king’s youngest son came down from the tree and sat at its base, thinking it was already night so where could he possibly go. He came down and sat at the base of the tree.

बराती जे जतऽ गेल रहय हकार पूरै लै ततऽ जे बराती जाइत रहय से लड़का रहय घेघहा। घेघ रहय लड़का के गर्दनमे। 

The wedding party, who were going to that place where the two had gone to attend the function, included the bridegroom who had goiter in his neck.

एकटा पालकी पर घेघ रहय, एकटा पालकी पर लड़का रहय। 

So on one palanquin rested his goiter, while on another sat the bridegroom himself.

बड़का राजा के बेटा रहय तऽ लोग सब घेघ तेग नै तकय आ धन दुआरे बियाह कऽ लेलकय। 

He was the son of a great king, so the marriage happened in consideration of his wealth, and they ignored his goiter.

तऽ ऊ जे जाइत रहै कहरिया सब कहलकय कि, रौ कहीं अपने सब के नै मारौ, मारबे करतय एकटा डोली पर घेघ आ एकटा पर बर ।

So, as they were traveling along, the palanquin carriers were talking among themselves, “Hey, they might beat us, they will surely beat us. On one palanquin is the goiter and on another he himself sits.” 

इ तऽ मारबे करतय रौ बियाह हुअऽ देतय, से एकटा कर ने, कहलकय कि देखि रौ ई गाछक जड़िमे जे भकुआएल बैठल एकरे लऽ ले कते सुंदर है रौ।

“They will surely beat us. Do you think they will let the marriage take place? So, hey, let’s do this. Look at this boy, he is staring at nothing and sitting at the base of the tree root, how handsome he is! Let us take him instead.”

कहलकय कि हौ हौ ,है सुतिनहार है सुतिनहार कतऽ जेबऽ?

They said, “Hey, hey, you, sleepy head, where are you headed?”

कहलकय कि  जे नै कतौ जैब। तऽ बियाह करबऽ भारा पर ? फेर तोरा एतय आनि के धऽ देबऽ। 

He said, “I am not going anywhere.” They said, “Would you get married if we paid you? We would bring you back here afterward.”

आ तू बियाह खाली कऽ लिहऽ। 

“You only have to participate in the wedding ceremony itself.”

तऽ कहलकय कि जे नै हम बियाह कियै करब हमर बियाह भऽ गेल अछि। 

He said, “Why should I get married? I am already married.”

तऽ कहलकय कि जे बियाह भऽ गेल छऽ तयसँ कि चल ने भारा पर बियाह करियह आ तू चलि अहियऽ। 

“What difference does that make? Come along, get paid to get married, and then you can come back.”

तू ओइ कनियाँ के थोड़े अनबहक। 

“You are not going to bring the bride back with you anyhow.”

तँ देखऽ ने ई जगह ओइ जगह आ बर के ओतऽ ध देलक कहरिया सब आ एकरा सबटा मोर तोर जे रहय सबटा पेनहा देलक ओकरा। 

“So look at this place, that place.” And then they decorated him with peacock feathers and all.

आ पेनहा कऽ धऽ लेलक पालकीमे गेल। राजा के छोटका बेटा के। राजा के छोटका बेटा के, हरि माधो बाबू के।

They made him wear all that and put him on the palanquin. He was the king’s youngest son, Hari Madho Babu. 

ओतऽ लागऽ लागल दुरा तऽ परिछन जे हुअऽ लागल तँ सब आई माई आयल बड सुन्दर बर बड सुन्दर बर। 

Then as the wedding party arrived, the Parichhan¹ ceremony started. Old and young ladies were saying, “A very handsome bridegroom, a very handsome bridegroom.”

आ ई दुनू  दियादनी ओकरा ऊ कहय आ ओकरा ऊ कहय, गय ई त अपन हरि माधो बाबू  लगय छै।

 And the two sisters-in-law who had gone there to attend the function were saying to each other, “Hey, he looks like Hari Madho Babu, doesn’t he?”

हय, हरि माधो बाबू एतऽ कतऽ एतय गे। 

“Huh? Where would Hari Madho Babu have come here from?”

लगय छै अपने हरि माधो बाबू। ई दुनू फुसफुस करय, गय अपने हरि माधो बाबू छियय। 

“Hey, he really looks like our own Hari Madho Babu.” Both of them were murmuring that he was very much their own Hari Madho Babu.

तँ कहय नै गय बर छियय बियाह करऽ एलय तँ हरि माधो बाबू कियै रहतय। 

Then they said “No, it’s the bridegroom who has come to marry, how could he be Hari Madho Babu?”

रे नै गय लगय छै अपने हरि माधो बाबू छै। अहिना दुनूमे होय। बियाह भेलय। बियाह भऽ कऽ कोहबरमे गेल। 

“Hey, no. It really seems to be like our own Hari Madho Babu.” It went on like this between them. The wedding took place. After the wedding, the newlyweds went into the wedding chamber.”

आब सब आई माई दाई जयतय भोज भात खेलक सुति पड़ि रहल सब। 

Now all the old and young ladies and mothers feasted and went off to sleep.

आ ई कनियाँ बर के कोहबरमे कऽ देलकय। तँ कनियाँ बर जे कोहबरमे रहय तँ ई अपन लागल कानय लै। 

And the bride and bridegroom were sent to wedding chamber. Then the bridegroom, as they were in the wedding chamber now, started weeping. 

एकरा तँ रहय जाई के ओइ जँ से। बियाह करय के, बियाह तियाह तँ भऽ गेलय, रहय के तँ रहय नय,  लागल कनय। 

After all, he had to leave that place after being wed. All aspects of the wedding  had taken place. He was never meant to stay there. So he started weeping.  

कनियाँ कहलकय कि जे कियै कनय छियय? 

His bride asked, “Why are you weeping?”

कनियाँ गमलक जे आइ बाजब बजबे करब, काल्हि बाजब, ई हमरा नै बजबय यै, कनय छै तँ आब हम नै पसंद छियय कि आब कि नै छै, कि हमर बाप नीक दान दहेज नै देलकय, कियै कनय छै । 

The bride felt, “I will speak today or tomorrow. He is not making me talk and is crying instead. I don’t know if he likes me, or is not happy with the gifts and dowry my father has provided. Why is he weeping?”

तँ कहलकय अहाँ के कि होइ यै? कियै कनय छी? हम नै पसंद छी? 

Then she asked him, “What’s the matter? Why are you weeping? Don’t you like me?” 

कहलकय अहाँ तँ हमरा बड नीक लगैत छी। हमरा भूख लागल अछि। 

He said, “I actually like you very much, but I am hungry.”

तँ भूख लागल इए तँ सबटा तँ बंद भऽ गेलय तँ आब कथी आनि कऽ हम दियऽ। 

“But what can I bring for you to eat, everything is closed now.”

तँ नै जाऊ लोको देखत तँ कहतय कथी तकने फिरे है कोन घरमे, से अहिमे तकियो ने कतौ किछो छै तऽ। 

“So don’t even go out, people might see and say what is he (the bridegroom) searching after, here and there. So see if there is something you can eat right here.”

तँ तकलक तऽ गोसांई लगमे राखल रहय डाला के चाउर गुड़, ओइमे रहय तेल अथी सब राखल रहय। 

कहलकय यौ चाउर छै आ गुड़ छै डालामे।

Then as she looked around, she noticed that there was rice and jaggery in the daala basket² on the gosain mantle in the puja worship room³. It had oil as well and other things. She said, “Hey, there is rice and jaggery in the daala basket.” 

कहलकय चाउर कोना चिबैब, गुड़ कोना खैब, से देखियौ तँ खिरोदनीमे से कसाS जाइ छलय 

(जाइ छै कि नै रानी।) 

He exclaimed, “How can I eat rice, and how can I eat jaggery? Rather, see if the ritual khirodhini earthen bowl⁴ has kasay [gram-flour] paste⁵ in it. 

(The khirodhini bowl usually had kasay  paste in it. Right, Rani?)

खिरोदनीमे कसार हेतय ओकरे लिट्टी हमरा लै लगा दियऽ।

“The khirodhini bowl must have some kasay paste. Please provide some baked litti⁶ balls for me.” 

त यौ पानि कतऽसँ अनबय? तँ कहलकय लबहरमे पानि हेतय यै।  गोसांई लगमे नै रहय छै लबहरक पानि। 

She said, “Hey, where would I bring water from to prepare the dough?” He said, “the khirodhini pot must have some water in it.” That khirodhini pot that is always there near the worship site. 

हँ कटियामे डाबामे से पानि रहय। ओइ लऽ कऽ ऊ सनलक कहुना कऽ कनियाँ आ लिट्टी लगा कऽ ओ पहिनाद जे जरैत रहय तय पर कऽ सेकलक।

Yes, there was water in that pot. The wife took that water, mixed the dough somehow and baked the litti on the fire with the earthen lamp glowing there.

अब राजा बेटा लिट्टी लऽ लऽ कऽ खैत थोड़े, अपन एनी ओनी केलक।

Now why should the king’s son eat that litti? He hesitated.

पानि पिलक वैह ओही लबहर भीलमे के आ पानि पी कऽ हँ आ ऊ कनियाँ के नै कहलकय सुति रहु। 

He drank some water out of that earthen pot and asked his wife to go to sleep.

ओ अहाँ के कनियाँ सुति रहल। कनियाँ जे नींद पड़ि गेल, कनियाँ के आँचरि खींच कर आँचरिमे लिख देलकय जे ई कोहबर घर के हम जाइ छी। हम जा रहल छी। हमरा अछि राज तालुका लिखय के। हम बारह बरस रहब बाहरे। हम गाम पर नै रहब तांय दुआरे अहाँ के हम नै लऽ जैब। यदि अहाँ के बर हमरा पर रहब, आ बर के खोज के हुए तँ अहाँ कोहबर घर के वृतन पूछबय। ई तँ दूइए गोरा  बूझए छियय। तँ ई कोहबर घर के जे वृतन कहत ई बात से अहाँ के बर हैत। आओत तऽ बड राजा बेटा बड लोक लेकिन ई बात तऽ हमही दुनू बूझए छियय। तऽ से अहाँ के जेहन मोन हुए।

The wife went to sleep. When the wife had fallen asleep, he pulled on a corner of her saree and wrote there, “I am going. I am leaving. I have to write on state affairs. I will stay away for 12 years. I will not stay at my own place so I won’t be able to take you there. If you live by me as your husband and there is a search for your husband, then ask them to tell you about the incident in the wedding chamber. Only we two know about this. So whoever tells you about this incident is for sure your husband. Many king’s sons will come to you, great people, but only we two know about it. So do as you will.” 

चलि गेल, ऊ नीन पड़ि गेल ई चलि गेल। जा कऽ फेर ओहि गाछ  तर बैठि रहल। 

He left. She fell asleep and he left. And he sat at the base of that tree again.

ई दाइ सब उठली भोरे, हकलखिन तऽ ओइ गाछ के लऽ कऽ धऽ देलखिन दुरा पर। 

Now these two sisters-in-law woke up in the morning. Flew carrying the tree, and put it at the gate outside the king’s place.

दुरा पर जे गेलखिन तऽ गय फरीछ भऽ गेलौ, पीयर धोती पहिरने , आँखिमे काजर केने, हाथमे कंगन बाँधल सबटा। 

As they approached their gate, it was morning, and there they saw him wearing a yellow dhoti, wearing black-powdered cosmetics on his eyelashes, gold bangles around his wrists, everything.  

गय, ई तऽ हरि माधो बाबू छै देखी। आब तऽ अपना  सब  के  जान नै बचतौ। 

“Hey, baby, see this is Hari Madho Babu, actually. Now we will not be spared.”

हरि माधो बाबू के कि केलक ई सब तऽ डाइन रहबे करै तऽ सुग्गा बना देलक।

They were witches and so they turned Hari Madho Babu into a parrot.

आब सुग्गा बना देलक तऽ आब ई तऽ भऽ गेला सुग्गा। 

So, they turned him into a parrot and thus he became one. 

कतऽ जाता राज तालुका लिखय लै आ कतऽ कि करता ई तऽ आदमीए नै रहला। ई सब अपन निश्चिंत।

Now, how could he write about the state affairs? What could he do now? He wasn’t even human anymore. These two ladies were relaxed and now felt assured.

राजा के बेटी आब बियाह भेलय तऽ सासुर बसतय ने तऽ वैह घेघहे, घेघहा के तऽ बियाहे नै भेलय। 

The king’s daughter was now married; shouldn’t she get settled at her in-laws now then? The man with the goiter was not wed. 

ओ अनेरे फेक देलकय कहरिया सब धऽ देलकय। आब ई कि करत। बर हरा गेलय, बर हरा गेलय। 

The palanquin carriers had left him along the way. What could she do then? The bridegroom was missing, the bridegroom was missing. 

कोहबर घरसँ चलि गेलय तऽ आँचरिमे लिखल रहय जे,  जे अहाँ के कोहबरा घर के वृतन कहत से अहाँ के बर हैत। 

He had left wedding chamber and had written in the corner of her saree, “Whoever tells of the wedding chamber incident is your husband.”

आब ऊ कोहबरा घर के वृतन केकरा बुझल जे कहत, जे बर हैत।  बड बर सब हमर हमर कनियाँ अछि, हम बियाह केने छी।

Now, who, after all, would know about that wedding chamber incident? So he is the one who would become her husband. Many people came forward claiming to be her husband, saying, “It is I who has married her.”

कनियाँ बजा कऽ पूछय कहू हमरा अहाँ के बीच कोहबर घरमे कि भेलय। कोई किछु बजय, कोई किछु बजय, कोई किछु बजय। बात केकरो बुझले नै रहय आ बातो छै अमूल्य।

And when the wife would call them and asked them as to what had happened in the wedding chamber, some would say this and some would say that. That incident was known to none of them, and the incident itself was priceless. 

ई के कहत जे , हँ, सब चीज तऽ हँसी मजाक भऽ सकय यै। गहना देतय, जेवर देतय, मुँहबजाई देतय। 

Who could  say this, yes, everything they said was laughable, like, ‘I had given her gold.’ ‘I had given her jewelry.’ ‘I had given her a gift when she spoke for the first time.’

आ ई तऽ खिरोदनी महक कसार के लिट्टी लगा के खेनाई बड़का बात भेलय।

And this eating of litti made from gram flour taken from an earthen bowl was a big deal.

ओहो पातिल के दीप पर के, सेक कऽ। एँ ई तऽ बड़का बात भेलय। 

Also that it was baked on the earthen lamp from the auspicious basket. Oh, this was a big deal.

ई के ई बुझत, के खेने हैत जे बुझत। सबटा एनाही रहि गेल। 

Who would understand this? Who would have eaten it so as to understand it? Everything went on like that.

आइ काल्हि, आइ काल्हि एनाही होइत होइत कते आयल कते गेल। 

Day after day. Many came and went in this manner.

लोक सब कहबो करय जे ई छोड़ी बड अथी छै, मुनसा कतऽ कहाँ चलि गेलय मरि गेलय खपि गेलय, ई जेबे ने करय छै आ कहय छै हमरा जे कोहबर घर के वृतन कहत से हमर बर हैत।

Even people said at times that the girl had an attitude. After all, where did he go? Did he die? Waste away? This girl wouldn’t go; instead, she repeats, “Whoever can tell me what happened in the wedding chamber must be my husband.” 

आब ई जेबे ने करय छै किन्नो कतौ । 

Now she just wouldn’t go anywhere at all.

एहिना होइत होइत ओकर कते उमर बीत गेलय। 

In this way, many years of her life passed.

बादमे जा कऽ एनी ओनी एनी ओनी जे कि करैत रहय ने से एकरा कानमेसँ से ओ अथी गिर पड़लय।

Later, as he was moving here and there, here and there, something fell from his ear.

सुग्गा के, सुग्गा के जड़ी, से गिर पड़लय कि ने  संजोगसँ ऊ मन्नुख भऽ गेलय। फेर मोन पड़लय ओ हम तऽ फलना राजा के बेटा छी। 

The thing fell from the parrot’s ear and just like that he returned to his human form. Then he recalled that he was actually the son of that particular king. 

ताबे तऽ ऊ देह दशा तऽ एकर कतऽ चलि गेलय कि भऽ गेलय। गलि कऽ एहने एहने भेल। 

By that time, his health had badly deteriorated; he had become a pale, thin and frail looking man. 

इलटाओ बिलटाओ नहायत अपन कतौसँ लटल बुरल।

While wandering around, bathing in random places, his health deteriorated.

कहलक बाप माय तऽ आब ओतौ रहय कनियाँ। 

He recalled his mother, father, and wife there, as well.

आब कनियों आब हैत कि नै हैत। 

And, would his wife accept him or not, he fretted.

से नै तऽ पहिले जाइ छियैय अइ कनियाँ लग। 

“No, so I will visit my [second] wife first.”

फेर मोन होय जे राज तालुका लिख लै छी तब जैब। 

Of two minds, he would then think, “I will write about the state affairs first.”

कहलक नै राज तालुका लिखे लै छी तब जैब ऊहो तऽ हेबे ने आब करतय। राज तालुका लिखलक। राज तालुका लिखलक।

Then he thought, “I should finish writing about the state affairs; in fact, it must be written now.” He wrote the report on the affairs of state.  

बाप माय सब निराश भऽ गेलय। ई दुनू बाजत, कियै बाजत।

His parents became sad. They should say something, but why?

कनियाँ ओतऽ से रहर खेपा खेपए यै, कनै यै सब। 

His wife was herself experiencing a difficult time; everybody was crying.

एतऽ ई कनियाँ कनै यै । 

And meanwhile over here this [second] wife was crying.

बादमे गेल। गेल तऽ ऊ राजा के दुरा पर तऽ नोकर चाकर रहय। 

Later, he went [to his second wife’s house]. When he arrived, servants were at the gate of the king’s house.

कहलकय मनमे भेलय जे कोई छै इलटल बिलटल। कतऽ एलह? 

They thought, “It looks as if this person here is in really bad health.” He was asked, “Where have you come to?”

आ तऽ हमर ई सासुर छी। हमरा अही ठाम बियाह भेल अछि। 

“This is my in-law’s place. I was married here.” 

फलना राजा के हम इनके राजा के दमाद  छियैय। 

“I am the king’s son-in-law.” 

तऽ कहलकय कि जे, यौऊ ई राजा के जमैए।

They repeated, “Hey, he is the king’s son-in-law.”

एते सुंदर सब एलय से कोई नै। कहलकय धुर्र कि करबय, बैठो, कहऽ जाय छियैय राजा साहेब के। 

So many handsome people had come, and none had turned out to be her husband. They said, “Huh! Wait here, I am going to inform the king.”

कहलकय राजा साहेब ई लड़का जे आयल ऐ से ई लड़का कहय यै कि जे हम राजा के दमाद छियैन। हमरा बियाह भेल अछि राजा बेटीसँ। 

They told the king, “This man who has arrived here is saying that he is the king’s son-in-law. ‘I am married to the king’s daughter.’”

तऽ राजा देख कर राजा के तऽ केना दन लगलय। 

Then the king took a look at him and became concerned.

ई केहन छै, कतऽ के छै? कहलकय अहाँ के जे बियाह भेल  एते दिन कतऽ छलियैय?

“Who is he? Where is he from? You knew you were married, yet where were you all this long?”

तऽ हम राज तालुका लिखै लै हमरा बाबू भेजलैन। 

“I had been sent by my father to write a report on the affairs of state.”

फलना देशमे फलना राजा के बेटा छी। 

“I am the son of that king of that place.”

हम राज तालुका लिख कऽ आब घूरलियय (ई सब कैला कहतय जे हम सुग्गा मैना भेल छलियैय)।

“I have returned after writing the state affairs report.” (Why should he have told them that he had been turned into a parrot?)

राज तालुका लिख कऽ आब घूरलियय आब कहलियै जे अपन खोजि लय छी अपना कनियाँ के। 

“I have returned after writing the state affairs report and thought I would look for my wife now.”

तऽ कहलकय कि जे, कनियाँ के कहऽ गेलय, राजकुमारी, एकटा लड़का एहने एहने लटल छै आ ऊ कहय यै कि हमरा बियाह भेल अछि। 

Then one went to inform the princess, “Hey, princess, a very thin and frail-looking boy is saying that he is married to you.”

कहलकय भेज दय लै रानी, भेज दय लै सबाल पूछबय, तऽ गेल। 

The princess asked that he be sent to her. She would ask him questions. Thus he went there.

तऽ कहलकय कि जे, हमरा अहाँ के कोहबरा घरमे कि भेल अछि, दुनू गोटेकेँ बीचमे से कोहबरा घरकेँ वृतन हमरा अहाँ कहू तब हम चिन्हब जे हमर अहाँ बर छी। 

Then she asked, “What had happened between us in the wedding chamber? Tell me the incident from wedding chamber. Only then I will make a determination as to whether you are my husband.” 

अंगुठी तंगुठी जे राजा देने रहय सबटा ओ देखऽ देलकय । 

He showed her his rings and jewelry that the king had given him.

ई कहलकय नय। अहाँ कोहबर घरकेँ बात कहू।

She said, “No. Tell me about the wedding chamber incident.”

तऽ हम कोहबरा घरमे जे दुनू गोटा एलियय तऽ हम कानऽ लगलियय। 

“I began crying as we entered the wedding chamber.”

तऽ अहाँ कहलियय जे कियै कनय छी? अहाँकेँ मोन भेल जे हमरा बजौलैथ नै आ कनैत छैथ तऽ अहाँ हमरे पहिने बजौलौं। 

“Then you asked me why I was crying. You thought that since I didn’t ask you to speak first and I started crying instead… so you made me speak first.” 

अहीं बजौलौं जे कियै कनय छी? हम नै पसंद छी, कि हमर बाबू नै किछु देलैन लेलैन, कियै कनय छी अहाँ कि बात अछि? 

“You only spoke to ask why I was crying. You asked me, ‘What’s the matter with you, why are you crying? Is it that my father didn’t give you anything, or is it that you don’t like me?’”

तऽ हम कहलियय अहाँ के जे हमरा भूख लागल अछि।

“Then I told you that I was hungry.”

अहाँ कहलियय जे सबटा भंडार तँ बंद भऽ गेलय आब कि खेबय?

“You said, ‘All the stores are closed now, what will you eat?’”

डालामे अहाँ ताकऽ  गेलियय तऽ  कहलियय गुड़ चाउर  छै। 

“You went to search in the basket, and said there was rice and jaggery.”

तँ हम कहलौं चाउर केना फाँकब तऽ खिरोदनीमे के कसारकेँ से हम कहलौं अहाँकेँ लिट्टी लगबय लै। 

“Then I said, ‘How can I eat uncooked rice?’ And I asked you to make litti from the gram-flour kept in the earthen bowl.”

अहाँ कहलियय पानि कतऽ सँ अनबय, लबरेज  बला पानि डाबामे राखल ओकर अहाँ कहुना कऽ सानि कऽ, अचरा पर कऽ सनलौं ओकर लिट्टी लगेलौं, ओ प्रहलाद जड़ैत रहै तय पर सेकलौं । 

“You asked where the water would come from. Somehow in your saree’s corner… prepared the dough with the water from the earthen pot and baked the litti by the flame of the earthen lamp.”

तखन अहाँ हमरा देलौं। हम पानि पिलौं खेलौं आ अहाँ सुति रहलौं। हम बैठले रहलौं। अहाँ नींद पड़ि गेलौं हम आँचरिमे अहाँके पर लिख देलौं जे अथी कोहबर घरकेँ वृतन जे अहाँकेँ कहत से अहाँकेँ बर हैत। 

“Then you gave it to me. I drank water and you slept. I kept sitting. You fell asleep, and I wrote on your saree’s corner that whoever can tell you about the wedding chamber incident is your husband.”

भेट गेल बर, खबर देलखिन जे हमर यैह बर छथि। 

The husband had been identified. “He is my husband.” 

हुनका फेर पीताम्बरी देल गेलन। कपड़ा लता सबटा राजा वाली बात। 

He was then given a yellow silk dhoti, all the clothes and attire of a king.

ओहो तऽ राजाकेँ बेटा रहैथ। दुखक मारल ओहन भऽ गेल रहय। 

He, too, was the son of a king. It was because of bad fortune that things had gone that way.

पेहर ओहिर को कनियाँकेँ डोली पर लोको गेलखिन।

He took his bride home, finely attired. 

लोक सब कहय हरि माधो बाबू अबय छथिन बियाह केने। 

People said, “Hari Madho Babu is coming home after having gotten married.”

हय कहय छलय हरि माधो बाबू मरि गेलय तँ एना भऽ गेलय। 

“What! They had been saying that Hari Madho Babu has died, so how is this possible?”

एकबायक हरि माधो बाबू, लोक भजरल आबय गामकेँ आगू पाछू गेल दौड़ल कहऽ गेलय हरि माधो बाबू  मायकेँ,  यै रानी यै , अहाँकेँ हरि माधो बाबू  देखियौ ने डोली लऽ कनियाँ नेने अबय छथि। 

Suddenly (seeing Hari Madho Babu coming), villagers ran to Hari Madho Babu’s mother, declaring “Your Hari Madho Babu is arriving in a palanquin with his bride.”

बियाह केने अबय छथि। इमहर जे ई कनियाँ रहै सेहो उठल। हरि माधो बाबूकेँ बियाह भेल छै कनियाँ दुख कटैत छै कतऽ सँ बियाह कऽ कऽ….तँ एह अबय छथि बियाह केने।

“He is coming after having gotten married.” The wife from here also stood up. “Hari Madho Babu was already married, and his wife was suffering [all this while], and what? He is coming after getting married again?!”

देखलक तँ ठीके। फ़ेर अरिछन परिछन कऽ कऽ घर लौलेन।

They saw it; it had truly taken place. The parichhan ceremony was performed, and they were brought home.

हरि माधो बाबू ओ कनियाँकेँ उठा को लौलैथ। 

Hari Madho Babu brought his new wife home in his arms.

कहलैथ हम तँ जानि को बियाह नै केलौं। अहाँकेँ हम त्याग नै देलौं।

He said, “I haven’t married deliberately. I haven’t left you.”

सबटा बात कहल गेल, जे एना एना हमरा भेलैन। 

He explained everything. “Such and such happened to me.”

ई दुनू भौजी सब तँ सबटा जानिते छथि। यैह सब हमरा अरिछन परिछन केलैथ।

“These two sisters-in-law already know. They performed only my parichhan ceremony there.

यैह सब हमरा एते समय देने छलिहै। 

They allowed me only this much time.”

ई नै कहलखिन जे हमरा सुग्गा बना देने छलिहै। हमरा तँ ई सब दुनियासँ हटाए देने छलखिन लेकिन  बूझाइ यै कोई भगवानकेँ चलित्र घूमलय जे हम फेर आबि गेलौं। 

He didn’t say that they had turned him into a parrot. He said, “They had taken me away from this world, but apparently God’s wishes have changed, and I have come back again.”

तखन जे सबटा बात खुललय तँ ओइ दुनू रानीकेँ तरहारा पर एते दिन से रहय। ओकरा मटियैल गेल दुनूकेँ, एहन डाइन ई गाछ हँकनाहैर नै रहतय अइ ठाम। 

Then the explanation unfolded that he was taken for a ride by these two queens. They were made to taste the soil. Such tree-flying witches can’t stay here.  

वैह हरि माधो बाबूकेँ राज भेलैन पाठ भेलैन। 

Hari Madho Babu got the kingdom and the reign.

आ ओ दुनू भाई जे रहैन तिनका फेर कऽ बियाह भेल। 

And his two elder brothers were married again.

उ सबटाकेँ रहऽ लगलय चारु रानी तीनू राजा। 

Then all four queens and three kings lived on. 

सबटा खिस्सा जे छल से भऽ गेल। 

All the story there was to tell is finished.