March 23, 2017: Session 8

Maithili Folklore Story 17_03_23_08

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

Teller: Unknown
Location: Sagarpur
Date: 03/23/17

View the transcription in Maithili.

दु भाई बहिन रहथिन, बुझलिए, माय बाप दुनू मरि गेल रहथिन।

There once were a brother and sister, you understand? Both of their parents had died.

एगो भाई रहय एगो बहिन रहय, तऽ ओकरा बहिन के, भाई के बियाह दान भेल रहय भौजाई रहय, तऽ ओकरा बहिन के कि केलकय तऽ भरि घर बकरी किन कऽ दऽ देलकय

There was a brother and a sister.  The sister’s brother was already married, and so she had a sister-in-law. And what she did was she bought her husband’s sister a house full of goats.

तऽ ओ अप्पन बेचारी के माल ने जाल कुछो नै रहय, ननदि के बच्चा के से भरि घर बकरी दऽ देलकय, आ सुति कऽ उठय ऊ बच्चा के आ मुँहो कान नै पोछय आ बासि खोसि जे रोटी बाटी रहय से कहय खा ले आ जो खेत बकरी चरबय लै। 

That poor woman hadn’t had her own livestock to rear. So her sister-in-law gave her (she was just a child then) a house full of goats. And that child would wake up, not even get to freshen up, would eat the leftover food from the day before, and then would leave to shepherd the goats.

तऽ ओ बसिए खोसिए खा कऽ जे निकलय ऊ बच्चा तऽ ऊ एके बेर सांझेमे लौटय तऽ सांझेमे जे आबय तऽ ओकरामे कि रहय ओइ बच्चा के जे जतऽ भजन होइत रहय छलय शिव गुरु के ततऽ ऊ सब चरवाहा के कहितय हे कनी हमर बकरी रोमैत रहिहैं हम अबय छी देखय छी कनी

देखय छी हम अबय छी। 

Now that child would leave eating the leftover food from the day before and would return only in the evening. And the child had a virtue that wherever she would hear a devotional song of Shiv Guru being sung, she would sit there and would request of her herding friends, “Hey, can you please watch over my goats? I will attend this for just a bit and then return.”

देखियौ पूजा होय है गुल्ली मिसरी लेबौ तोरो सबके देबौ कने हमर बकरी देखैत रहिहैं। 

“You see, there is a devotional session going on. I will take mishri offerings and share them with you later; just please keep a watch on my animals.”

अहिना होयत होयत होयत होयत ऊ बच्चासँ सियान भेल। सियान भेल तैयो बकरिए चरबय अबय ओकरा से  दोसर काम नै। 

In this manner, that child grew to become an adult. Even when she’d grown, she would graze her goats, as she didn’t know any other work.

भरि दिन बकरी चरबैत चरबैत ओकरा बनोरनी बना देलक

Making her take care of goats, her sister-in-law had turned her into a shepherd.

तऽ ऊ कि केलक जे ओइ दिना एक दिन से लेटसँ पूजा ओइ जांग शुरू भेल रहय। 

Now, what she did was, one day the devotional gathering started late.

तऽ ई तऽ धिया पूता के कहलकय बकरी ताले हांकि दिहैं।

So she told the other kids there, “Hey, keep my animals moving along.”

तऽ एकरा पूजा होयतय तब ने गुल्ली मिसरी दितय तऽ ओइ लोभमे ई बैठले रहि गेलय होयत होयत होयत सात बाजि गेलय। साँझ भऽ गेलय। 

Now she would have received the blessed mishri offerings only when the worship session was over, so she kept waiting for the mishri until 7 o’clock. It was evening time by then.

ओन्हार मोन्हार भऽ गेलय तब सब बच्चा बकरी जे हांके लगलय न तऽ ओकरो बकरी हांकि कऽ लऽ गेलय तऽ बकरी तऽ जकरे रहय है तकरे अंगनेमे ढूकि जाय है।

It had gotten dark, and all the other kids were taking their goats back home, so they took her goats back, as well. And yet the goats would only enter the homes of their own owners.

तऽ ऊ सब चरवाहा के पूछय रे तू सब एलीह हमर ननदि कतऽ हय रे हमर ननदि कतऽ हय। 

Then, she asked the other shepherds, “Hey, you all have come back, but where is my sister-in-law?”

तऽ कि कहलकय हय अहाँ के ननदि से एक जंगा कतऽ गेल कतऽ नै से हमरा नै कहलक। 

To which they replied, “Your sister-in-law has gone to some place, she didn’t tell us where.”

एक जगह अंगनामे बहुते गीत नाद होय छलय से सुनय चलि गेल तऽ तैं से अहाँ के ननदि नै आयल हन एबे करत। 

“To a place where a lot of songs and such were being organised. She went there to listen to that, and she hasn’t come back, but will surely return.”

हमरो आर के दय छलै गुल्ली मिसरी आर दय छै बच्चा सब जे ओकरा कहय हय। 

“She also gives us mishri offerings,” the children told her sister-in-law.

तऽ ऊ एलय तालेमे ओकर भाईओ एलय काम धंधा कऽ कऽ। तऽ ऊ बच्चा के भाई आबि गेलय तऽ ओकरा भाई के कहलकय हय कि तकय छी अहाँ के बहिन कुकर्मी है कुकर्मी है चोरनी

हय छिनारि हय ई है ऊ है से नै तऽ जाऊ काम ताम छोड़ि दियौ आ एकर बर तर खोजि कऽ आबि कऽ शादी-बियाह कऽ कऽ से देला दियौ। 

Later she returned and her brother also came back from work. That child’s brother returned. Then her sister-in-law told her husband, “What are you looking at, your sister is a sinner, a thief, a whore, a this, a that. Now go, leaving all your work aside, and first find her a boy to marry and arrange for her wedding after you return.” 

तब ओकर धम्म दऽ ओ एलय तऽ गेलय तऽ ओकर भाई कहलकय जे गे दाइ कतऽ गेल छलीह गे? 

Then he quickly went to ask his sister, “Hey, sister, where have you been?” 

कहलकय कि से हम कतौ नय गेलियय भैया से ओइ अंगनामे होय छलय ने पूजा पाठ से जाय छियय तऽ ओइ जांग सुनय छियय तऽ कनी गुल्ली मिसरी दय यै से जाले नै पूजा होय यै ताले नै दय है। 

She said, “Nowhere far away, brother, actually there was a devotional gathering going on in that home, so I was there listening. You know, they distribute blessed mishri offerings, but  until the session is over they give out the misri, so I was there.”

तऽ भाई रहय तऽ अप्पन ओते बर्दाश्त केलकय भौजाई ठुनकेलकय ऊनकेलकय मारलकय ऊलकय। 

Now since he was her brother, he listened to her and accepted it, but her sister-in-law chided her and slapped her a bit.

तऽ ओइ के बिहान भेलय जे ओकर भाई निकलल कहलकय जे एकरा खोजि कऽ कइये दहक। 

Then the next day, her brother left to find a boy for her to marry, and said, “Let’s find her one.”

ओकर भाई  बिहान भेलय जे खोजलकय तऽ जाइत जाइत जाइत जाइत ओकर भाई ओकरा बर खोजय लै जाइत जाइत जाइत एगो बड़ी दूर गेलय बड़ी दूर गेलय तऽ ओ पीपर के गाछ लंग एगो बुढ़िया के सैं मरल रहय एकेटा बेटो रहय ओकरो। 

The next morning, her brother continued his search for a bridegroom for her. After traveling a long way, he found a peepal tree and an old woman, whose husband had died, sitting there. She had a son, too. 

ओइ पीपरा गाछ तर हवामे आ एगो मड़इया नैनीए टा घर रहय। ऊ मड़इया ओइ जंगा आ ओइ पीपर गाछ तर हवामे ओ बुढ़िया बैठल रहै। 

There was a hut, a tiny hut constructed on a branch of that peepal tree. That old woman was sitting in the breeze under that peepal tree.

ईहो  जाइत जाइत एकदम बेचारा बेहोश भऽ गेल भरि दिन के चलल जेठ बैसाख के रौद। ओहि गाछ लंग जा कऽ से बैठि गेलय। 

And this man, as he kept on his way, had almost fainted, facing the scorching heat of the peak summer month of April-May. He went and sat under that tree.

ओहि जांग बैठि गेलय तऽ कहलकय कि से कोई कनी पानि दीति एक लोटा पियय लै। तऽ ऊ बुढ़िया आनि कऽ  देलकय, हौ बौआ कियै नै एक लोटा पानि देब। तऽ ऊ बुढ़िया पानि देलकय। 

When he sat down there, he asked, “Could someone please give me a jug of water to drink?” Then the old woman brought him that, saying, “Hey, son, why shouldn’t I give you a jug of water to drink?” Then that old woman gave him the water.

ओहि जंग पानि पिलकय। ओकरा एकदम ओइ जांग आलस लागि गेलय ओ औने मौने पड़ि रहलय। 

He drank water, and subsequently became sleepy, so he fell asleep on that very spot. 

तऽ औने मौने पड़ि रहलय फेन ओ उठि कऽ बैठल कि कहलकय बौआ कतऽ जैब से अहाँ के अबेर नै होत लेट नै होत। 

After he fell asleep, once he’d awoken, the old woman asked him, “Son, where were you headed? Won’t you be late?”

तऽ कहलकय कतऽ जैब जैब तऽ आब घूरि कऽ घरे। 

But he answered, “Where should I go? I will return home.”

कहलकय बौआ कतऽ घूरय छी? 

She said, “Son, where will you return to?”

कहलकय एगो बहिन है हमरो बाप नै है माय नै है से एगो बहिन के लड़का खोजय छी। 

He said, “I have a sister. Our parents are no longer living. So I am in search of a boy for my sister to marry.”

ताबत सब कोई जे दूओ चारि गो गाछ वृक्ष लंग बैठल से कहय नै है गे बुढ़िया तोरो तो एगो बेटा हौ आ ओहो बेचारा तऽ देखय छी नंगटे उघारे गरीब है कऽ ने ले बेटा के तऽ। बेटा के कऽ ने ले लड़के खोजय हय। 

A few people who were sitting there at the tree advised the old woman, “Hey, old lady, you too have a son, and see that man – he is also half-naked and poor, so arrange for your son to marry her. Marry your son to his sister, as he is looking for a boy.”

कहलकय बौआ हमरा तऽ कुछ धन न संपत्ति न घर न दुआर है करबऽ तऽ कऽ लऽ। 

She said, “Son, I have neither home nor property, but if you wish, then please go ahead.”

कहलकय हमहूँ बड्ड गरीब छी किछो नै देब लड़का लऽ कऽ जैब आ बियाह कऽ कऽ चलि आयब। 

He replied, “I too am very poor. I won’t be able to give you anything. I will simply take your son and then return after the wedding.” 

कहलकय जाऊ तऽ कऽ लेब। 

She answered, “Ok, go. I agree.”

तऽ जे अंटलय जुड़लय रातिमे से ओकरा खाय लै देलकय ओइ के बिहान भेने से ऊ अप्पन घर आयल, आयल तऽ ऊ घरवाली के कहलक तते करेजा भेलय। 

Then whatever was available and she could arrange for what she gave him to eat for dinner, and next morning he returned. When he came back, he mustered his courage and told his wife.

हँ तऽ कहलकय घरवाली के तऽ कहलकय हँ ठीक है तऽ दिन तिन ठेक लऽ आ सब चीज ओरिआ पोरिआ लऽ आ एकरा बियाह कऽ कऽ जै दहऽ नाक कान कटा दही 

Then his wife said, “Fine. Now find a suitable date and such, and arrange all the things to get her married; let her go. Have her nose and ears pierced.”

तऽ सैह भेलय ऊहो बेचारी गरीब, न कुछ देलक न लेलक अप्पन ओहिना ऊ बच्चा जे आयल बियाह करय लै, ई तऽ शिव के शिष्या तऽ बियाह दान भऽ गेलय तऽ विदागरी जे हुए लगलय तऽ कहलकय कि से मौगी गेल भाई के ओकरा भाई के पूछय लै जे यै दाइ जे जेतय से कि सब देबय 

And this is just what happened. She was also poor, so didn’t give or take anything, and in that way that very child came for her marriage. Now the bride was a disciple of Lord Shiva, so the marriage took place. And when it was time for the bride’s departure from her home for her in-law’s place, she came to her brother and asked, “As your sister will now depart, what do you plan to give her?”

तऽ ओकर भाई कहलकय देखऽ हम कि कहब जो न जे जुड़तौ अंटतौ से तौहूं दिहइ जे जुड़त अंटत से हमहूँ देब। 

But her brother said, “What can I say, go and see what you can give her; you give and whatever I am able I will do.”

तऽ फेन गेलय भाई गेलय भौजाई के पूछय लै जे गै गै से कि देबही गे, कि सब देबही दाइ के? 

Then he went to his wife and asked, “Hey, what will you give her? What do you plan to give to my sister?”

हय कहय तऽ छियऽ कि देभहक तों कहऽ न जे कि देभहक।

“I am asking what you plan to give, tell me what you will give.”

कहलकय जो न तों पहिले जे देने रहबही से चीज हमहूँ दऽ देबय। 

He said, “Go, and whatever it is you give her, I will give the same.”

तब ओकरा पेहरा ओहरा कऽ जे बच्चा सब रहय हय बहिना सखी से सब नुआ पत्तर पेहरा कऽ गोसांई के गोर लागय गेलय तऽ ओकर भौजाई देलकय राख के खोंइचा, हम्म्म छाउर। 

They gave her clothes to wear, all her sisters and girlfriends. They decorated her and took her to the family shrine room for prayer. And then her sister-in-law gave her ashes wrapped in her saree corner as khoinchha, her departure provisioning.

भाई के जे गेलय गोर लागय लै तऽ भाई माटि के मोटरी बांधि देलकय।

When she went to touch her brother’s feet, he gave her a bunch of soil.

केयो तोरा देलकौ गे शिष्या माटि के मुरतिया हे

Somebody gave you an idol of soil, hey disciple;

रे जान माटि के मोटरिया गे

Hey, they gave you a packet of soil;

रे जान केयो देलकय राख के खोंइचा रे जान

Hey, somebody gave you a khoinchha of ashes;

रे जान केयो देलकौ राख के खोंइचा रे जान

Hey, somebody gave you a khoinchha of ashes;

रे जान राख के खोंइचा रे जान

Hey, a khoinchha of ashes;

रे जान भैया देलकय माटि के मोटरिया रे जान

Hey, elder brother gave you a packet of soil;

रे जान भैया देलकय माटि के मोटरिया रे जान

Hey, elder brother gave you a packet of soil;

रे जान भैया देलकय माटि के मोटरिया रे जान

Hey, elder brother gave you a packet of soil;

[Contextual talk by participants]

गेल ओइ जांग से सब चीज लऽ दऽ कऽ।

She departed, then, with all things that were given to her.

फेन ओइ जांग से जे जाइत जाइत जाइत पहुँचल तऽ एकरा शिवगुरु ई शिव के शिष्या रहय जइ जांग फेन पीपर के गाछ रहय तइ जांग शिवगुरु ठार रहय। 

Continuing onward from there, she reached the peepal tree (she was already a disciple of Shiv Guru) where Shiv Guru was standing.

शिवगुरु एकरा पूछय छथिन्ह…

Shiv Guru asked her…

केयो तोरा देलकौ गे शिष्या माटि के मुरतिया हे

“Who gave you, my disciple, a packet of soil?

रे जान माटि के मोटरिया गे रे जान

Hey, a packet of soil;

रे जान केयो देलकौ राख के खोंइचा रे जान

Hey, who gave you a khoinchha of ashes;

रे जान केयो देलकय राख के खोंइचा रे जान

Hey, who gave you a khoinchha of ashes;

भैया मोरा देलकय यौ शिवगुरु माटि के मोटरिया रे जान

Shiv Guru, my elder brother gave me the packet of soil;

रे जान माटि के मोटरिया रे जान

Hey, a packet of soil;

रे जान भौजो रे देलकय राख के खोंइचा रे जान

Hey, my sister-in-law gave me a khoinchha of ashes;

रे जान भौजो रे देलकय राख के खोंइचा रे जान …

Hey, my sister-in-law gave me a khoinchha of ashes…”

ओइ जांग से गेल बर लग तऽ ओकरा शिवगुरु सबटा राख के खोंइचा ओइ जांग  खोलबा देलकय माटि के मोटरी ढरबा लेलकय।

Since she was going with her husband, then Shiv Guru made her open the packet of soil and the khoinchha of ashes.

आब ऊ सुन्दर साड़ी साया ब्लाउज खूब सुन्दर मोटा- चोटा, हाथी -घोड़ा, बीट- बरतन, माफा -पालकी खूब सजा बजा कऽ दुनु लड़का लड़की चढ़ि कऽ ओइ जांग से विदा भेल।

Now, she was wearing a very beautiful saree, petticoat, and blouse; she carried great suitcases and bedding; with horses and elephants, grand pots and pans, palanquins and such – ornately decorated, both husband and wife, being transported on that, departed from there.

ओइ जांग से जे विदा भेल तऽ फेन ऊ बुढ़िया रहय ओइ जांग ओ पीपरे गाछ तर बैठल।

When they departed, that old woman was sitting under the peepal tree.

तऽ ओइ जांग सब कोई ओइ बुढ़िया के कहाय हय, गे बुढ़िया तोरे बेटा पुतोहू तऽ अबय हौ।

And people came rushing to her to tell, “Hey, old lady, your son and daughter-in-law are just now arriving.”

बड्ड छौंड़ी सब लबड़ी छैं। हमर बेटा टुगर टापर ओहिना पैर पाँव पैदल गेल से ई देखक तऽ कते हाथी -घोड़ा कतेक आलकी – पालकी है से हमर पुतोहू आ हमर बेटा कहाँसँ पड़ितय। 

She replied, “You girls are liars. My son left on foot to go to the wedding. And see these elephants and horses, palanquins and all? How could my son and daughter-in-law possibly match that?”

सब गरीब नै हीरा घर के हम नै हीरा घर के… नै हमर बेटा पुतोहू नै अबय है। छौंड़ी सब मौगी सब ओना नै कर। 

She added, “We are all poor. I am not from a diamond-wearing family, nor do my… no, it is not my son and daughter-in-law who are arriving. You girls, women, don’t tease me.” 

गे बुढ़िया तोरे अबय हौ जो न अथी आर ओरिआ गऽ न चुमान करय लै चंगेरा मंगेरा ओरिआ गऽ न तैयो ऊ बुढ़िया नै उठल नै उठल नै उठल तय पर बादमे  तब जे ऊ लगमे जे एलय तऽ बेटा के देखलक एकदम पान खेने एकदम हलसैत। 

They said, “Hey, believe us, old lady. They are verily yours. Go, arrange for their chumaun ceremony with baskets and such.” That old woman did not rise, but then after sometime, when her son and daughter-in-law came closer, she saw her son chewing betel, smiling and beaming.

बुढ़िया दौड़ि कऽ गेल अंगना चंगेरामे सब चीज ओरिआ पोरिआ कऽ आयल, अरिछन परिछन केलक बेटा पुतोहू के

The old woman went running to her home and brought everything arranged in a basket, and she welcomed her son and daughter-in-law with the parichhan wedding welcome.

आ जाले ओकरा परिछते परिछते ताले शिवगुरु के महिमा केहन कोठा, सोफा, राम हिलोरा, यारसर, धन- संपत्ति सबटा जतय ओकरा खोंइचा खोललकय आ ओ मोटरी ओतयसँ एकरा सब राम विराजे लगलय। 

And by the time she did the parichhan and all (and saw Shiv Guru’s aura), the moment she opened her packet of soil and khoinchha of ashes, a mansion, sofa, carriage, friends, cash and property appeared to accompany her.

गेल बड्ड हँसी खुशीसँ चुमान आ चाह ताह पुतोहू के देलक, कि पुतोहू के कहत ओकरा मार ओम्हर धान, चाउर, नीक, अधला, इलवारी, फुलवारी एकदम मन गदगद तब। 

She went to welcome them with much happiness. She offered tea and such to the daughter-in-law. What she could demand of her now? She was deep in happiness and awe seeing paddy, rice grain, good, bad, gardens, surroundings, everything.

आ कोई तऽ गेल रहय नै तऽ ओकरा बारह बरस जहैन भऽ गेलय तब फेर भाई कहलकय ओकरा भौजाई के, गे तों जे हमरा बहिन के, तों जे हमरा बहिन कहलैं बियाह कऽ दय लै से हम एगो मड़ैयामे बहिन के कऽ देलियय तों जे कुछो कऽ कऽ दितैं तऽ हम बहिन के जैती भेंट करय लै। 

And nobody from her home had gone to visit her. After 12 years had passed at her in-law’s place, her brother told his wife, “You told me to arrange my sister’s marriage. I married her into a family that had only a hut, so if you could give me something, I wish to go and visit my sister.”

ई कहलकय कथी देबऽ कमा कऽ एलऽ हय जा ने कुछो किन लिहऽ आ अप्पन चलि जहिअ सत्तुआ किन लिहऽ रस्ता लै पियय लै आ खायओ लै आ जे बचतऽ अप्पन नेनेहो जइहऽ। 

She said, “What should I give you? You have returned after working to earn money. Buy anything yourself and carry that along. Buy sattu to drink on the way, and if you can reserve some it then give it as a gift as well.”

बेचारा अप्पन वैह सत्तुआ किनलक। सत्तुआ तऽ कतबो खाऊ गलामे ठेकबे करतय तऽ ठेक ही गेलय। 

The poor man bought barley. Barley is such that no matter how much you eat, it will be dry enough to clog your throat. And it clogged his throat.

तब ऊ सत्तुआ एते खा लेलक आ एते सत्तुआ बंधने गेलय। 

Then he ate some of the barley and also packed some to take with him.

ओइ जंग जे गेल तऽ घर देखि कऽ बाप रे बाप ई कोठा, सोफा, राम हिलोरा, धन- संपत्ति, मड़ैया ओकरा भेटय नै तऽ ओतबे दूरमे ओकर भाई घुरछारी कटय जे हमर बहिन कतऽ गेल। 

When he arrived there and looked around, he exclaimed, “Oh my God! This mansion, sofa, carriage, cash, property, and huts.” Now, since he hadn’t yet encountered her, he went crazy looking at all that, asking, “Where did my sister go?”

फेन ऊ बुढ़िये जेना ओकरा शिवगुरु चक्का मारलकय उचाट मारलकय बुढ़िये ओ बर गाछ तर फेनो अंगनासँ निकलि कऽ एलय तऽ कि कहय हय, बौआ तों छऽ? 

Again, that old woman, who, as if propelled by Shiv Guru or as if she had gotten bored inside her home, came out and sat near the same peepal tree, where she saw him and asked, “Hey, son, is it you who is here?

कहलकय हँ माय गोर लगैत छी। 

He replied, “Yes, mother, greetings.”

हय चलऽ चलऽ अंगना, गे मैया केना एतऽ बैठि रहलनि हऽ चलू चलू अंगना। 

“Hey, come, come. Why are you sitting here? Come inside.”

अंगना लऽ गेल। छप्पन प्रकार, पैर धोलक, हिवला पर बैठेलक बुढ़िया गे माय पुतोहू के भाई हय तब जा कऽ खियेलक पियेलक। 

She took him into her home. She offered him 56 types of food, washed his feet, invited him to sit on the couch, and said, “Oh my God, here is my daughter-in-law’s brother,” and then offered him all sorts of food and drink.

तऽ भाई के जे खिबे गेल तऽ कि कहलकय, हो भैया, हमरा साउससँ तों विदागरी मंगियौन से हमहूँ जैती भौजीसँ भेंट करय लै। 

Then, when his sister went to serve him food, she said, “Hey, brother, tell my mother-in-law that you want me to come home with you, so that I can also go and meet my sister-in-law.”

तऽ कहलकय कि से ठीक हय कहबय।

He said, “Ok, I will tell her.”

तऽ ऊ गेलय कहलकय कि से गे माय से हमर भाई कि कहय है जे भौजी के बड्ड मोन, भौजी के मोन खराब हय से जाय दियऽ। आइ जएती आ काल्हि चलि अइती से जएती। 

But then she went and told her mother-in-law, “Mother, my brother is saying that my sister-in-law is unwell, so please let me go to see her. I will go today and will be back tomorrow.”

तऽ कि कहलकय, ऐं हय कनिया तोहर भाई भौजाई एते लाद लदनी देलकऽ एते हमरा भऽ गेल।  मड़ैया सोना सुवर्णासँ भरि गेल ई हमरा एक सांझ खाय छलियय एक सांझ उपवास करय छली तऽ तू केना नै जेबऽ। 

Then what she said was, “Hey, daughter, your brother and sister-in-law gave you so many wedding gifts, which became mine as well. My hut became filled with gold and ornaments; before that, I used to eat only once a day and had to go hungry during the other times of the day. So why would I prevent you from visiting them?”

लाबऽ घोरैया एलय दाना पानी सब सबटा, बैलगाड़ी टायर पर बोरा के बोरा लादि उदि कऽ इहो पेहर ओहरि कऽ डोली माफा कऽ देलकय ओतऽसँ विदा भेल। 

So, grains and other provisions were brought, and sacks were laden on a bullock-cart. She was adorned in finery and ornaments. The palanquin and all were brought, and then she was sent on her way.

जे अहाँ के इच्छा हुए जे सर सनेशमे होए छै,  जतेक हैत, जतेक मोन होय यै ततेक बालटी लादि कऽ लऽ जाऊ भौजाई गरीब हय तऽ। 

She told her daughter-in-law, “Whatever you wish, package it up, whatever you feel like taking, brimming containers and such, please take these along. Your sister-in-law might well be poorer, afterall.”

एकरो जे मोन भेल से अप्पन लदबे लागल। एकदम छरोई लागि गेल लोक देखय से चकित हुए। 

She was provisioned with whatever she liked. People flocked to see and were astonished to see the gifts that she was carrying to her natal home.

ओतऽसँ जे ई फेन अबैत रहै तऽ आबि कऽ जे जहि जंगह शिवगुरु ओकर खोंइचा खोलने रहथिन ओहि जंग जे ऊ एलय फेनो चढ़ि कऽ तब ओकरा फेन शिवगुरु पूछय हय केयो तोरा देलकौ…

While she was on her way, and when she reached that same place where Shiv Guru had met her last and had asked her to open her packet of soil and khoinchha of ashes, again he was there and asked her, “Hey, did anybody give you…?” 

तब कि केलक ओइ जंगसँ शिवगुरु ओकरा घूरा कऽ जे कहलकय जे देखऽ के तोरा राख के खोंइचा देने रहऽ के माटि कऽ मोटरी देने रहऽ से तों एते धन संपत्ति लऽ कऽ जाय छऽ से सब तोहर बिला जेतऽ। 

Then what Shiv Guru asked her was, “Look, the people who had given you a packet of soil and khoinchha of ashes, you are carrying so much cash and property for them, so everything of yours will vanish.”

तोरा जैहे राख के कुरिया लागल हौ…

“Whatever spot of ashes has touched you…”

नै ओकरा लऽ कऽ जाय देलखिन आ ओकरा घर पर गेलखिन आ ओकरा भौजाईसँ परीक्षा लेलखिन शिवगुरु देखऽ एते लऽ कऽ तऽ तू एलऽ लेकिन हमरा फेन हम अबय छी त ई कि स्वागत करय यै।

No. He allowed her to go and visit her sister-in-law. And Shiv Guru himself went to test her sister-in-law, “You came bringing so much with you, but now I am arriving, so let’s see how you welcome me.”

भौजाई के लग हुनका गेलनि। 

He came before her sister-in-law.

गेलनि शिवगुरु त हुनका देलखिन जे कोठी खखोरि कऽ खुद्दी देलखिन भीखमे। 

He went, Shiv Guru, and she gave him in alms some broken rice kernels that had been salvaged from the bottom of the storage bin at her home.

भीखमे जे खुद्दी देलखिन त शिवगुरु कहलखिन जे देखब तोरा द्वार पर एते लऽ कऽ एलऽ लेकिन तू हमरा दान केलऽ खुद्दी। 

When she gave him broken rice kernels as alms, Shiv Guru said, “See, I have brought so much to your doorstep and yet you have given me only some broken rice kernels as alms.”

फेन हुनका भौजाई के दंड देलखिन, फेन ऊ दंड देलखिन जत्ते चावल रहय कोठीमे सब भूसा बनि गेलय तब जा कऽ शिवगुरु के हुनकर ननदि सुमरलखिन जे, भौजी अहाँ कि देलियय हुनका दान? 

So Shiv Guru punished her sister-in-law such that whatever rice was there in the storage bin turned into fodder. After that, the woman called on her sister-in-law, and asked, “Hey, sister-in-law, what did you give to Shiv Guru as alms?”

हम एक मुट्ठी खुद्दी लऽ कऽ देलियय। घरमे कथी छै जे दियय। 

She replied, “I gave him a fist full of broken rice. What did I have in my home to give him, after all?”

आब अहाँ सोना चाँदी लऽ कऽ एलौं तऽ हम लुटा दियय। एते मिठाई लऽ कऽ एलौं तऽ हम लुटा दियय से नै त हम एते खुद्दी देलियय। 

“Should I have given out the gold and silver that you have brought to us?” she added.

ओ कहलखिन कल जोड़ि कऽ ठाढ़ भ कहलखिन शिवगुरु के अहाँ एते अपमान कियै  केलियय। हुनके प्रसादे त हमरा एते भेल आ तिनका अहाँ एते अपमान केलियय। 

To which she replied, praying to her with folded hands, “All this has come to me precisely because of Shiv Guru himself, and you disrespected him so much. Why did you do that?”

तहि पर कहलखिन जे हमरासँ गलती भेल।

To which answered, “I have indeed acted in error.”