THE UPRIGHT KING
by Maive Stokes · from Indian Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Once, a kind king named Harchand lived. He had a big garden. He had a son named Manik. He helped poor people every day. He gave them food. He was very kind.
One night, a wild animal came. It was dark. The animal was hungry. It ate all the plants. The garden was ruined. The king was sad.
In the morning, the garden was empty. Then, his gold turned into black stones. He had no money. He was very sad.
An old man came. He asked for help. The king promised to give him gold. He had no gold. He said goodbye to his wife. Her name was Queen Hiral. He said goodbye to Manik. He left them with others. He kept his promise.
The king worked hard. He worked by a pond. He did many jobs. He was patient. He was still patient.
Manik was gone. Queen Hiral was very sad. The king helped her. He took her cloth to help. He was still patient.
God was happy with the king. He was patient. God came to help him.
God, like a kind man, spoke. God asked, "Want your family?" The king said, "Yes."
Manik came back. The king and Manik were happy. They hugged. They smiled.
God helped them. They brought Queen Hiral back. They brought Manik back. They went home.
The garden was beautiful again. The black stones were gold again. They were happy. Being kind and patient brings good things. And they lived happily ever after. The end.
Original Story
THE UPRIGHT KING
To notes T HERE was a great Mahárájá whose name was Harchand
Rájá, and he had an only son called Mánikchand.
He was very rich and had a great deal of
money, and he also had a very large garden full of lovely
flowers and fruits which he prized greatly. Every morning
before he bathed he used to give some poor fakír two pounds
and a half of gold. Now Harchand Mahárájá used to pray
a great deal to God, and God was very fond of him, so he
said one day, “To see if Harchand Mahárájá really loves me,
I will make him very poor for twelve years.” And at night
God came down in the shape of a great boar, and ate up
everything that was in Harchand Mahárájá’s garden. The
boar then ran away into the jungle. Next morning the gardener
got up and looked out into the garden, and what was
his astonishment when he saw it was all spoilt. Nothing was
left in it; it was not a garden any more. He went quickly
to the Mahárájá and said, “Oh, master! oh, Mahárájá! your
garden is quite spoilt. Last night a boar came and ate
up everything in it.” “Nonsense,” said the Mahárájá, who
would not believe him. “It is quite true,” said the gardener;
“you can come and see for yourself.” So the Rájá
got up at once and put on his clothes, and went into
the garden, and found it all empty. He went back to
the house very melancholy. Then as usual he gave a fakír
his two pounds and a half of gold. After breakfast he [ Pg 69] went out hunting. The boar which had run away into
the wood changed himself into a very old fakír, who shook
from old age. As Harchand Mahárájá passed, the old fakír
held out his hand, saying, “Please give me a few pice, I
am so poor and hungry.” The Mahárájá said, “Come to
my palace and I will give you two pounds and a half of
gold.” “Oh, no,” said the fakír, “surely you would never
give me so much as that.” “Yes, I will,” said the Mahárájá.
“Every morning before I bathe I give a fakír two pounds and
a half of gold.” “Nonsense,” said the fakír, “you don’t
give away your money in that way.” “Really, I do,” said
the Mahárájá, “and I promise to give you two pounds and
a half of gold.” So the fakír followed Harchand Mahárájá
home, and when they reached the palace, the Mahárájá told
his treasurer to give the old fakír two pounds and a half
of gold. The treasurer went into the treasury, but all the
Mahárájá’s gold and silver and jewels had become charcoal!
The treasurer came out again to the Mahárájá saying, “Oh,
Mahárájá, all your gold and silver and jewels are turned
into charcoal!” “Oh, nonsense,” said the Mahárájá. “Come
and see, Mahárájá,” said the treasurer, who was in a great
fright. The Mahárájá went into his treasury, and was quite
sad at the sight of the charcoal. “Alas!” he said, “God
has made me very poor, but still I must give this fakír his
money.” So he went to the fakír and said, “All my gold
and silver and jewels are turned into charcoal; but I will
sell my wife, and my boy, and myself, and then I will give
you the money I promised you.” And he went and fetched
his wife and son, and left his palace, his houses, servants,
and possessions.
He then went to a merchant, who bought from him his
Mahárání, who was called Hírálí, that is, the diamond lady,
for she was very beautiful, and her face shone like a diamond.
Her hands were very small, and so were her feet. The [ Pg 70] merchant gave the Mahárájá a pound of gold for the Mahárání.
Next, Harchand Mahárájá went to a cowherd and sold him his
son Mánikchand. The cowherd gave him for the boy half a
pound of gold. Then he went to a dom, that is, a man of a
very low caste, who kept a tank into which it was his business
to throw the bodies of those who died. If it was a dead man or
woman, the dom took one rupee, if it was a dead child he was
only paid eight annas. To this dom Harchand sold himself for
a pound of gold, and he gave the two pounds and a half of gold
to the fakír, who then went home. The dom said, “Will
you stay by the tank for a few days while I go home and do
my other work, which is weaving baskets? If any one brings
you a dead body you must throw it into the water. If it
is the body of a man or woman, take one rupee in payment;
if it is a dead child, take eight annas; and if the bearers have
got no money, take a bit of cloth. Don’t forget.” And the
dom went away, leaving Harchand sitting by the tank.
Well, Harchand Mahárájá sat for some days by the tank,
and when any one brought him dead bodies he threw them
into it. For a dead man or woman he took one rupee, for
a dead child eight annas, and if the bearers had no money
to give him, he took some cloth. Some time had passed, and
Mánikchand, the Mahárájá’s son, died; so Hírálí Rání went
to the cowherd to ask him for her dead child. The cowherd
gave him to her, and she took him to the tank. Harchand
Mahárájá was sitting by the tank, and when Hírálí Mahárání
saw him she said, “I know that man is my husband, so he
will not take any money for throwing his child into the water.”
So she went up to him and said, “Will you throw this child
into the tank for me?” “Yes, I will,” said Harchand Mahárájá;
“only first give me eight annas.” “You surely won’t
take any money for throwing your own son into the tank?”
said the Mahárání. “You must pay me,” said Harchand
Mahárájá, “for I must obey the dom’s orders. If you have [ Pg 71] no money, give me a piece of cloth.” So the Mahárání
tore off a great piece of her sárí and gave it him, and the
Mahárájá took his son and threw him into the tank. As he
threw him in he cried out to the king of the fishes, who was
an alligator, “Take great care of this body.” The king of
fishes said, “I will.” Then the Mahárání went back to
the merchant.
And the Mahárájá caught a fish, and cooked it, and laid
it by the tank, saying, “I will go and bathe and then I will
eat it.” So he took off his clothes and went into the tank to
bathe, and when he had bathed he put on fresh clothes, and
as he took hold of his fish to eat it, it slipped back alive
into the water, although it had been dead and cooked. The
Mahárájá sat down by the tank again, very sad. He said,
“For twelve years I have found it hard to get anything to
eat; how long will God keep me without food?” God was
very pleased with Harchand for being so patient, for he had
never complained.
Some days later God came down to earth in the shape
of a man, and with him he took an angel to be his
Wazír. The Wazír said to God, “Come this way and let
us see who it is sitting by the tank.” “No,” said God, “I
am too tired, I can go no further.” “Do come,” said the
Wazír; “I want so much to go.” God said, “Well, let us
go.” Then they walked on till they came to the place where
Harchand Mahárájá was sitting, and God said to him,
“Would you like to have your wife, and your son, and your
kingdom back again?” “Yes, I should,” said the Mahárájá;
“but how can I get them?” “Tell me truly,” said God,
“would you like to have your kingdom back again?” “Indeed
I should,” said the Mahárájá. Then Mánikchand’s
body, which had never sunk to the bottom of the tank like
the other bodies, but had always floated on the water, rose
up out of the water, and Mánikchand was alive once more. [ Pg 72] The father and son embraced each other. “Now,” said
God, “let us go to the dom.” Harchand Mahárájá agreed,
and they went to the dom and asked him how much he
would take for Harchand Mahárájá. The dom said, “I
gave one pound of gold for him, and I will take two
pounds.” So they paid down the two pounds of gold. Then
they went to the merchant and said to him, “How much will
you take for Hírálí Rání?” The merchant said, “I gave a
pound of gold for her; I will take four pounds.” So they paid
down the four pounds of gold, took Hírálí Rání, and went to
the cowherd. “How much will you take for Mánikchand?”
said they to him. “I gave half a pound of gold for him,”
answered the cowherd; “I will take one pound.” So they
paid down the pound of gold, and Harchand Mahárájá went
home to his palace, taking with him Hírálí Rání and Mánikchand,
after thanking the strange man for his goodness to
them. When they reached the palace, the garden was in
splendid beauty; the charcoal was turned back into gold,
and silver, and jewels; the servants were in waiting as usual,
and they went into the palace and lived happily for evermore.
Told by Dunkní.
[ Pg 73]
Story DNA
Moral
True devotion and unwavering faith, even in the face of extreme hardship, will ultimately be rewarded by divine grace.
Plot Summary
Harchand Mahárájá, a devout and charitable king, is tested by God, who destroys his garden and turns his wealth to charcoal. To uphold a promise, Harchand sells his wife, son, and himself into servitude, eventually becoming a dom who disposes of bodies. His suffering culminates when his son dies, and Harchand, bound by duty, takes payment from his own wife to throw their child's body into the tank. Impressed by Harchand's unwavering patience, God appears, restores his son to life, and orchestrates the family's repurchase and the return of their kingdom and wealth, allowing them to live happily ever after.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story reflects traditional Indian social structures, religious beliefs, and the concept of divine tests of faith. The specific mention of 'Dunkní' as the storyteller suggests a local, oral tradition.
Plot Beats (12)
- Harchand Mahárájá, a wealthy and devout king, gives a fakír gold daily and has a prized garden and a son, Mánikchand.
- God decides to test Harchand's devotion and sends a boar to destroy his garden overnight.
- The next morning, Harchand's garden is ruined, and later, all his gold, silver, and jewels turn into charcoal.
- To fulfill a promise of gold to a fakír (God in disguise), Harchand sells his wife, Hírálí Rání, to a merchant, his son, Mánikchand, to a cowherd, and himself to a dom (a low-caste man who disposes of bodies).
- Harchand works by the tank, throwing bodies into the water for payment, while his family is in servitude.
- Mánikchand dies, and Hírálí Rání brings his body to Harchand at the tank, who, adhering to his duty, takes a piece of her sari as payment to dispose of his own son's body.
- Harchand throws Mánikchand's body into the tank, instructing the king of fishes to care for it, and then experiences a cooked fish returning to life, symbolizing his prolonged suffering.
- God, pleased with Harchand's unwavering patience and lack of complaint, descends to earth with an angel.
- God, disguised as a man, approaches Harchand by the tank and offers to restore his family and kingdom.
- Mánikchand's body rises from the tank, alive, and father and son embrace.
- God, Harchand, and Mánikchand go to the dom, merchant, and cowherd to repurchase Harchand, Hírálí Rání, and Mánikchand, paying double the original price.
- The family returns to their palace, where the garden is restored, the charcoal is turned back into treasure, and they live happily ever after.
Characters
Harchand Rájá ★ protagonist
None explicitly mentioned, but implied to be a man of regal bearing before his trials.
Attire: Initially, royal attire (Mahárájá's clothes), later simple clothes as a dom's servant, then fresh clothes after bathing.
Pious, patient, upright, honorable.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young Indian prince in his late teens with a confident, noble bearing. He has warm brown skin, sharp dark eyes, and neatly styled black hair. He wears an elaborate golden sherwani jacket with intricate embroidery over a white kurta, paired with fitted churidar pants and pointed juttis. A jeweled turban adorns his head, and he holds a ceremonial sword at his side. He stands tall in a proud, ready posture within a grand palace hall with marble floors and carved arches. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Mánikchand ◆ supporting
None explicitly mentioned.
Attire: Simple clothing, likely appropriate for a child of a Mahárájá, then as a cowherd's charge.
Innocent, passive (due to age and circumstances).
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a long white beard and deep wrinkles around his warm, kind eyes. He wears layered robes of deep indigo and saffron, richly embroidered with silver thread patterns. His posture is slightly stooped, leaning on a gnarled wooden staff, with a gentle, knowing smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Hírálí Rání ◆ supporting
Very beautiful, face shone like a diamond, very small hands and feet.
Attire: Initially, royal attire (Mahárání's clothes), later a sárí, from which she tears a piece.
Devoted, resilient, mournful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young woman in her early twenties with warm brown skin and long, dark hair braided with small golden threads. She wears a flowing saffron-colored sari with a delicate gold border, draped elegantly over one shoulder. A small, intricate bindi adorns her forehead. Her expression is gentle and welcoming, with a soft smile and kind, dark eyes. She stands in a graceful, relaxed posture, one hand lightly resting on a carved wooden table beside a brass lamp. Soft, warm light illuminates the scene from a nearby window. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature
God ⚔ antagonist
Appears as a great boar, then as a very old fakír, then as a man.
Attire: Varies with form; as a fakír, simple robes; as a man, unspecified but likely simple attire.
Testing, powerful, ultimately benevolent.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly man with a long, flowing white beard and deep-set, piercing eyes that glow with a faint golden light. He wears ornate, dark royal robes of deep indigo and black, embroidered with subtle celestial patterns in silver thread. A heavy crown of tarnished metal rests upon his brow. His posture is rigid and imposing, standing tall with one hand raised in a gesture of command, fingers slightly curled. His expression is stern and judgmental, with a faint, cold smile. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Fakír ○ minor
Shaking from old age.
Attire: Simple fakír's robes.
Testing, persistent, shrewd.
Image Prompt & Upload
An elderly male figure with a long, wispy white beard and deep wrinkles, wearing a faded orange dhoti and a simple turban. He sits cross-legged on a worn mat, eyes closed in serene meditation, with one hand resting on his knee and the other holding a wooden flute. A small, ornate wooden chest sits beside him. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Dom ○ minor
None explicitly mentioned.
Attire: Simple clothing appropriate for his low caste and occupation.
Business-like, strict, practical.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young prince around ten years old with an imperious expression, standing with his arms crossed confidently. He wears a richly embroidered velvet doublet in deep crimson and gold, dark breeches, and polished black boots. His posture is straight and authoritative, with a slight, knowing smirk on his face. His hair is neatly styled and golden. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Mahárájá Harchand's Garden
A very large garden full of lovely flowers and fruits, initially prized greatly by the Mahárájá. Later, it is completely spoilt, with nothing left in it, as if a boar had eaten everything. At the end, it is restored to 'splendid beauty'.
Mood: Initially cherished and beautiful, then desolate and ruined, finally splendid and joyful.
The initial act of divine punishment occurs here, with the garden's destruction. Its restoration signifies the end of the Mahárájá's trials.
Image Prompt & Upload
A panoramic view of Mahárájá Harchand's Garden restored to splendid beauty, featuring vast expanses of vibrant flower beds with roses, lotuses, and marigolds, and fruit trees heavy with mangoes and pomegranates. Time of day: sunset with warm golden light casting long shadows. Weather: clear and serene with a gentle breeze rustling leaves. Colors: rich greens, floral pinks, reds, yellows, and sky hues of orange and purple. Key elements: ornate stone pathways, a central marble fountain with sparkling water, and Mughal-style arches and terraces in the background. Atmosphere: magical and tranquil, with soft lighting enhancing textures. No border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Mahárájá Harchand's Palace
The grand residence of Mahárájá Harchand, containing a treasury. Initially filled with gold, silver, and jewels, which later turn into charcoal. At the end, the charcoal is turned back into gold, silver, and jewels, and servants are in waiting.
Mood: Initially wealthy and secure, then filled with despair and loss, finally restored to opulence and happiness.
The Mahárájá's wealth is transformed into charcoal here, forcing him to sell his family. It is also where he returns to his restored fortune and happy life.
Image Prompt & Upload
A grand palace at twilight, its intricate marble domes and minarets glowing with the last golden light of sunset. The courtyard is filled with treasures: piles of gleaming gold coins, stacked silver bars, and cascading jewels that sparkle like captured stars. A magical shimmer hangs in the air, as if the riches are still solidifying from a cloud of sparkling dust. Ornate arches frame the scene, with lush, dark green vines creeping up the pillars. The sky transitions from deep indigo to warm amber, casting long, dramatic shadows across the polished stone floors. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
The Tank (Dom's domain)
A body of water where a dom (a man of low caste) disposes of dead bodies. Harchand sits by it for days, throwing bodies into the water. Mánikchand's body floats on its surface.
Mood: Somber, grim, associated with death and low status, but also a place of divine intervention and a miracle.
Harchand's lowest point of servitude occurs here. It is also the site of the miraculous resurrection of his son, Mánikchand, and where God reveals himself.
Image Prompt & Upload
A stagnant, murky tank of water at twilight, reflecting a bruised purple and grey sky. The water's surface is unnaturally still, disturbed only by a single pale, bloated shape floating near the center, trailing a faint, oily slick. The banks are muddy and barren, littered with dark, wet stones and the skeletal remains of dead, leafless reeds. A few gnarled, leafless trees stand like sentinels on the far shore, their branches bare against the dimming light. A thick, low-lying mist clings to the water's surface, diffusing the last weak light. The atmosphere is heavy, silent, and profoundly desolate, with a color palette of deep sludge greens, murky browns, and ashen greys. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
