PUNCHKIN
by Unknown · from The Junior Classics, Volume 1: Fairy and wonder tales
Adapted Version
Once upon a time, there was a good Raja. He had seven daughters. They had no mother. The youngest princess was Balna. She was very clever. The Raja loved his girls very much. They cooked his dinner every day. They used their own hands. They were all good girls. Balna was the smartest. She saw things clearly.
A widow came to the palace door. She asked for a little fire. Balna said, "Send her away! She is not good." Her sisters said, "Be kind, Balna. Let her take some fire." The widow took fire from the hearth. She put mud in the dinner dishes. She did this many days. Balna saw her do it. Balna warned her sisters. They did not listen to Balna.
The Raja saw mud in his food. He was confused. He hid and watched them cook. He saw the widow come. She put mud in his dinner. The Raja was very angry. He called the widow to him. She spoke many clever words. The Raja thought she was smart. He married her. She became the new Ranee.
The new Ranee was not kind. She gave the princesses little food. The princesses were sad. They went to their mother's grave. A magic pomelo tree grew there. Its fruit was sweet. The princesses ate the fruit.
The Ranee had a daughter. The Ranee's daughter saw the tree. She told her mother. The Ranee was angry. She cut down the magic tree.
Another magic food appeared. It was a cream cake. It grew at the grave. The Ranee's daughter saw it. She told her mother. The Ranee was angry. She destroyed the cream cake.
Magic lotus flowers appeared. They grew at the grave. The Ranee's daughter saw them. She told her mother. The Ranee was angry. She destroyed the lotus flowers.
The Ranee was very, very angry. She used her magic. Six princesses became birds. Then they became stones. The Ranee sent Balna away. She sent Balna to Punchkin the Magician. Punchkin was a bad magician.
Balna was in a tall tower. It was Punchkin's tower. Balna had a baby boy there. The boy grew up. He was brave. He ran away from the tower. He wanted to find his family.
The Prince walked far. He found his father. His father was a rock. He found his uncles. They were trees. Punchkin did this magic. The Prince learned his mother was in the tower.
The Prince went back to the tower. He wore different clothes. Balna and her son made a plan. They wanted to trick Punchkin.
Balna told Punchkin, "I will marry you." Punchkin was very happy. He told Balna his secret. "My life is in a green parrot," he said. "The parrot is far away. It is in a jungle."
The Prince saw a baby eagle. He helped the baby eagle. The mother eagle helped the Prince. She flew him to the jungle. The Prince found the green parrot. He took the parrot.
The Prince came back. He had the parrot. He told Punchkin, "Change everyone back!" Punchkin had to do it. He changed the Raja back. He changed the uncles back.
The Prince held the parrot. He made a wish. Punchkin felt very weak. The Prince let the parrot go. The parrot flew away. Punchkin's magic was gone. Punchkin disappeared.
Balna was free. Her son was happy. The Raja was happy. All the princesses were happy. They went home. They lived happily ever after. Good people with kind hearts and brave actions can always win against bad people, even if they are strong. Family love is very strong.
Original Story
PUNCHKIN
By E. Frere
Once upon a time there was a Raja who had seven beautiful daughters. They were all good girls; but the youngest, named Balna, was more clever than the rest. The Raja’s wife died when they were quite little children, so these seven poor Princesses were left with no mother to take care of them.
The Raja’s daughters took it by turns to cook their father’s dinner every day, while he was absent deliberating with his Ministers on the affairs of the nation.
About this time the Prudhan died, leaving a widow and one daughter; and every day, when the seven Princesses were preparing their father’s dinner, the Prudhan’s widow and daughter would come and beg for a little fire from the hearth. Then Balna used to say to her sisters, “Send that woman away; send her away. Let her get the fire at her own house. What does she want with ours? If we allow her to come here, we shall suffer for it some day.”
But the other sisters would answer, “Be quiet, Balna; why must you always be quarreling with this poor woman? Let her take some fire if she likes.” Then the Prudhan’s widow used to go to the hearth and take a few sticks from it; and while no one was looking, she would quickly throw some mud into the midst of the dishes which were being prepared for the Raja’s dinner.
Now the Raja was very fond of his daughters. Ever since their mother’s death they had cooked his dinner with their own hands, in order to avoid the danger of his being poisoned by his enemies. So, when he found the mud mixed up with his dinner, he thought it must arise from their carelessness, as it did not seem likely that anyone should have put mud there on purpose; but being very kind he did not like to reprove them for it, although this spoiling of the curry was repeated many days.
At last, one day, he determined to hide, and watch his daughters cooking, and see how it all happened; so he went into the next room, and watched them through a hole in the wall.
There he saw his seven daughters carefully washing the rice and preparing the curry, and as each dish was completed, they put it by the fire ready to be cooked. Next he noticed the Prudhan’s widow come to the door, and beg for a few sticks from the fire to cook her dinner with. Balna turned to her, angrily, and said, “Why don’t you keep fuel in your own house, and not come here every day and take ours? Sisters, don’t give this woman any more wood; let her buy it for herself.”
Then the eldest sister answered, “Balna, let the poor woman take the wood and the fire; she does us no harm.” But Balna replied, “If you let her come here so often, maybe she will do us some harm, and make us sorry for it, some day.”
The Raja then saw the Prudhan’s widow go to the place where all his dinner was nicely prepared, and, as she took the wood, she threw a little mud into each of the dishes.
At this he was very angry, and sent to have the woman seized and brought before him. But when the widow came, she told him that she had played this trick because she wanted to gain an audience with him; and she spoke so cleverly, and pleased him so well with her cunning words, that instead of punishing her, the Raja married her, and made her his Ranee, and she and her daughter came to live in the palace.
Now the new Ranee hated the seven poor Princesses, and wanted to get them, if possible, out of the way, in order that her daughter might have all their riches, and live in the palace as Princess in their place; and instead of being grateful to them for their kindness to her, she did all she could to make them miserable. She gave them nothing but bread to eat, and very little of that, and very little water to drink; so these seven poor little Princesses, who had been accustomed to have everything comfortable about them, and good food and good clothes all their lives long, were very miserable and unhappy; and they used to go out every day and sit by their dead mother’s tomb and cry—and say:
“O mother, mother, cannot you see your poor children, how unhappy we are, and how we are starved by our cruel stepmother?”
One day, while they were thus sobbing and crying, lo and behold! a beautiful pomelo tree grew up out of the grave, covered with fresh, ripe pomeloes, and the children satisfied their hunger by eating some of the fruit, and every day after this, instead of trying to eat the bad dinner their stepmother provided for them, they used to go out to their mother’s grave and eat the pommels which grew there on the beautiful tree.
Then the Ranee said to her daughter, “I cannot tell how it is, every day those seven girls say they don’t want any dinner, and won’t eat any; and yet they never grow thin nor look ill; they look better than you do. I cannot tell how it is.” And she bade her watch the seven Princesses, and see if anyone gave them anything to eat.
So next day, when the Princesses went to their mother’s grave, and were eating the beautiful pomeloes, the Prudhan’s daughter followed them, and saw them gathering the fruit.
Then Balna said to her sisters, “Do you not see that girl watching us? Let us drive her away, or hide the pomeloes, else she will go and tell her mother all about it, and that will be bad for us.”
But the other sisters said, “Oh no, do not be unkind, Balna. The girl would never be so cruel as to tell her mother. Let us rather invite her to come and have some of the fruit.” And calling her to them, they gave her one of the pomeloes.
No sooner had she eaten it, however, than the Prudhan’s daughter went home and said to her mother, “I do not wonder the seven Princesses will not eat the dinner you prepare for them, for by their mother’s grave there grows a beautiful pomelo tree, and they go there every day and eat the pomeloes. I ate one, and it was the nicest I have ever tasted.”
The cruel Ranee was much vexed at hearing this, and all next day she stayed in her room, and told the Raja that she had a very bad headache. The Raja was deeply grieved, and said to his wife, “What can I do for you?” She answered, “There is only one thing that will make my headache well. By your dead wife’s tomb there grows a fine pomelo tree; you must bring that here, and boil it, root and branch, and put a little of the water in which it has been boiled on my forehead, and that will cure my headache.” So the Raja sent his servants, and had the beautiful pomelo tree pulled up by the roots, and did as the Ranee desired; and when some of the water, in which it had been boiled, was put on her forehead, she said her headache was gone and she felt quite well.
Next day, when the seven Princesses went as usual to the grave of their mother, the pomelo tree had disappeared. Then they all began to cry very bitterly.
Now there was by the Ranee’s tomb a small tank, and as they were crying they saw the tank was filled with a rich cream-like substance, which quickly hardened into a thick white cake. At seeing this all the Princesses were very glad, and they ate some of the cake, and liked it; and next day the same thing happened, and so it went on for many days. Every morning the Princesses went to their mother’s grave, and found the little tank filled with the nourishing cream-like cake. Then the cruel stepmother said to her daughter: “I cannot tell how it is, I have had the pomelo tree which used to grow by the Ranee’s grave destroyed, and yet the Princesses grow no thinner, nor look more sad, though they never eat the dinner I give them. I cannot tell how it is!”
And her daughter said, “I will watch.”
Next day, while the Princesses were eating the cream cake, who should come by but their stepmother’s daughter. Balna saw her first, and said, “See, sisters, there comes that girl again. Let us sit round the edge of the tank and not allow her to see it, for if we give her some of our cake, she will go and tell her mother; and that will be very unfortunate for us.”
The other sisters, however, thought Balna unnecessarily suspicious, and instead of following her advice, they gave the Prudhan’s daughter some of the cake, and she went home and told her mother all about it.
The Ranee, on hearing how well the Princesses fared, was exceedingly angry, and sent her servants to pull down the dead Ranee’s tomb, and fill the little tank with the ruins. And not content with this, she next day pretended to be very, very ill—in fact, at the point of death—and when the Raja was much grieved, and asked her whether it was in his power to procure her any remedy, she said to him: “Only one thing can save my life, but I know you will not do it.” He replied, “Yes, whatever it is, I will do it.” She then said, “To save my life, you must kill the seven daughters of your first wife, and put some of their blood on my forehead and on the palms of my hands, and their death will be my life.” At these words the Raja was very sorrowful; but because he feared to break his word, he went out with a heavy heart to find his daughters.
He found them crying by the ruins of their mother’s grave.
Then, feeling he could not kill them, the Raja spoke kindly to them, and told them to come out into the jungle with him; and there he made a fire and cooked some rice, and gave it to them. But in the afternoon, it being very hot, the seven Princesses all fell asleep, and when he saw they were fast asleep, the Raja, their father, stole away and left them (for he feared his wife), saying to himself: “It is better my poor daughters should die here, than be killed by their stepmother.”
He then shot a deer, and returning home, put some of its blood on the forehead and hands of the Ranee, and she thought then that he had really killed the Princesses, and said she felt quite well.
Meantime the seven Princesses awoke, and when they found themselves all alone in the thick jungle they were much frightened, and began to call out as loud as they could, in hopes of making their father hear; but he was by that time far away, and would not have been able to hear them even had their voices been as loud as thunder.
It so happened that this very day the seven young sons of a neighboring Raja chanced to be hunting in that same jungle, and as they were returning home, after the day’s sport was over, the youngest Prince said to his brothers: “Stop, I think I hear some one crying and calling out. Do you not hear voices? Let us go in the direction of the sound, and find out what it is.”
So the seven Princes rode through the wood until they came to the place where the seven Princesses sat crying and wringing their hands. At the sight of them the young Princes were very much astonished, and still more so on learning their story; and they settled that each should take one of these poor forlorn ladies home with him, and marry her.
So the first and eldest Prince took the eldest Princess home with him, and married her.
And the second took the second; and third took the third; and the fourth took the fourth; and the fifth took the fifth; and the sixth took the sixth; and the seventh, and the handsomest of all, took the beautiful Balna.
And when they got to their own land, there was great rejoicing throughout the kingdom, at the marriage of the seven young Princes to seven such beautiful Princesses.
About a year after this Balna had a little son, and his uncles and aunts were so fond of the boy that it was as if he had seven fathers and seven mothers. None of the other Princes and Princesses had any children, so the son of the seventh Prince and Balna was acknowledged their heir by all the rest.
They had thus lived very happily for some time, when one fine day the seventh Prince (Balna’s husband) said he would go out hunting, and away he went; and they waited long for him, but he never came back.
Then his six brothers said they would go and see what had become of him; and they went away, but they also did not return.
And the seven Princesses grieved very much, for they feared that their kind husbands must have been killed.
One day, not long after this had happened, as Balna was rocking her baby’s cradle, and while her sisters were working in the room below, there came to the palace door a man in a long black dress, who said that he was a Fakir, and came to beg. The servant said to him, “You cannot go into the palace—the Raja’s sons have all gone away; we think they must be dead, and their widows cannot be interrupted by your begging.” But he said, “I am a holy man, you must let me in. Then the stupid servants let him walk through the palace, but they did not know that this was no Fakir, but a wicked Magician named Punchkin.
Punchkin Fakir wandered through the palace, and saw many beautiful things there, till at last he reached the room where Balna sat singing beside her little boy’s cradle. The Magician thought her more beautiful than all the other beautiful things he had seen, insomuch that he asked her to go home with him and to marry him. But she said, “My husband, I fear, is dead, but my little boy is still quite young; I will stay here and teach him to grow up a clever man, and when he is grown up he shall go out into the world, and try and learn tidings of his father. Heaven forbid that I should ever leave him, or marry yon.” At these words the Magician was very angry, and turned her into a little black dog, and led her away; saying, “Since yon will not come with me of your own free will, I will make you.” So the poor Princess was dragged away, without any power of effecting an escape, or of letting her sisters know what had become of her. As Punchkin passed through the palace gate the servants said to him, “Where did yon get that pretty little dog?” And he answered, “One of the Princesses gave it to me as a present.” At hearing which they let him go without further questioning.
Soon after this, the six elder Princesses heard the little baby, their nephew, begin to cry, and when they went upstairs they were much surprised to find him all alone, and Balna nowhere to be seen. Then they questioned the servants, and when they heard of the Fakir and the little black dog, they guessed what had happened, and sent in every direction seeking them, but neither the Fakir nor the dog were to be found. What could six poor women do? They gave up all hopes of ever seeing their kind husbands, and their sister, and her husband again, and devoted themselves thenceforward to teaching and taking care of their little nephew.
Thus time went on, till Balna’s son was fourteen years old. Then, one day, his aunts told him the history of the family; and no sooner did he hear it, than be was seized with a great desire to go in search of his father and mother and uncles, and if he could find them alive to bring them home again. His aunts, on learning his determination, were much alarmed and tried to dissuade him, saying, “We have lost our husbands, and our sister and her husband, and you are now our sole hope; if you go away, what shall we do?” But he replied, “I pray you not to be discouraged; I will return soon, and if it is possible bring my father and mother and uncles with me.” So he set out on his travels; but for some months he could learn nothing to help him in his search.
At last, after he had journeyed many hundreds of weary miles, and become almost hopeless of ever hearing anything further of his parents, he one day came to a country that seemed full of stones, and rocks, and trees, and there he saw a large palace with a tower; hard by was a Malee’s little house.
As he was looking about, the Malee’s wife saw him, and ran out of the house and said, “My dear boy, who are you that dare venture to this dangerous place?” He answered, “I am a Raja’s son, and I come in search of my father, and my uncles, and my mother whom a wicked enchanter bewitched.”
Then the Malee’s wife said, “This country and this palace belong to a great enchanter; he is all powerful, and if anyone displeases him, he can turn them into stones and trees. All the rocks and trees you see here were living people once, and the Magician turned them to what they now are. Some time ago a Raja’s son came here, and shortly afterward came his six brothers, and they were all turned into stones and trees; and these are not the only unfortunate ones, for up in that tower lives a beautiful Princess, whom the Magician has kept prisoner there for twelve years, because she hates him and will not marry him.”
Then the little Prince thought, “These must be my parents and my uncles. I have found what I seek at last.” So he told his story to the Malee’s wife, and begged her to help him to remain in that place awhile and inquire further concerning the unhappy people she mentioned; and she promised to befriend him, and advised his disguising himself lest the Magician should see him, and turn him likewise into stone. To this the Prince agreed. So the Malee’s wife dressed him up in a saree, and pretended that he was her daughter.
One day, not long after this, as the Magician was walking in his garden he saw the little girl (as he thought) playing about, and asked her who she was. She told him she was the Malee’s daughter, and the Magician said, “You are a pretty little girl, and to-morrow you shall take a present of flowers from me to the beautiful lady who lives in the tower.”
The young Prince was much delighted at hearing this, and went immediately to inform the Malee’s wife; after consultation with whom he determined that it would be more safe for him to retain his disguise, and trust to the chance of a favorable opportunity for establishing some communication with his mother, if it were indeed she.
Now it happened that at Balna’s marriage her husband had given her a small gold ring on which her name was engraved, and she had put it on her little son’s finger when he was a baby, and afterward when he was older his aunts had had it enlarged for him, so that he was still able to wear it. The Malee’s wife advised him to fasten the well-known treasure to one of the bouquets he presented to his mother, and trust to her recognizing it. This was not to be done without difficulty, as such a strict watch was kept over the poor Princess (for fear of her ever establishing communication with her friends), that though the supposed Malee’s daughter was permitted to take her flowers every day, the Magician or one of his slaves was always in the room at the time. At last one day, however, opportunity favored him, and when no one was looking the boy tied the ring to a nosegay, and threw it at Balna’s feet. It fell with a clang on the floor, and Balna, looking to see what made the strange sound, found the little ring tied to the flowers. On recognizing it, she at once believed the story her son told her of his long search, and begged him to advise her as to what she had better do; at the same time entreating him on no account to endanger his life by trying to rescue her. She told him that for twelve long years the Magician had kept her shut up in the tower because she refused to marry him, and she was so closely guarded that she saw no hope of release.
Now Balna’s son was a bright, clever boy, so he said, “Do not fear, dear mother; the first thing to do is to discover how far the Magician’s power extends, in order that we may be able to liberate my father and uncles, whom he has imprisoned in the form of the rocks and trees. You have spoken to him angrily for twelve long years; now rather speak kindly. Tell him you have given up all hopes of again seeing the husband you have so long mourned, and say you are willing to harry him. Then endeavor to find out what his power consists in, and whether he is immortal, or can be put to death.”
Balna determined to take her son’s advice; and the next day sent for Punchkin, and spoke to him as had been suggested.
The Magician greatly delighted, begged her to allow the wedding to take place as soon as possible.
But she told him that before she married him he must allow her a little more time, in which she might make his acquaintance, and that, after being enemies so long, their friendship could but strengthen by degrees. “And do tell me,” she said, “are you quite immortal? Can death never touch you? And are you too great an enchanter ever to feel human suffering?”
“Why do you ask?” said he.
“Because,” she replied. “if I am to be your wife, I would fain know all about you, in order, if any calamity threatens you, to overcome, or if possible to avert it.”
“It is true,” he added, “that I am not as others. Far, far away, hundreds of thousands of miles from this, there lies a desolate country covered with thick jungle. In the midst of the jungle grows a circle of palm trees, and in the center of the circle stand six chattees full of water, piled one above another: below the sixth chattee is a small cage which contains a little green parrot; on the life of the parrot depends my life; and if the parrot is killed I must die. It is. however,” he added, “impossible that the parrot should sustain any injury, both on account of the inaccessibility of the country, and because, by my appointment, many thousand genii surround the palm trees, and kill all who approach the place.”
Balna told her son what Punchkin had said; but at the same time implored him to give up all idea of getting the parrot.
The Prince, however, replied, “Mother, unless I can get hold of that parrot, you, and my father, and uncles, cannot be liberated: be not afraid, I will shortly return. Do you, meantime, keep the Magician in good humor—still putting off your marriage with him on various pretexts; and before he finds out the cause of delay, I will be here.” So saying, he went away.
Many, many weary miles did he travel, till at last he came to a thick jungle; and, being very tired, sat down under a tree and fell asleep. He was awakened by a soft rustling sound, and looking about him, saw a large serpent which was making its way to an eagle’s nest built in the tree under which he lay, and in the nest were two young eagles. The Prince seeing the danger of the young birds, drew his sword, and killed the serpent; at the same moment a rushing sound was heard in the air, and the two old eagles, who had been out hunting for food for their young ones, returned. They quickly saw the dead serpent and the young Prince standing over it; and the old mother eagle said to him, “Dear boy, for many’ years all our young ones have been devoured by that cruel serpent; you have now saved the lives of our children; whenever you are in need therefore, send to us and we will help you; and as for these little eagles, take them, and let them be your servants.”
At this the Prince was very glad, and the two eaglets crossed their wings, on which he mounted; and they carried him far, far away over the thick, jungles, until he came to the place where grew the circle of palm trees, in the midst of which stood the six chattees full of water. It was the middle of the day, and the heat was very great. All round the trees were the genii fast asleep; nevertheless, there were such countless thousands of them, that it would have been quite impossible for anyone to walk through their ranks to the place; down swooped the strong-winged eaglets—down jumped the Prince; in an instant he had overthrown the six chattees full of water, and seized the little green parrot, which he rolled up in his cloak; while, as he mounted again into the air, all the genii below awoke, and finding their treasure gone, set up a wild and melancholy howl.
Away, away flew the little eagles, till they came to their home in the great tree; then the Prince said to the old eagles, “Take back your little ones; they have done me good service; if ever again I stand in need of help, I will not fail to come to you.” He then continued his journey on foot till he arrived once more at the Magician’s palace, where he sat down at the door and began playing with the Parrot. Punchkin saw him, and came to him quickly, and said, “My boy, where did yon get that parrot? Give it to me, I pray you.”
But the Prince answered, “Oh no, I cannot give away my parrot, it is a great pet of mine; I have had it many years.”
Then the Magician said, “If it is an old favorite, I can understand your not caring to give it away; but come, what will you sell it for?”
“Sir,” said the Prince, “I will not sell my parrot.”
Then Punchkin got frightened, and said, “Anything, anything; name what price you will, and it shall be yours.” The Prince answered, “Let the seven Raja’s sons whom you turned into rocks and trees be instantly liberated.”
“It is done as you desire,” said the Magician, “only give me my parrot.” And With that, by a stroke of his wand, Balna’s husband and his brothers resumed their natural shapes. “Now, give me my parrot,” repeated Punchkin.
“Not so fast, my master,” rejoined the Prince; “I must first beg that you will restore to life all whom you have thus imprisoned.”
The Magician immediately waved his wand again; and whilst he cried, in an imploring voice, “Give me my parrot!” the whole garden became suddenly alive: where rocks, and stones, and trees had been before, stood Rajas, and Punts, and Sirdars, and mighty men on prancing horses, and jeweled pages, and troops of armed attendants.
“Give me my parrot!” cried Punchkin. Then the boy took hold of the parrot, and tore off one of its wings; and as he did so the Magician’s right arm fell off.
Punchkin then stretched out his left arm, crying, “Give me my parrot!” The Prince pulled off the parrot’s second wing, and the Magician’s left arm tumbled off.
“Give me my parrot!” cried he, and fell on his knees. The Prince pulled off the parrot’s right leg, and the Magician’s right leg fell off: the Prince pulled off the parrot’s left leg, down fell the Magician’s left.
Nothing remained of him save the limbless body and the head; but still he rolled his eyes, and cried “Give me my parrot!” “Take your parrot, then, cried the boy, and with that. he wrung the bird’s neck, and threw it at the magician; and as he did so, Punchkin’s head twisted round and, with a fearful groan, he died!
Then they let Balna out of the tower; and she, her son, and the seven Princes went to their own country, and lived very happily ever afterward. And as to the rest of the world, everyone went to his own house.
Story DNA
Moral
Cruelty and injustice, no matter how powerful, will eventually be overcome by cleverness, perseverance, and the bonds of family.
Plot Summary
A Raja's seven daughters, led by the clever Balna, are tormented by their cruel stepmother, who repeatedly destroys magical sustenance provided by their deceased mother. The stepmother eventually transforms six Princesses into stones and gives Balna to a powerful Magician, Punchkin. Balna's son, born in captivity, escapes and embarks on a quest to free his family. With the help of grateful eagles, he discovers Punchkin's life-source is a distant parrot. The Prince returns, tricks Punchkin into revealing his secrets, and then uses the parrot to systematically dismember and kill the Magician, reversing all his enchantments and reuniting his family for a happy ending.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story reflects common motifs in Indian folklore, such as the cruel stepmother, magical transformations, and the external soul or life-source. The social structure of a Raja and his court is typical of historical Indian kingdoms.
Plot Beats (16)
- A Raja's seven daughters, including the clever Balna, are motherless and cook for their father.
- A Prudhan's widow repeatedly contaminates the Raja's food, despite Balna's warnings to her sisters.
- The Raja discovers the widow's trick and, impressed by her cunning, marries her, making her the new Ranee.
- The Ranee starves and mistreats the Princesses, who find a magical pomelo tree growing from their mother's grave.
- The Ranee's daughter spies on the Princesses, revealing the pomelo tree, which the Ranee then has destroyed.
- A magical cream cake appears at the grave, is discovered by the Ranee's daughter, and is also destroyed by the Ranee.
- Magical lotus flowers appear, are again discovered by the Ranee's daughter, and are destroyed by the Ranee.
- The Ranee, in a rage, turns the six elder Princesses into birds, then stones, and gives Balna to a powerful Magician, Punchkin.
- Balna is imprisoned in Punchkin's tower and gives birth to a son, who eventually escapes and searches for his family.
- The Prince finds his father and uncles, now turned into rocks and trees by Punchkin, and learns of his mother's imprisonment.
- The Prince returns to his mother, Balna, in disguise, and they devise a plan to trick Punchkin into revealing his life source.
- Balna feigns willingness to marry Punchkin, who reveals his life is tied to a green parrot in a distant, guarded jungle.
- The Prince, aided by a grateful eagle whose young he saved, travels to the jungle, overcomes the genii, and seizes the parrot.
- The Prince returns and confronts Punchkin, using the parrot to force him to restore his father and uncles, and all others he enchanted.
- The Prince systematically dismembers the parrot, causing Punchkin to lose his limbs and ultimately die when the parrot's neck is wrung.
- Balna is freed, and she, her son, and the restored Princes return to their kingdom and live happily.
Characters
Balna
Slender build, average height for a young woman of Indian descent. Her features are likely delicate, reflecting her royal lineage, but with a determined set to her jaw when challenged. Her skin tone is warm, typical of the region.
Attire: Initially, simple but well-made cotton or silk salwar kameez or a lehenga choli in soft, muted colors, befitting a princess who cooks for her father. Later, when imprisoned, her clothes would be plain and worn, perhaps a simple, undyed cotton sari. After liberation, she would wear rich silk saris or lehengas in vibrant colors, adorned with gold jewelry.
Wants: To protect herself and her sisters from harm, to survive the stepmother's cruelty, and to eventually liberate her husband and his brothers.
Flaw: Her sisters' naivety and kindness often override her warnings, putting them all in danger. Her love for her husband makes her vulnerable to Punchkin's manipulation.
Transforms from a cautious princess into a resilient queen who endures hardship, gives birth to a heroic son, and ultimately orchestrates the downfall of a powerful magician, reclaiming her family and kingdom.
Clever, perceptive, cautious, protective, and ultimately resilient. She is the first to recognize danger and is often proven right.
The Raja
A man of mature age, likely of a dignified and somewhat portly build, befitting a ruler. His skin tone is warm, typical of Indian ethnicity. He carries himself with an air of authority, though tempered by kindness.
Attire: Richly embroidered silk sherwani or dhoti-kurta, possibly in deep jewel tones like maroon or emerald green, with gold threadwork. He would wear a jeweled turban (pagri) and some gold jewelry, such as a necklace or rings, indicating his status.
Wants: To ensure the well-being and safety of his daughters, to rule his kingdom justly, and to find companionship after his wife's death.
Flaw: His kindness and trusting nature make him vulnerable to manipulation, especially by the cunning Prudhan's widow. He is slow to perceive malice.
Starts as a loving but somewhat oblivious father, becomes manipulated by his new Ranee, and is later rescued from his enchanted state by his grandson, regaining his true form and happiness.
Kind, loving, trusting, somewhat naive, and easily swayed by cunning words. He deeply cares for his daughters but is not always perceptive.
The Prudhan's Widow / The Ranee (Stepmother)
A woman of average height, with a lean and perhaps sharp build, reflecting her cunning and manipulative nature. Her movements are likely subtle and calculated. Her skin tone is warm, typical of Indian ethnicity.
Attire: Initially, simple, perhaps slightly worn cotton sari. After becoming Ranee, she would wear rich, dark-colored silk saris, perhaps in deep purples or greens, with heavy gold embroidery, but always with an underlying severity. She would wear elaborate gold jewelry, but it would seem to adorn her rather than soften her.
Wants: To elevate her daughter to the status of a princess and secure wealth and power for them both, by any means necessary.
Flaw: Her overwhelming greed and malice, which ultimately lead to her downfall. Her inability to feel gratitude or kindness.
Rises from a humble widow to a powerful Ranee through deception, but her cruelty and envy ultimately lead to her exposure and the eventual triumph of the princesses.
Cunning, manipulative, cruel, envious, and ambitious. She is driven by a desire for power and wealth for herself and her daughter.
The Prudhan's Daughter
A young Indian girl, likely of a similar build to her mother, perhaps a bit more delicate due to her age. Her skin tone is warm.
Attire: Initially, a simple cotton lehenga choli or a plain sari, reflecting her status as a commoner. After her mother becomes Ranee, she would wear more elaborate, but still child-appropriate, silk garments and some jewelry.
Wants: To enjoy the privileges of royalty and to please her mother.
Flaw: Her lack of independent thought and her willingness to betray others for personal gain or to curry favor with her mother.
Serves as a tool for her mother's cruelty, but her role is primarily to observe and report, not to undergo significant personal change.
Curious, easily tempted, and a tattletale. She is influenced by her mother's malice but does not initiate cruelty herself.
Punchkin (The Magician)
A powerful and fearsome magician, likely with an imposing presence. His build could be gaunt and angular, or robust and intimidating, but always with an aura of dark power. His skin tone is likely dark or sallow, reflecting his evil nature.
Attire: Dark, flowing robes made of heavy, perhaps rough, fabric, possibly adorned with strange symbols or dark embroidery. He might wear a dark, pointed hat or have his head bare. No jewelry, but perhaps a staff or wand.
Wants: To maintain his power and immortality, to collect and imprison powerful individuals, and to take Balna as his wife.
Flaw: His life is tied to an external object (the parrot), making him vulnerable if that object is discovered and destroyed. His arrogance blinds him to true threats.
Introduced as an all-powerful antagonist who captures Balna and her husband, he is ultimately defeated and destroyed by Balna's son, revealing his hidden vulnerability.
Cruel, powerful, cunning, arrogant, and ultimately vulnerable. He delights in tormenting others and believes himself invincible.
The Prince (Balna's Son)
A young man of heroic build, strong and agile, reflecting his royal lineage and adventurous spirit. His skin tone is warm, typical of Indian ethnicity.
Attire: Practical but noble attire for a journey: a sturdy cotton or silk tunic (kurta) over trousers (pajama), possibly with a simple sash. He would carry a sword. Upon returning to the palace, he might wear more refined but still functional clothing.
Wants: To rescue his mother, father, and uncles from Punchkin's enchantment and to defeat the evil magician.
Flaw: His youth and inexperience, though he quickly overcomes them with courage.
Transforms from a young, determined prince into a true hero who undertakes a perilous quest, outwits a powerful magician, and liberates his entire family and many others.
Brave, determined, resourceful, loyal, and clever. He is driven by a strong sense of duty and love for his family.
The Old Mother Eagle
A majestic and powerful eagle, with a broad wingspan and sharp talons. Her feathers are dark brown, with a lighter head and tail. Her eyes are keen and intelligent.
Attire: Natural plumage, dark brown with lighter accents on the head and tail. Her feathers are well-maintained and powerful.
Wants: To protect her young and to repay the Prince for saving them.
Flaw: Her vulnerability to the serpent that preys on her young.
Serves as a magical helper, providing the means for the Prince to reach Punchkin's hidden life-source, and then returning to her natural life.
Grateful, protective, wise, and loyal. She honors her debts and offers powerful assistance.
The Little Green Parrot
A small, vibrant green parrot, likely a parakeet or similar small species, with bright plumage. It is contained within a small cage.
Attire: Natural green feathers.
Wants: To exist, as it is the vessel of Punchkin's life.
Flaw: Its physical fragility, as its destruction directly leads to Punchkin's demise.
Serves as the ultimate target and means of defeating Punchkin. Its destruction signifies the end of the magician.
Passive, as it is merely an object containing a life force rather than a sentient character. It embodies Punchkin's life.
Locations
Raja's Palace Kitchen
A bustling kitchen within a grand Indian palace, likely featuring a large, open hearth for cooking. The space would be functional, with areas for washing rice and preparing curries in traditional vessels. The architecture would reflect Rajput or Mughal styles, with possibly carved wooden elements or painted details, and perhaps a small, strategically placed hole in the wall for observation.
Mood: initially industrious and domestic, later tense and suspicious
The Princesses prepare their father's dinner, the Prudhan's widow sabotages the food, and the Raja discovers her trick.
Mother's Grave under the Pomelo Tree
A quiet, sacred spot in the palace grounds or nearby, where the Princesses' mother is buried. Initially, it's just a grave, but then a magical pomelo tree sprouts from it, laden with ripe, fresh fruit. The area would be peaceful, perhaps with some low-growing vegetation or a simple stone marker for the grave, offering a stark contrast to the palace's opulence.
Mood: initially sorrowful, then magical and comforting, later exposed and vulnerable
The Princesses mourn their mother and are miraculously fed by the pomelo tree, which is later discovered by the stepmother's daughter.
Desolate Jungle with Palm Circle and Chattees
A vast, remote, and dangerous jungle, hundreds of thousands of miles away. Within this dense, untamed wilderness, there is a distinct circular clearing of tall palm trees. In the very center of this circle, six traditional Indian clay pots (chattees) are stacked one on top of another, filled with water. Beneath the bottom chattee, a small cage holds a little green parrot, the source of Punchkin's life. The area is guarded by countless genii.
Mood: mysterious, dangerous, magical, desolate
The Prince, aided by eagles, retrieves the parrot, which holds Punchkin's life force.
Magician's Palace Garden (Transformed)
Initially a garden filled with rocks, stones, and trees, which are actually the enchanted forms of Punchkin's victims. Upon the Magician's defeat, it transforms instantly into a vibrant, bustling scene of liberated Rajas, Punts, Sirdars, and their retinues, on prancing horses, with jeweled pages and armed attendants. The architecture of the palace itself would be grand but perhaps sinister, reflecting Punchkin's power.
Mood: initially oppressive and eerie, then dramatically liberated and triumphant
The Prince confronts Punchkin, using the parrot to force him to restore his victims, culminating in Punchkin's death and the garden's transformation.