SECOND GOBLIN
by Unknown · from Twenty-Two Goblins. Translated from the Sanskrit
Adapted Version
King Victor was walking in the forest. On his shoulder sat a little story friend. The friend was happy. He said, "I will tell a story!" King listened.
The little story friend began his tale. A kind girl lived in a village. Her name was Coral. She was very pretty. Three good friends liked her very much. They wanted to be with her.
One day, Coral fell very sick. She went to sleep for good. This made her friends very, very sad. They cried a lot. They missed Coral.
The Loyal Friend stayed near her quiet place. He thought of her each day. The Going Friend went on a long trip. He went to a special river. He thought about Coral there. The Clever Friend became a quiet walker. He thought about Coral too.
The Clever Friend walked far away. He saw a wise man. The wise man had a child. The child went to sleep for good. But the wise man used a magic spell. He brought his child back to life.
The Clever Friend saw the magic book. He wanted to help Coral. He took the magic book. He left the wise man's house.
The Clever Friend went back. He went to Coral's special quiet place. He saw the Loyal Friend there. He saw the Going Friend too.
The Clever Friend opened the magic book. He read the spell. He used the magic. Coral stood up. She was alive again. She was very pretty.
The three friends saw Coral. They were very happy. But they began to argue. Each friend said, "She should be with me!" All friends loved Coral.
The Clever Friend spoke first. He said, "My magic brought her back!" She should be with me.
The Going Friend spoke next. He said, "I went to the river for her!" She should be with me.
The Loyal Friend spoke last. He said, "I stayed right here. I thought of her each day! She should be with me."
The little story friend asked King Victor. "Who should be with Coral?" he asked. "You are wise. You must choose."
King Victor thought for a moment. He was a very wise king. He said, "One friend used magic. One friend went on a trip. But one friend stayed right here. He showed the most love. He should be with Coral."
The little story friend smiled. He heard King Victor's words. He went away. King Victor felt happy and wise.
Original Story
SECOND GOBLIN
The Three Lovers who brought the Dead Girl to Life. Whose wife should she be?
Then King Triple-victory went back under the sissoo tree to fetch the goblin. And when he got there and looked about, he saw the goblin fallen on the ground and moaning. Then, when the king put the body with the goblin in it on his shoulder and started to carry him off quickly and silently, the goblin on his shoulder said to him: "O King, you have fallen into a very disagreeable task which you do not deserve. So to amuse you I will tell another story. Listen."
On the bank of the Kalindi River is a farm where a very learned Brahman lived. And he had a very beautiful daughter named Coral. When the Creator fashioned her fresh and peerless loveliness, surely he must have despised the cleverness he showed before in fashioning the nymphs of heaven.
When she had grown out of childhood, there came from the city of Kanauj three Brahman youths, endowed with all the virtues. And each of them asked her father for her, that she might be his own. And though her father would rather have died than give her up to anyone, he made up his mind to give her to one of them. But the girl would not marry any one of them for some time, because she was afraid of hurting the feelings of the other two. So they stayed there all three of them day and night, feasting on the beauty of her face, like the birds that live on moonbeams.
Then all at once Coral fell sick of a burning fever and died. And when the Brahman youths saw that she was dead, they were smitten with grief. But they adorned her body, took it to the cemetery, and burned it.
And one of them built a hut there, slept on a bed made of her ashes, and got his food by begging. The second took her bones and went to dip them in the sacred Ganges river. And the third became a monk and wandered in other countries.
And as he wandered, the monk came to a village called Thunderbolt, and was entertained in the house of a Brahman. But when he had been honoured by the master of the house and had begun to eat dinner there, the little boy began to cry and would not stop even when they petted him. So his mother took him on her arm, and angrily threw him into the blazing fire. And being tender, he was reduced to ashes in a moment.
When the monk saw this, his hair stood on end, and he said: "Alas! I have come into the house of a devil. I will not eat this food. It would be like eating sin." But the master of the house said to him: "Brahman, I have studied to good purpose. See my skill in bringing the dead to life." So he opened a book, took out a magic spell, read it, and sprinkled water on the ashes. And the moment the water was sprinkled, the boy stood up alive just as before. Then the monk was highly delighted and finished his dinner with pleasure.
And the master of the house hung the book on an ivory peg, took dinner with the monk, and went to bed. When he was asleep, the monk got up quietly, and tremblingly took the book, hoping to bring his darling Coral back to life. He went away and travelled night and day, until he finally reached the cemetery. And he caught sight of the second youth, who had come back after dipping the bones in the Ganges. And he also found the third youth, who had made a hut and lived there, sleeping on the girl's ashes.
Then the monk cried: "Brother, leave your hut. I will bring the dear girl back to life." And while they eagerly questioned him, he opened the book, and read the magic spell, and sprinkled holy water on the ashes. And Coral immediately stood up, alive. And the girl was more beautiful than ever. She looked as if she were made of gold.
When the three youths saw her come back to life like that, they went mad with love, and fought with one another to possess her.
One said: "I brought her to life by my magic spell. She is my wife."
The second said: "She came to life because of my journey to the sacred river. She is my wife."
The third said: "I kept her ashes. That is why she came to life. She is my dear wife."
O King, you are able to decide their dispute. Tell me. Whose wife should she be? If you know and say what is false, then your head will split.
When the king heard this, he said to the goblin: "The man who painfully found the magic spell and brought her back to life, he did only what a father ought to do. He is not her husband. And the man who went to dip her bones in the sacred river, he did only what a son ought to do. He is not her husband. But the man who slept with her ashes and lived a hard life in the cemetery, he did what a lover ought to do. He deserves to be her husband."
When the goblin heard this answer of King Triple-victory, he suddenly escaped from his shoulder and went back. And the king wished to do as the monk had asked him; so he decided to go back and get him. Great-minded people do not waver until they have kept their promises, even at the cost of life.
Story DNA
Moral
True devotion and sacrifice, even in grief, are rewarded with the deepest bond.
Plot Summary
King Triple-victory carries a talking goblin who tells a story about a beautiful girl named Coral and her three devoted suitors. When Coral dies, one suitor guards her ashes, one goes to the sacred Ganges with her bones, and the third, a monk, discovers and steals a magic spell to revive the dead. The monk brings Coral back to life, leading to a dispute among the three suitors over who should marry her. The king rules that the suitor who guarded her ashes, demonstrating the deepest love, is her rightful husband, after which the goblin escapes.
Themes
Emotional Arc
grief to hope to resolution
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is part of the Vetala Panchavimshati (Twenty-five Tales of the Vetala), a collection of frame stories from ancient India, often featuring a king carrying a Vetala (goblin/vampire) who tells tales and poses riddles.
Plot Beats (15)
- King Triple-victory is carrying a goblin on his shoulder, who offers to tell a story.
- The goblin begins a story about a beautiful Brahman girl named Coral and her three virtuous suitors.
- Coral falls ill and dies, devastating the three suitors.
- One suitor builds a hut at her cremation site and lives on her ashes; the second goes to the Ganges with her bones; the third becomes a monk and wanders.
- The monk witnesses a Brahman revive his child from ashes using a magic spell.
- The monk steals the spell book from the Brahman's house.
- The monk returns to the cemetery, finding the other two suitors there.
- The monk uses the spell to bring Coral back to life, making her even more beautiful.
- The three suitors immediately begin to argue, each claiming her as his wife based on his actions.
- The first suitor claims her because he revived her with magic.
- The second suitor claims her because he purified her bones in the Ganges.
- The third suitor claims her because he guarded her ashes and grieved for her.
- The goblin asks King Triple-victory to decide whose wife Coral should be.
- King Triple-victory rules that the man who revived her acted as a father, the man who went to the Ganges acted as a son, but the man who guarded her ashes acted as a true lover, and thus she should be his wife.
- Upon hearing the king's judgment, the goblin escapes from his shoulder.
Characters
King Triple-victory
A strong and capable man, likely of regal bearing, accustomed to physical and mental challenges. His physique suggests a life of activity and leadership, capable of carrying a heavy burden like the goblin-possessed corpse.
Attire: Royal attire befitting an ancient Indian king, possibly a dhoti of fine silk, an angavastram (upper cloth) draped over his shoulders, and minimal but significant gold jewelry like armlets or a necklace. His clothing would be practical enough for travel through a forest.
Wants: To fulfill his promise to the monk and retrieve the goblin, demonstrating his unwavering commitment to his word.
Flaw: His unwavering commitment can lead him into dangerous or disagreeable tasks.
His arc is one of sustained integrity and wisdom, demonstrating his character through repeated trials.
Determined, honorable, wise, persistent, just.
The Goblin
A small, dark-skinned, possibly grotesque or impish creature, capable of inhabiting a corpse. Its form is likely lean and agile, despite its current state of moaning.
Attire: None, as it inhabits a corpse.
Wants: To amuse itself and perhaps delay the king, or simply to fulfill its role as a storyteller.
Flaw: Bound by certain rules or conditions, such as escaping when a riddle is correctly answered.
Remains consistent in its role as a storyteller and a test for the king's wisdom.
Mischievous, cunning, a storyteller, a trickster, observant.
Coral
Exquisitely beautiful, described as 'fresh and peerless loveliness,' suggesting a delicate yet radiant appearance. Her resurrected form is 'more beautiful than ever' and 'made of gold,' implying a luminous, almost divine glow.
Attire: Before death, simple but elegant Indian attire, perhaps a cotton or silk sari. After resurrection, her clothing would be equally beautiful, perhaps a vibrant silk sari in shades of red or gold, adorned with minimal, delicate jewelry.
Wants: Initially, to avoid hurting anyone's feelings. After resurrection, she has no agency.
Flaw: Her beauty makes her an object of contention and desire, leading to her being fought over.
Dies and is resurrected, becoming the central object of a dispute among her suitors.
Initially hesitant, gentle, perhaps a little naive due to her beauty attracting many suitors. After resurrection, she is a passive object of desire.
The Monk (First Youth)
One of the three Brahman youths, initially well-endowed with virtues. After becoming a monk, his physique would be lean from wandering, but still possessing a scholarly air.
Attire: Initially, fine Brahmanical attire. As a monk, he would wear simple saffron or ochre robes, possibly a single piece of cloth draped around his body, indicating renunciation.
Wants: To bring Coral back to life, driven by his deep love and grief.
Flaw: His possessiveness and desire for Coral, which leads him to steal the magic book.
Transforms from a grieving lover into a resourceful monk who discovers the secret to resurrection, then becomes a claimant for Coral's hand.
Devoted, intelligent, resourceful, determined, initially grief-stricken, later delighted and possessive.
The Second Youth
One of the three Brahman youths, initially well-endowed with virtues. His journey to the Ganges would suggest a resilient physique.
Attire: Initially, fine Brahmanical attire. For his journey, simple, durable clothing suitable for travel, perhaps a white dhoti and an upper cloth.
Wants: To perform the sacred rites for Coral's bones, driven by his deep love and respect.
Flaw: His possessiveness and desire for Coral.
Remains consistent in his devotion to Coral, performing a traditional act of mourning and then claiming her as his wife.
Devoted, pious, traditional, persistent, grief-stricken, later possessive.
The Third Youth
One of the three Brahman youths, initially well-endowed with virtues. His life in the cemetery would suggest a somewhat ascetic or unkempt appearance, but still retaining his inherent Brahmanical features.
Attire: Initially, fine Brahmanical attire. After Coral's death, very simple, perhaps worn or patched clothing, reflecting his ascetic life in the cemetery.
Wants: To remain close to Coral's remains, driven by his deep love and grief.
Flaw: His possessiveness and desire for Coral.
Remains consistent in his devotion to Coral, enduring hardship and then claiming her as his wife.
Devoted, ascetic, persistent, grief-stricken, later possessive.
The Learned Brahman (Coral's Father)
A learned and respected man, likely of a dignified build, reflecting his status as a Brahman scholar.
Attire: Traditional Brahmanical attire, such as a white dhoti and an upper cloth, indicating his scholarly and priestly status.
Wants: To find a suitable husband for his daughter, while also wishing to keep her.
Flaw: His reluctance to part with his daughter.
A static character, serving to introduce Coral and her suitors.
Learned, loving, conflicted, traditional.
The Brahman in Thunderbolt
A Brahman who possesses magical knowledge, suggesting a scholarly but perhaps also mysterious aura.
Attire: Traditional Brahmanical attire, such as a white dhoti and an upper cloth, possibly with a shawl, indicating his status and learning.
Wants: To demonstrate his magical skill and entertain his guest.
Flaw: Perhaps a touch of arrogance in displaying his power, leading to the monk stealing his book.
A static character, serving to introduce the magic spell to the Monk.
Hospitable, powerful, confident, skilled in magic.
Locations
Farm on the Kalindi River Bank
A Brahman's farm situated directly on the bank of the Kalindi River, likely featuring fields, a simple dwelling, and natural riverine vegetation. The river itself would be a prominent feature.
Mood: Initially peaceful and domestic, later tinged with sorrow due to Coral's illness and death.
Coral's childhood and growth, the arrival of the three Brahman youths, and her eventual sickness and death.
Cremation Ground/Cemetery
A desolate area where Coral's body was cremated. One of the youths built a simple hut here and slept on her ashes, indicating a barren or sparsely vegetated plot of land, likely away from settlements.
Mood: Somber, desolate, mournful, later hopeful and magical.
Coral's cremation, one youth's vigil over her ashes, the monk's return with the magic spell, and Coral's resurrection.
Brahman's House in Thunderbolt Village
A Brahman's house in a village named Thunderbolt, featuring a dining area and an ivory peg where a magic book is hung. The house would be a traditional Indian dwelling, likely with a central courtyard or open living spaces.
Mood: Initially domestic and hospitable, then shocking and eerie, finally magical and intriguing.
The monk witnesses the miraculous resurrection of a child, discovers the magic spell, and steals the book.