Folktales from Bhutan

Once there lived a long and a thin-necked man, a thin and long-legged man, and a thin-chested man. They were good friends, very good friends indeed. One day, they bought a fat pig’s head and decided to go for a picnic. The hungry friends waited eagerly as they cooked the meat in a digg , a pot with a thin neck. After some time, the long and thin-necked man peered into the pot to see whether the meat was ready. But as he peered down into the pot, his long and thin neck cracked and his head fell off, smack into the digg . He died in excruciating pain while his two friends, his very good friends, danced in cheer! They were happy thinking that they were going to get more meat. “Hoorah! We will have the meat,” shouted the long and thin-legged man, spinning round the room and kicking up his legs in an impromptu celebration. But as he danced in glee, his thin legs snapped. He too died in terrible pain while his friend, his very good friend, pounded his chest with joy. He now had the meat a...

In a small village, there lived a man and his wife, who gave birth to a very beautiful daughter. Immediately after the delivery, the mother died of an acute illness. The husband alone took the responsibility of looking after the girl. One day, the father met a big bembochen , a snake, while he was collecting firewood in the mountain. The snake threatened to eat him. The man did not fear the loss of his own life, but could only think of his daughter, who had no mother and soon would lack a father too. Who would care for her? Reflecting on the unhappy thought over and over again brought tears into his eyes, so that even the snake was filled with pity. “Please do not kill me, for I have to care for my daughter,” the man entreated. “She has no one else to look after her. Have mercy on me and I will do anything for you.” “In that case, I will spare you, but you must promise me one thing,” the snake replied. “Give me your daughter. I will take care of her. But if you fail to keep your ...