Indian Folktale with Moral Lesson | Satyavati & The Potter

Once upon a time, there was a potter’s son named Saatvik. Potter worked hard day and night but could earn enough money to live on. Potter’s family consisted of his wife, daughter Satyavati, and son Saatvik. Saatvik desired to help his father.  His father wanted him to assist him in pottery. But Saatvik lacked the skills of a good potter, nor was he inclined to be one. He enjoyed music and wanted to learn to play the flute.

One day, Potter decided to teach him how to make a small bowl. Saatvik listened and saw him attentively. Satyavati, too, observed him. She wished her father taught her also. Her mother ordered, ‘Satyavati, go make some sweets for your brother; he is working so hard today.’

This disrupted her, and she got up and resumed her work in the kitchen.

Saatvik started practising it, but he needed help to make a small bowl. Satyavati served him sweets, but he refused to eat. Satyavati offered Saatvik help and started making a bowl. Once the potter got home, he was delighted to see the small, colourful bowl.

‘Good job, my son. I am proud of you,’ said the potter.

Saatvik revealed that he did not make it; instead, it was his sister’s hard work.

This made Potter very angry, and he threw Saatvik out of the house. Saatvik started crying and reached his uncle’s village. He stayed there for a week and then returned home. When he got home, his father was not there. His mother and sister were overjoyed to see him.

Just then, his father arrived. He looked pleased. He took his son in his arms. Elated, Potter then shared the reason for his happiness with his family.

He said, ‘King Yayati liked the flower vase I made for Minister Dhanush, and he wants me to make a hundred flower vases for each room in his castle.’ As soon as he finished the sentence, he started dancing. The entire family rejoiced, and the potter’s wife declared a small feast for dinner. The potter’s daughter, Satyavati, illuminated the lamp in a temple built inside the house. She thanked God for the life-changing opportunity. The potter looked at Saatvik with a lot of expectations.

‘I have to present a hundred flower vases in seven days,’ said the potter.

‘I will help you,’ said Satyavati. The potter ignored Satyavati’s words and turned to his Saatvik instead.

‘You and I will do it together,’ said the potter to his son.

‘I think you should take Satyavati’s help; besides, she is so good at it,’ said Saatvik.

This made the potter fume, and he took the plunge to make a hundred flower vases without help.

‘Satyavati will marry and go to her home, then who will take my business ahead,’ fumed the potter.

He worked round the clock. This had an effect on his health, and he fell ill on the second day.

Saatvik felt terrible for his father, but he was not cut out for pottery.

Seeing her father depressed and not able to recover because of anxiety, Satyavati took the onus. She started creating flower vases. Saatvik, too, helped her by sourcing mud and colours. Mother took Potter’s care. 

On the seventh day, Minister Dhanush arrived to collect the flower vases. Satyavati and Saatvik helped the royal servant load the flower vases on the horse cart. Minister Dhanush thanked Saatvik and appreciated him. Saatvik accepted the appreciation and said his sister Satyavati deserved it as she made them; he only helped her. Minister Dhanush congratulated the potter for having children like Satyavati and Saatvik. The potter realized his mistake and trained Satyavati without any inhibitions.

Moral: Inhibitions always create limitations.

Happy Reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.

Indian Moral Fairy Tale | The Kind Apsara

Once upon a time, there lived a poor beggar. He had no one—no family, no friends. Alone, he used to walk miles and reach new villages he could. He seldom stayed there for a week. He collected alms to survive. He disliked begging, but he had no choice. 

He was malnourished and was a misfit for any kind of physical work. To collect alms without any job was a thing he hated to his core. Thus, he decided to sing and get alms. Whenever he sang, pedestrians seldom stopped and laughed at him. After a week, he embarked on another village. This was the way his life was going on. 

Once, he reached a temple on the outskirts of the village. He hadn’t managed to get decent food for a week. He drank water from the nearby river and sat on the temple premises.

He looked outside at sunset and realized the temple was located in a lovely spot. He shut his eyes and started taking the Lord’s name. He began singing hymns very passionately, engrossed.

Apsara Urvashi regularly visited this temple. The beggar was so engrossed in his singing that he didn’t notice Apsara’s arrival. Apsara offered prayers in the shrine. Beggar’s singing was so enchanting that it created a rush of spirituality and divinity within her. Finding solace in his singing, she visited the main premises to see the singer. She spotted the beggar and stood beside him.

After the beggar’s hymns were over, he opened his eyes. Surprised to see an Apsara standing in front of him. He couldn’t speak a word. He was so fascinated by her beauty.

Apsara offered him a gold coin, but he refused, ‘All day I beg for food, but I don’t want to be a beggar in a sacred place like this temple.’

Impressed by his humility, she asked him to sing for her. They walked to the riverside. The beggar started singing, and she danced. She gave the beggar a gold coin as a token of appreciation. The beggar accepted it and bought a small house in the village. Every full moon night, the beggar came to visit Apsara, sing for her and receive a gold coin. 

Soon, the beggar could afford a good life. The beggar gave himself a name—Bhima. He made friends in the village. He married a merchant’s daughter. He started enjoying life and continued meeting Apsara. No one knew his source of income. All the villagers could see that he was becoming more affluent and prosperous. Bhima’s wife never asked him about his source of income. She trusted him completely. Soon, he was blessed with a son. He named him Surya. 

After 20 years of living a good life, Bhima was lying on the deathbed. Fearing how to maintain the family’s lavish lifestyle, he confided in his son. Bhima told Surya about Apsara. He asked Surya to meet Apsara Urvashi on a full moon night. Bhima had been unwell for six months and hadn’t met Apsara since then. After offering payers, Apsara used to wait for him in the riverside and leave disappointed. Surya reached the riverside and was so enthralled seeing Apsara that he could not speak. Numbed by her presence, he could only regain his senses when she was gone. After reaching home, he told his father about the incident. Bhima asked him to go early the next full moon night. Next full moon night, Surya got on time. Apsara arrived, and she asked, ‘Who are you?’

‘I am Bhima’s son. Father is not well. I am here...’

Even before he could finish, Apsara interrupted him.

‘Oh, so you are here to collect gold coins from me,’ said Apsara.

‘No, I am here to present you something,’ said Surya, giving her a big piece of cloth.

She opened it and saw a beautiful painting of herself in a dance pose.

‘I was here last full moon night, I saw you, but I couldn’t meet you,’ said Surya sheepishly.

‘It is so beautiful,’ said Apsara, giving him a gold coin.

She asked him to get her painting every full moon night. Surya accepted the deal.

Surya, too, started enjoying his life and continued meeting Apsara. No one knew his source of income, but all the villagers could see that he was becoming richer and richer like his father.

Moral: Believe in your talents and nurture them well. God has a mysterious way to reward you.

Happy Reading!

Check out Nisha B Thakur's highly appreciated novel, The Unexpected Trail.