Long ago, in a great kingdom, there lived a king who had two queens. These queens were sisters, but the younger queen often looked at her elder sister with jealousy. One day, the king received wonderful news — the elder queen was expecting a child. The king was filled with joy, but the younger queen became anxious. She feared that the baby would become the rightful heir to the throne, not her own future child. “Dear King,” said the younger queen sweetly, “when my sister gives birth, please let me take care of her and her baby. I want to help her in her time of need.” The king agreed, pleased with her offer. Not long after, the elder queen gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.
As soon as the baby was born, the younger queen secretly took him away. She went to the river with the intention of throwing him in. But a fisherman saw her. “Please, Your Majesty,” he begged, “I have no children. Give the baby to me.” She handed him the child, but warned him to never tell anyone what had happened. When she returned to the palace, she told the king, “My sister gave birth to a sword.” Years later, the elder queen gave birth to twins — a boy and a girl. Again, the younger queen took them and gave them to the same fisherman. She then told the king that the queen had given birth to a stick and a broom. Believing these strange births to be misfortune, the king, in his sorrow, banished the elder queen from the palace.
The fisherman and his wife raised the three children as their own. The eldest prince, the twin prince, and the princess grew up happily in the fisherman’s home, never knowing their true identities. But one day, the king became very ill. As he lay weak in his bed, a nightingale came to his window and sang, “Oh King, you can be healed only by eating the petals of the sunpati flower.” The king immediately declared, “Whoever brings me the sunpati flower shall be greatly rewarded!” Hearing this, the fisherman told his children. The eldest prince decided to go in search of the flower.
The prince crossed hills and mountains, bravely battling monsters along the way. He was victorious until he came face to face with a ghost shaped like a skeleton. The ghost blew in his face—and the prince fainted, falling to the ground. Days passed, but he did not return. The younger prince asked his father’s permission to go find him. The fisherman allowed it, though he was worried. The second prince journeyed far, fought demons, and reached a strange mountain that opened and closed like a giant mouth. He tried to pass through, but was caught by the rocks and fainted as well.
Seeing her brothers had not returned, the princess stepped forward. “Father, I will find my brothers,” she said. “You are brave,” said the fisherman, “but they were strong, and they did not return.” “You taught me to be strong too,” said the princess. “I will bring them back.” She crossed seven hills and entered the forest, where she found her eldest brother unconscious. Demons attacked her, but she picked up her brother’s sword and fought them off with courage. Then, she reached the strange mountain. She found her twin brother lying at its foot. Using his stick, she climbed the mountain safely.
At the top, she reached a magical garden filled with colorful flowers and birds. She had no idea which flower was the sunpati. Just then, a nightingale appeared, singing on a tree by a lake. “Kind bird,” said the princess, “can you help me find the sunpati flower?” The bird replied, “The tree I sit on is a sunpati tree.” It plucked a flower and handed it to her. Then, the bird said, “Take this flower and the water from the lake. When you sprinkle it on your brothers, they will wake.” Then the bird told her the truth about her birth: “You and your brothers are the king’s children. The woman who raised you is not your real mother. You have passed the test.”
The princess hurried back and sprinkled the lake water on her twin brother. He awoke, and she told him everything. Together they reached the forest and found their older brother. The princess poured water on him too, and he woke with surprise. They returned to the palace. The people welcomed them with joy. The sunpati flower was given to the king, and soon his health returned. One day, the nightingale appeared in the palace again. “Oh King,” it said, “those who saved you are your own children. A wise king must use his own judgment, not just the words of others.” Realizing the truth, the king ordered the younger queen to be imprisoned for life. He brought back the elder queen with honor. Peace returned to the kingdom, and the royal family was finally together again.
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