Harisarman: A Tale of Luck and Cleverness
Harisarman: A Tale of Luck and Cleverness
Adapted from Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs
A Desperate Situation
In a small village lived a Brahman named Harisarman. Despite his high caste, he found himself in dire circumstances—poor, unemployed, and struggling to feed his large family. Many believed his current troubles were the result of misdeeds in a previous life, now bearing bitter fruit.
With no other options, Harisarman wandered from place to place with his wife and children, begging for whatever they could get. Eventually, they arrived at a prosperous city where Harisarman managed to secure employment with a wealthy householder named Sthuladatta.
The arrangement seemed promising at first. Harisarman’s sons were assigned to tend Sthuladatta’s cattle and property, his wife became a household servant, and Harisarman himself worked as an attendant, living in a small dwelling near his master’s grand house.
The Overlooked Guest
One day, Sthuladatta’s household buzzed with excitement as preparations were made for his daughter’s wedding. The celebration drew many guests—friends of the bridegroom and various merrymakers from across the city. Harisarman eagerly anticipated the feast, hoping to enjoy the rich foods that would be served and perhaps bring some leftovers home to his family.
As the festivities continued and platters of ghee, meat, and delicacies circulated among the guests, Harisarman waited anxiously. Yet as the evening wore on, he realized with growing dismay that no one had thought to include him in the celebrations. While others ate their fill, he remained hungry and forgotten.
That night, returning to his wife with an empty stomach and wounded pride, Harisarman voiced his frustration. “It is because of my poverty and perceived foolishness that I am treated with such disrespect,” he lamented. “But I have an idea. I will pretend to possess knowledge of magic and divination. When you get the chance, tell Sthuladatta that I have these special abilities.”
The Missing Horse
Determined to prove his worth, Harisarman waited until everyone was asleep, then quietly took the horse on which his master’s new son-in-law had arrived. He hid the animal some distance away and returned unnoticed.
In the morning, the bridegroom’s party discovered the horse was missing. They searched everywhere, growing increasingly concerned about this ill omen on the day after the wedding. While Sthuladatta organized a search for the thieves, Harisarman’s wife approached him.
“My husband is a wise man,” she told Sthuladatta. “He is skilled in astrology and magical sciences. He can recover your horse if you ask for his help.”
Sthuladatta, desperate to resolve this embarrassing situation, summoned Harisarman at once.
“Yesterday I was forgotten,” Harisarman remarked pointedly, “but today, now that the horse is stolen, suddenly I am remembered.”
Sthuladatta apologized profusely. “I forgot you at the feast—please forgive me. Can you tell us who has taken the horse?”
With great ceremony, Harisarman drew elaborate diagrams in the dirt, making a show of deep concentration. Finally, he announced: “The horse has been placed by thieves along the southern boundary of your property. It is hidden there now, but they plan to move it at sunset. Go quickly before it’s taken farther away.”
Several men rushed to the location Harisarman had indicated and, to everyone’s amazement, found the horse exactly where he had said it would be. They returned leading the animal, praising Harisarman’s remarkable powers of divination.
From that day forward, Harisarman was regarded as a sage. Sthuladatta treated him with newfound respect, and his circumstances improved considerably.
The Royal Summons
As word of Harisarman’s supposed abilities spread, an opportunity arose that would either secure his future or lead to his downfall. A significant amount of gold and jewels had been stolen from the royal palace, and the thief remained unknown. Hearing of Harisarman’s reputation, the king summoned him to the palace.
Finding himself suddenly in a precarious position, Harisarman attempted to buy time. “I will tell you tomorrow,” he told the king, who then had him placed in a guarded chamber for the night.
Alone in his room, Harisarman grew increasingly anxious. His deception had brought him this far, but now he faced a challenge he could not possibly overcome through trickery.
A Fortunate Confession
Unknown to Harisarman, a palace maid named Jihva had stolen the treasure with her brother’s help. Hearing of the supposed wizard’s arrival, she grew terrified that her crime would be discovered. That night, she crept to the door of Harisarman’s chamber to listen for any indication of what he might know.
Inside, Harisarman was berating himself for his foolishness. “Oh, Tongue,” he lamented, addressing himself, “what have you done with your greedy boasting? Wicked one, you will soon receive the punishment you deserve!”
When Jihva heard this—not realizing he was simply talking to himself—she assumed he had somehow divined her identity. The name “Jihva” means “tongue” in Sanskrit, and she believed he was addressing her directly through some magical insight.
Panicking, she entered his chamber and fell at his feet. “Brahman, it is I, Jihva, whom you have discovered as the thief of the treasure,” she confessed. “After taking it, I buried it in the garden behind the palace, under a pomegranate tree. Please spare me! I will give you the small amount of gold I kept for myself.”
Harisarman, astonished by this stroke of luck, maintained his composure. “Depart,” he said with dignity. “I know all this already—the past, present, and future are open to me. I will not denounce you since you have sought my protection, but you must return whatever gold you have kept.”
The maid agreed and quickly left. Alone again, Harisarman marveled at his extraordinary good fortune. “Who would have thought that when calamity seemed so near, chance would bring such success?” he wondered. “While I was blaming my own tongue, the thief named Tongue threw herself at my feet! Truly, secret crimes reveal themselves through fear.”
The Final Test
The next morning, Harisarman led the king to the garden and pointed out the pomegranate tree. When the king’s men dug beneath it, they discovered the stolen treasure, just as Harisarman had “divined.” The king was impressed and rewarded him with the revenue from several villages.
However, the royal minister, Devajnanin, was suspicious. He whispered to the king, “How could anyone possess such knowledge without studying books of magic? I suspect he has secret connections with thieves. We should test him once more.”
The king agreed and brought forward a covered pitcher. “Brahman,” he said to Harisarman, “if you can guess what is in this pitcher, I will honor you even more greatly today.”
Harisarman’s heart sank. He believed his luck had finally run out and that his deception would be exposed. In his distress, he recalled the pet name his father had given him as a child—”Froggie.” Lamenting his fate, he sighed and said aloud, “This is a fine pitcher for you, Froggie; it will soon become the swift destroyer of your helpless self.”
To his amazement, the court erupted in applause. “A great sage indeed!” they murmured. “He even knows about the frog!”
Harisarman realized that, by incredible coincidence, the king had placed a frog in the pitcher as his test. The king, convinced of Harisarman’s supernatural abilities, rewarded him lavishly with the revenue from more villages, gold, an umbrella (a symbol of status), and various state carriages.
And so, through a combination of cunning, courage, and extraordinary good fortune, Harisarman rose from poverty to prosperity, securing a comfortable future for himself and his family.
This tale reminds us that sometimes fortune favors the bold, and that a quick wit combined with good luck can transform even the most desperate circumstances.
