| Description |
Translation (Seng Pan)
This story is about a poor boy, Na Htu Brang ( a boy who plows the rice field ). Once upon a time, there was a boy. He was poor and miserable. Since he was needy, he didn't have food to eat. And he didn't even have clothes to wear. He lived with his old mother. His father passed away on the day he was born. When the boy was young, the mother took all the responsibilities to take care of him. Since they were so poor, they couldn't even have rice. The mother went and dug taro in the forest. And they had taro instead of rice. The mother also picked the wild fruits like banana, papaya and sold in the village. As they lived that life, the boy became old enough to go to school. As the boy wore ripped clothes, his classmates and teachers looked down on him. He also couldn't afford to buy the books. He didn't have any books to study. The poor boy was born on the day his father passed away. On that day, a wealthy man gave him a name and a cow as a birthday present. So, the mother thought that the cow could breed many calves when her son was old enough to go to school. She planned to sell milk and pay his son's tuition fee. She had fed that cow for seven years. However, it hadn't bred any calves even when her son went to school. One evening, the boy went home crying really hard. "Mom! I'm so sad and shy. People look down on me at school," the boy cried. "Why are you crying so hard? What makes you feel sad?" the mother asked. "I'm so sad. I don't have the books to study. So, I can't do any assignments. I don't want to go to school anymore," the boy said and cried. The mother couldn't hold her tears too. And she spoke out what she had been thinking all the time. "Before, I had planned to sell milk and support you. However, our cow hasn't bred any calves. So, I couldn't find any other ways to support you. It's also hard to seek some vegetables in the forest and sell them in the rainy season. It's not easy to find even the cow food," the mother evinced. Since there was no food left for the cow, the mother said, "Dear, we should abandon this cow as it doesn't breed. Bring it to the forest and leave there." The boy brought the cow to a deep forest and tied the cow halter to a tree. By rubbing the cow's head, he said, "My mother and I really want to keep you at home. But, as you know, we are poor. So, it would be best if you depend on yourself from now on. Seek the food in this forest and stay here!" Then, he left unhappily. On his way back home, he saw a child who twisted his leg and fell in the trail of a cart. The boy couldn't find the guardian of the crying kid and felt sorry for him. Therefore, he brought the kid to his home. But his mother got so angry. "We don't even have the food to survive. How could you bring in a child? Take him back to where you found him. Or let him go where he wants. Hurry!" the mother scolded. "No, Mom. Our kindness would pay us back. Our love will return to us someday. And his injury should be healed right now. Let's share what we have. If we only can drink water, we should share water with him," the boy replied. Finally, the kid was allowed to stay there. So, on the days when the mother and son had nothing to eat, the kid was also there with an empty stomach. When they had food, they shared it together. One day, after the kid had got well, he left home while the mother and son were not at home. The kid was from the place near the forest where the boy abandoned the cow. And the kid lived there with his grandmother, a witch. At that time, the witches were excluded from society. People also believed that they would be bedevilled by the witches if they had eaten the food the witches prepared. So, the kid and his grandmother lived in a cottage in the deep forest. They relied upon the food they planted near their cottage. After quite a long time, the poor boy said, "Mom, I wonder where our cow is now." The mother replied, "Yeh. I think you should go and check." Then the boy went to the forest in order to check their cow. When he arrived there, the cow wasn't there anymore. So, he looked for it in the forest. It was getting dark. But he didn't find any clues of the cow, and there weren't also any people. Since the boy was scared of the dark, he shouted for help and cried loudly. Fortunately, he suddenly saw a twinkle of light. It was a big hint for him that there were people. Only then he could calm down. So, he walked there slowly. He found out the twinkle of light was from the house of the kid whom he brought home and his grandmother. When the kid saw him, he happily welcomed and explained to his grandmother, "Grandma, this person was the one who took care of me when I had got the injury. He is my friend." He spent a night there. In the house, he saw two calves. He was amazed at where the two calves came from in the middle of the deep forest. He was so curious. So, he asked, "Grandma, is the mother cow yours?" The grandmother answered, "No. We found it in the forest, and it was tied to a tree. I was worried that the robbers would take it. So, I brought it home. I have been hoping that its owner would appear one day. That's why I've kept it here. And it bred two calves." Then, the poor boy also explained to the grandmother that he and his mother were so poor, and they abandoned the cow since they couldn't feed it. "Dear, bring these two calves. When these calves become strong, let them pull the cart. And you can also take back your cow. When you get to your village, sell the cow and buy the cart. You will also be able to use the two calves in your farm," the witch grandmother said. The poor boy also followed what the witch grandmother said. He sold the mother cow in the market and bought a cart. After that, he let the two calves pull it. On his way back home, he heard the sound of a gong. At the same time, he heard the voice of the village head, who declared, "Villagers! Listen to me closely! Our Duke wants to plow and till his rice field, which he hasn't used for many years. He is recruiting some workers for it. And if someone could finish plowing and tilling his rice field a day, he's going to give a big reward." At night, the poor boy discussed it with his mother. "Mom. I think I should do that work," he said. Since the boy was still young, the mother was a bit worried and replied, "If you couldn't do as the Duke said, he would kill you, son. He is so cruel. It's easy for him to kill you." "But Mom, I wonder what kind of big reward he's planning to give. I should try," the boy denied his mother. The next day, he went to the Duke. He also brought his cows. When he met the Duke, he asked, "Duke. What is your big reward? I just need a day to finish your work." "Ha Ha. You are just a teenager. Are you teasing me? Don't make a joke. How could you plow my field just in a day? Just go back home!" the Duke replied. "No! Just watch me! I can do," the boy insisted. He also bought sharp tools to use in plowing the field. "Duke. Please keep your promise and watch me," the boy said. And he started plowing the Duke's rice field. The curious villagers were also there. At noon, the poor boy could plow two-third of the field. He'd just left one-third to finish. Since the Duke was a cruel man, he was worried that he had to reward the boy for whatever he wanted. So, the Duke called a hag to disturb the boy. The hag came near the boy and said, "Boy. Now it's just noon. You still have time. Come and sit down. You should take rest for a while." She also rubbed some paste on the boy's leg and head. It made him fall asleep. And it was getting dark. As the two cows realized that their master would be killed soon, they woke him up by pushing with their horns. When the boy woke up, the sun nearly went down. So, without hesitation, he plowed the field again. Luckily, he just took a short time to finish it. The villagers cheered him up with a big clap, and some played the instruments. At that time, the Duke also arrived back. Then, the boy said, "Duke. I plowed your rice field. What is your big reward?" The Duke asked, "What do you want?" "The person like you doesn't deserve to rule our village. Give me your position! I will take care of my people well from today," the boy replied. The Duke couldn't deny what he was asking for because of his previous promise. At last, the Duke gave his title to the boy. From that day on, the boy became a Duke and could live a wealthy life. He even ruled a town and many villages. Therefore, we should always try hard and never give up. We shouldn't make excuses for our conditions.
Transcription (Lu Awng)
Ya tsun na maumwi gaw matsan ma na htu brang a lam re. Re na she ndai ma dai grai matsan ai lam, moi kalang mi na ma langai mi wa she grai matsan mayen re ai da. Kade ram matsan ai nga yang, hpa nlu hpa nsha, hpa mung n bu hpun, ah shep ah lap i, labu palawng ni mung nlu ai da. Dan re na nga re shaloi shan nu dai hku nga, shi gaw hpa majaw shan nu ma dai matsan ai nga yang shi hpe shangai ai shani nan kawa gaw si mat ai da. Kawa si mat re shaloi gaw aw shan nu kan bau bungli gara hku tam sha na, shi mung naw kaji re jang gaw kanu gaw nam de sa na she nam nai le i, ndai hkai da ai pyi nre, nam nai ni htu htu di na she shat shadu jaw, n gu shat pyi n lu sha ai le, dai hku re na she sanghpaw si zawn re, langu si zawn re nam de tu ai baw ni hpe tam dut na she shan nu ni dai hku na nga ai da. Dai hku nga re yang, lani hte lani ma mung kaba wa re yang, jawng lung ten ma du wa ai da. Dai hku jawng lung ten du re shaloi gaw jawng sa rai jawng sa timmung labu palawng ma nlu ai, masha ni hte ma n bung ai, masha ni ma grai yu kaji ai, dai sha n ga na shi gaw laika buk ni ma nlu ai, shi laika buk hti na ma nlu ai da. Re na she, retim mung da hkan nu kaw gaw da shi shangai ai shani, kawa si ai shani le i, kawa si ai shani hte bung ai re majaw dai shani gaw da sahte langai mi gaw shi hpe mying ma shamying ya, re na she dumsu langai, dumsu kanu langai mi sa kumhpa jaw ai da. Retim mung dumsu kanu dai wa she shi nu myit da ai gaw ndai hku nga, aw dumsu kanu ndai kaning nga tim an nu matsan timmung ya shi jawng lung ten du wa shaloi gaw dumsu kanu ndai kasha lu na i, kanu rai wa yang gaw dumsu chyu shup na she shi na jawng jarik ni wa na re ngu na kanu gaw dai hku myit na myit ma da da ai da. Retim mung dumsu kanu dai hpe wa 7ning rem da ai da. 7ning rem da tim kasha wa n shangai wa hkraw re na ma gaw jawng lung sai da, jawng lung re yang gaw shi lana de mi kasha gaw jawng kaw na grai hkrap na wa ai da. Nu nu nga grai gaya ai, grai myit htum ai masha ni grai yu kaji ai, hpa majaw nga yang nsan shi ai shaloi kanu mung bai hkrap, ma nang da nang hpa majaw dai ram hkrap a ta? hpa baw myit n pyaw nga ta ngu yang she, e ngai da masha ni a yu kaji ai laika htu na laika buk ma nlu ai, sarama gaw sharin ya timmung ngai hpa nhti ai, dai majaw jawng ma nkam lung sai ngu na she shi gaw grai hkrap na she tsun ai da. Re yang gaw nre i, kanu gaw ma e re da, nu gaw nu mung grai myit da ai wa mi shi myit da ai hku bai tsun dan ai le. Ndai dumsu hpe ngai chyu shup na ma nang hpe shakung shapan laika sharin ya na ngu ai re wa da, retim dai ni gaw ndai dumsu gaw kasha mung nlu wa rai yang gaw kasha mung nyu re jang gaw kaning n chye di ai da. Re na she ya gaw yanam ta ma du wa yang gaw yanam ta marang ta nga yang gaw nam de i dai hku simaw simai tam dut na ma grai yak mat sai ngu da, grai yak na she dumsu kanu hpe u shat dan jaw na lam pa naw gaw grai yak mat ai ngu na dai hku ngu na tsun dan ai da. Tsun dan re jang gaw u shat yaw na nnga ai re majaw kanu gaw kaning bai ngu i nga kasha hpe e ma e kaning n chye di ai reng gaw ndai dumsu hpe ndun da saka, kasha mung n yu ai re majaw nam de mahtang wa tawn sa nu, nam mali de dumsu ndai hpe wa tawn sanu ngu na tsun ai da. Kasha mung e deng gaw mai sai ngu na she nam maling de sa na she dumsu hpe hpun langai mi kaw shi gaw gyit kau da ai da. Gyti kau da na she baw sha masawp kau da na she e nang hpe nta kaw woi nga mayu ai, retim an nu gaw matsan ai re majaw nang hpe gara hku nchye di, nang hkrai nang ndai nam kaw tam sha u ngu na dai hku ngu di na she tsun kau da na dumsu hpe baw sha masawp kau da na dumsu kanu hpe gyit kau da ai da. Dan na shi gaw grai myit n pyaw na wa re yang she, leng lam lahkyawk kaw wa she ma langai mi wa da lagaw gayaw na wa she dai kaw nga, rawt ma n jin ai le i, rawt ma njin re nga taw re jang she shi gaw ma ndai hpe gaw matsan mayen ya kade kasha re ma nchye, nye nta de woi wa na rengu na shaga mung atsawm chye nchye le i, ntsun dan chye ai le i, shi gara de nga ma nchye tsun dan re na woi wa re yang gaw grai pawt ai da. Ya an nu ni pyi naw sha na she ngu yang me, nang gaw ya dai bai woi wa sai, woi wa yang gaw lawan wa sa kau, lawan wa sa kau ngu ai da, shi gara kaw na re, lawan wa shangun kau gara hku retim lawan dat kau dat u ngu na tsun ai da. Retim mung kasha gaw nre ai da, tsawra myit ngu gaw shi na shi bai nhtang na shaman chyeju lu wa na ra ai nu e ndai naw shi hpe tsi shamai rai na annu hpa lu yang lu na, an nu hpa sha yang sha na nai ni sha sha sha na ngu na dai hku tsi na woi nga ai da. Shannu gaw dai hku tam sha re yang gaw ma dai mung shi mung jawng sa ma dai mung nre i nta madu yen nu nsha ai shani gaw shi mung dai hku nsha na kawsi hkam na nga ai da. Jaw sha ai shaloi gaw sha ai da, re yang she lanimi gaw shi gaw dai lagaw ni ma mai mat ai le, mai mat re na she yu dat re yang gaw shi gaw wa wa na myit rawng ai da, re yang she madu shan nu ma nnga re shaloi she wa mat ai da. Wa mat re yang gaw dai ma dai gaw kaning re na ma re i nga yang she dai mi na dai ma la kasha wa dumsu sa dun ai nam maling makau de nga she shan woi dwi kadwi hte nga da, kadwi gaw hpyi num re ai da. Hpyi su ai ni moi prat nga yang gaw jinghpaw ni gaw hpyi su ai ni hpe grai nra ai le. Hpyi den den ai law hpa law, shanhte shadu ai shat sha yang hpyi su ai law nga majoi gawt kau, moi prat nga yang gaw nre i, ndai samat grai machyi ai baw namlap ni nep na she dai hku di shangun re re gaw, hpyi su ai ni hpe gaw moi nga yang gawre yang she shanhte gaw nam de da kau she, shan woi dwi hkrai nga dai kaw shan woi dwi gaw nam de kadai nnga ai ginsum langai mi sha gap na galaw sha re na nga ai hku re nga. Dai na kashu re taw hku re nga, re yang she lani mi na gaw loi mi ma na re jang she la kasha dai gaw kanu hpe i nu an nu na dumsu kanu gaw gara hku wa re mat sai kun i ngu yang she, e re yaw bai sa yu u ngu sa yu ai da. Sa yu re yang she dumsu dai wa shi tawn da ai kaw nnga mat sai le. N nga mat re she, ma dai gaw dumsu tam da, tam tam na she jan mung du wa sai da yaw, nsin sin nam maling gaw rai, masha gaw nmu, tam na she shi gaw marawn na nsin sin wa ai majaw hkrit di na shi gaw grai hkrap kau sai da. Hkrap kau re yang she, ning mada dat yu yang wan wa ah tu chyip chyip re, ndai zawn re nam maling de masha mung nga nga ai i ngu na she shi gaw myit pyaw pyaw ngu na she sa wa yu ai da yaw, ning ngu sit wa yu yang she dai yen woi dwi a nta wa re taw ai da. Nta dai wa re taw she shang wa sa wa yu re yang ma dai wa she e sa wa rit, sa wa rit, kadwi hpe tsun, moi ngai hpe lagaw ni tsi shamai dat ya, ngai na jinghku she re nga ai, ndai jinghku la kasha she rai nga ai ngu na she hkap tau la ai da. Dai shana dai kaw yup na shi mung lu sha re, dai kaw wa dumsu kasha 2 wa she nga taw ai da. Dumsu kasha 2 wa nga taw re yang she shi gaw grai mau sai da. Dinggai dai e tsun she, ya ndai dumsu ah dwi ni na re i ngu she, e nre ai ngu da, dumsu ndai wa dai nam maling kaw dun taw nga re jang she, ah dwi sa yu yang gaw masha i n kaja ai lagu lagut ni nam hkawm ai ni mu yang la kau ya na hkrit na madu lani mi pru wa na ra ai ngu na ah dwi rem da ai re ngu da, ndai yi hkan na nam ni dan jaw di na rem da ai wa she da, dumsu kasha yu wa ai re, dumsu kasha lu wa ai re ngu na tsun ai da. Dan na she dai dinggai gaw kaning ngu i nga, shi gaw masha hpyisu ai nga tim myit grai kaja ai le i, dai she ma e ya nang dai hku matsan ai lam ni ma shi tsun dan ai le, dai majaw ndai de tawn da ai dumsu shat nlu jaw sha ai majaw shi gaw tsun dan she re jang gaw nang ndai dumsu kasha 2 hpe i leng dumsu di u, ndai dumsu kanu hpe gaw ya nang woi wa u, ndai yen nu ni hpe woi nna wa su, re na dumsu kanu hpe gaw gat kaw dut kau u, gat kaw dut kau na she dumsu leng mari la u yaw ngu da, dai she ndai dumsu kasha 2 hpe she nang na shawt na hku nang galaw u ngu na tsun ai da. Dan na she kaja wa shi gaw dinggai na ga madat na she sa sai da, gat kaw mari la na dumsu leng dun na she dumsu leng kaw dai dumsu kasha 2 hpe shakap na wa rai yang she, ga bau nsen na ai da yaw, bau nsen na du du du nga, bau dum she ga ndai gaw hpa baw nsen re kun ngu atsawm bai madat yang she, mare agyi wa she e mare masha ni dai ni yawng madat mu, anhte na ndai myo hpe up hkang ai du wa gaw da shi a hkauna hpe shaning grai na sai re majaw ndai hkauna hpe bai htu mayu ai nam grai yak mat sai re majaw ndai hpe bai na hkyen bai galaw na matu masha hpe shaga taw nga ai, ndai na hkyen ndai hpe lani mi hte ngut ai wa hpe gaw da shi shabrai kaba manu dan ai shabrai jaw na re ngu na marawn ai da. Dai na re jang she shana gaw kanu hpe tsun sai da, i ah nu e da ngai chyawm me dai sa htu na re sam ai, shi gaw kaji ma naw kaji ai le, ma shabrang kasha naw re she, kanu gaw i nrai na re lu, dai myo du wa nrai yang sat kau ai masha re lu, grai n kaja ai masha re nang yahkring gaw nang tsun ai hku shi hkauna hpe nlu htu yang shi sat kau na re lu ngu na tsun ai da. Retim shi gaw nre sa na re, hpa baw kumhpa mi she jaw na mi re ngu she shi gaw sa wa ai da. Dumsu dai woi na sa re yang gaw dai myo du wa hpe she san ai, gai nang hpa baw jaw na ngai ndai na na hkauna ndai hpe ngai htu na oh ra wa grai yu kaji ai le, shabrang kasha sha e nang zawn re dai ma nang zawn san ai wa hpa baw ngai hpe shala re i, ndai zawn re hkauna hpe me nang htu na nga, nang ngai hpe hkum shala lu da, ngai sat kau ai pyi katut na lawan wa u ngu da. Nre law yu da, ya ngai htu na ngu she, shi gaw na htu rai ni hpe na jawn ni hpe grai dai ai kaja ai hpe mari da ai le. Re jang htu na ngu na tsun sia da, deng nang sha ga sadi dung u, nang hpa baw jaw ai ngai la, dai kaw na gaw kei yawng ma yu sai da, mare masha ni ma yu she htu htu re jang she kaja wa jan rai ndu shani ka-ang re yang wa she nre i ndai htam 3 kaw na she 2 ram ngut sai da, kachyi mi sha ra mat sai le, jan ndu yang ngut hkyen sai da yaw, re yang gaw kei dai wa gaw myit n kaja ai re nga she ya ndai ma ndai kaja wa nan she ngut wa sai lu, ya re yang gaw shi hpe ngai ya ga sadi nga ai hte maren ngai gaw ra mara jaw na ngu da ai re wa ya gaw ngai jaw ra na sai ngu na n kaja ai myit rawng wa ai le. Dan na she shi gaw kaning re i nga she nat sara langai mi shaga na she shi hpe galaw kau shangun na matu shaga la ai da. Shaga la na she galaw shangun re she dai nat galaw ai ndai num dai wa she nat num dai kaw sa sai da, sa na she e shani ka-ang she ma e nang grai ba sai jahkring mi naw dung la u ngu na she dai kaw tsi ni chya ai le i, yup mat na matu tsi ni chya na she baw ni masawp ya di gaw yup mat sai da. Yup pyaw wa ai da yaw, jan she kanoi she shang wa sai da, jan shang wa she dumsu kasha 2 gaw nre i, shi na madu dai hpe sat ka na re ngu hpe shanhte chye ai majaw le dumsu dusat nga timmung i madu a ntsa gaw shanhte gaw sadi dung ai she kei shan 2 gaw grai yup pyaw taw ai hpe she nrung hte kahtawk, lagaw hte lahkat dai hku di na she agyng jasu la she hprang wa yang gaw kanoi she jan shang sai da, dai kaw na she oh nre sai ngu na she shi gaw bai rawt di na she kalang ta bai htu sai da, htu re yang she ngut mat ai da. Ngut mat jang gaw gai dai shaloi she dai myo kaw na du wa gaw sa na she yawng ngut sai nga gaw shawa masha ni ma yu taw ai le, re jang gaw lahpawk she breng nga na yawng dumsu pyi hte she re na yawng dung na yu she dai kaw gaw dai wa gaw nre i ya kaja wa ngut sai i, ngut sai gai nang na na ga sadi hte maren nang ngai hpe kumhpa kaba jaw na nga hpa baw jaw na ngu she shi gaw nang hpa baw ra ai ngu san ai da, nang hpa baw ra ai ngu san jang she, dai na htu brang gaw e nang zawn re masha gaw nang gaw ndai myo hpe up hkang sha na nang gaw myo hte n gying ndan ai wa re majaw dai aya hpe ngai hpe jaw kau rit, dai ni kaw na ngai ndai kaw na mung masha ni hpe ngai atsawm sha up hkang na re ngu na she shi tsun yang mi na shi ga sadi nga ai hte maren shi gaw n jaw yang ma nmai mat sai le i, shi gaw ndai du langai mung du langai ma re majaw myo hpe up ai wa re majaw ar nbyin sai ngu na she shi gaw dai hpe jaw kau ai da. Ah ya dai hpe jaw kau na she dai shani gaw shi gaw mung masha ni hpe e up hkang na me nga na she shi gaw grai sahte ai ma langai mi byin mat ai da. Myo hpe pyi naw up ai masha langai mi rai mat ai da. Kaja ai myit rawng ra ai ngu, shakut ra ai, kade yak timmung ngai e grai matsan ai ngu na nmai nga taw ai da, shakut ra ai da. |
