| Description |
Translation (Nbanpa Rita Seng Mai & Keita Kurabe)
This is the story of “The Rat and the Snake.” Long ago, a mother snake and her child lived happily together. One day, the mother snake had to go out, so she said to her child, “Sweetie, I'm going to visit some relatives.” “Don't go anywhere, alright?” “Stay at home, okay?” Saying that, she left. After the mother left, the young snake did as he was told and stayed at home. But as time passed, he became very bored. As he looked outside, he heard a bird singing beautifully. Drawn in by the pleasant song, he followed the bird. The bird gradually flew deeper into the forest. The young snake ended up very far from home, and couldn't find his way back. Just then, a man who caught snakes to sell them found the young snake, put him in a snake basket, and took him to a small hut by a field. There were many rats in the hut, so the man also caught one rat using a trap. Then the man said, “Hmm, this snake I caught is still a bit small.” “I'll feed it this rat and sell it once it's bigger.” Saying that, he put the rat into the basket with the snake. The young snake was very hungry, and when he saw the rat, he wanted to eat it very badly. But the rat said, “Hey, little snake friend, please don't eat me!” “If you spare my life,” “I'll help you get out of this basket.” Though the young snake was starving and wanted to eat the rat, he held back and agreed to the rat's proposal. The rat, just as promised, chewed on the basket all night long, and by morning, made a hole big enough for both of them to escape. They slipped out quietly, so the man wouldn't hear them, and ran away. The snake was very grateful to the rat and said, “Please come to our home.” “My mother is probably very angry at me.” The rat replied, “Sure,” “I'll explain to your mother what happened,” and went with the snake to his home. When they arrived, the mother snake was angry that her child had disobeyed her. The young snake told her how he had gotten lost following the bird's song, how he had been caught by a human, and how the rat had saved him. The rat also explained what had happened, and the mother snake, grateful that the rat had saved her child's life, treated him to plenty of food. Then the rat went back home. And so, the mother and child snake lived happily once again.
Transcription (Lu Awng & Sumlut Gun Mai)
Ya tsun dan na maumwi gaw "Yu Hte Lapu A Lam" nga ai re. Moi shawng de, lapu yan nu gaw grai pyaw let nga ma ai da. Lani mi na nhtoi hta lapu kanu gaw hkawm sa ra ai majaw, kasha hpe "Ma e, Anu wo jinghku ni hpang de sa ra ai majaw naw hkawm na." "Nang gara de mung hkum sa yaw." "Nta kaw sha nga u yaw," ngu htet da nna hkawm mat wa ai da. Dai zawn kanu hkawm mat wa ai shaloi lapu kasha gaw kanu htet da ai hte maren nta kaw sha nga ai wa grai na wa ai shaloi gaw grai lagawn wa ai hte nta hku kaw na shinggan de mada yu dat yang, u langai mi mahkawn grai pyaw hkra hkawn taw ai hpe na dat ai da. Lapu kasha mung mahkawn grai madat pyaw let u na hpang hkan nang ai ngu yang, let hte let u gaw nam maling kata de shang mat wa ai hte shi na nta hte grai tsan ai de du mat nna nta mung n chye wa mat wa ai. Shi dai zawn lam dam nga yang, lapu rim dut sha sha re ai la langai mi gaw shi hpe rim la nna lapu bang ai ka kaw bang rai nna, dai la wa gaw shi na yi wa de gun wa ai da. Yi wa kaw gaw yu ni mung grai nga ai majaw, dai la wa gaw yu chyinghtep ni hpe hkam da ai kaw yu langai mi hpe lu rim la ai da. Dai shaloi dai la wa gaw "Um... ngai rim wa ai lapu mung loi naw kaji ai majaw," "ndai yu shan jaw sha na kaba wa yang she dut sha na re," ngu nna shi lu rim ai yu hpe lapu kasha hpe rim rawng da ai ka kata de bang dat ya ai da. Dai shaloi lapu kasha gaw grai kaw si nga ai hte yu hpe mu ai shaloi gaw grai sha mayu wa ai da. Rai tim yu gaw, "E, Hkau lapu kasha e, ngai hpe hkum sha yaw." "Nang ngai hpe asak shalawt ai rai yang," "ndai nang hpe rawng da ai ka kaw na lawt lu hkra galaw ya na," ngu tsun ai shaloi, lapu kasha mung grai kaw si nna yu hpe grai sha mayu ai rai tim sharang kau ai hte yu tsun ai ga hpe madat ai da. Yu mung lapu hpe jaw ai ga sadi hte maren, shana tup dai ka hpe kawa baw ai hte jahpawt rai wa yang she shan lahkawng lu pru na daram law ai ahku lu kawa baw la ai hte wo ra la wa mung n na hkra yet sha hprawng pru mat wa ai da. Dai shaloi lapu mung yu hpe grai chyeju dum ai hte "Anhte nta wa ga i?" "Nye nu mung ngai hpe grai pawt nga na sai," ngu tsun yang, yu mung "Mai sa." "Na nu hpe ngai gara hku byin ai lam tsun dan ya na," ngu tsun nna lapu na nta de hkan nang ai da. Nta de du ai shaloi lapu kanu gaw lapu kasha hpe ga n madat ai majaw pawt na daru ai shaloi, lapu kasha mung u mahkawn grai madat pyaw let hkan nang ai majaw dam mat nna masha rim la ai lam hte yu wa shi hpe hkye la ai lam tsun dan, yu mung byin ai lam ni bai tsun dan rai nna, lapu kanu gaw shi a kasha a asak hpe hkye ya ai yu hpe grai chyeju dum ai hte lu sha ni law law jaw sha dat rai nna yu mung shi nta de bai wa mat wa ai da. Lapu kanu yan mung grai pyaw let matut nna bai nga pra sa mat wa ai da. |
