| Description |
Translation (Nbanpa Rita Seng Mai & Keita Kurabe)
This is the story of “The Grateful Bird.” Long ago, there lived two men named Brang Zet and Brang Awng. They were close friends. Brang Zet was a gentle man with a warm heart, kind to every creature. But Brang Awng disliked animals, and whenever he saw one, he would strike it or kick it without mercy. One day, as the two walked through the forest, they found a small bird lying on the ground with a broken wing. Brang Awng, who hated animals, tried to crush the bird under his foot, but Brang Zet quickly scooped it up, carried it home, and nursed it with great care. When the bird recovered its strength, he set it free. The bird was deeply grateful to Brang Zet, and it offered him watermelon seeds as a gift. Brang Zet planted the seeds carefully in the soil, and watered it every day without fail. Soon the watermelon plant grew quickly, and before long, it bore a fine fruit. When Brang Zet happily cut the watermelon open, he found it filled with gold, and he became rich at once. When Brang Awng saw that his friend had become wealthy, he asked, “How did you manage to get so rich?” Since they were close friends, Brang Zet told him about the seed the bird had given him. He explained how he had become wealthy. But Brang Awng grew jealous, and went out to search for the same bird. He found the bird and shot it with his slingshot. When it fell with a broken wing, he picked it up and said, “Give me a watermelon seed too.” “If you don't, I'll kill you.” With those threats, he carried the bird home and tended to it. When the bird regained its strength, it handed a watermelon seed to Brang Awng as well. He planted the seed, and when a watermelon finally grew, he rejoiced, thinking he would soon be rich, and cut it open. But inside there was no gold, only a swarm of bees that burst out, and stung him all over his body. In terrible pain, Brang Awng collapsed and died. And so, you must never let jealousy or evil thoughts take root in your heart.
Transcription (Lu Awng & Sumlut Gun Mai)
Ya tsun dan na maumwi gaw "Chyeju Htang Ai U A Lam" nga ai re. Moi shawng de, kahtawng langai mi hta Brang Zet hte Brang Awng ngu ai, grai hkau hkat ai manang yan nga ma ai da. Brang Zet gaw dusat ni hpe grai tsaw ra chye ai. Brang Awng gaw dusat ni hpe n ra ai sha n-ga, dusat ni hpe mu yang mung htawng dat, kayat dat rai nna chye galaw ai wa re da. Lani mi na nhtoi hta shan lahkawng nam de hkawm ai shaloi, u langai mi singkaw daw nna lam kaw taw nga ai hpe mu ai. Dai shaloi, Brang Awng gaw dusat ni hpe n ju ai hte maren, kanoi pyi kabye sat kau ai rai tim, Brang Zet gaw alawan gang kau nna she u dai hpe atsawm sha nta de pawn la wa nna, tsi ni atsawm tsi ya ai hte mai tsai wa ai shaloi gaw u dai hpe shapyen kau dat ai. Dai majaw, u dai gaw Brang Zet hpe chyeju dum ai hte ginshau si tum langai mi kumhpa jaw ai da. Brang Zet mung u jaw da ai ginshau tum hpe atsawm sha ga kaw hkai nna hka ni jaw ya ya re ai shaloi gaw dai ginshau hpun gaw kaba wa ai hte asi si ya ai. Brang Zet mung ginshau si sha na matu kabu gara ga dat ai shaloi gaw ginshau si kata kaw ja ni mahtang rawng taw nna grai lu su mat ai da. Dai zawn rai nna manang Brang Zet grai lu su wa ai hpe mu ai Brang Awng gaw "Hpa majaw lu su wa ai rai?" ngu nna san ai shaloi Brang Zet mung grai hkau ai manang re hte maren, shi tsi tsi ya ai u jaw kau da ai ginshau tum kaw na asi kaw ja rawng ai majaw lu su wa ai re lam tsun dan ai. Dai shaloi, Brang Awng mung manawn ai hte myi na u hpe hkan tam la nna, akaja sha rai nga ai u hpe she shi nan lahpaw hte gap dat nna, singkaw daw nna hkrat wa ai shaloi gaw u dai hpe hta la nna she, "Ngai hpe ginshau tum jaw ra ai yaw." "N rai yang sat kau na," ngu jahkrit nna she nta de woi wa nna tsi tsi ya ai da. Tsi tsi mai wa ai shaloi gaw u mung kaja sha Brawng Awng hpe ginshau tum langai mi jaw kau da ai. Brang Awng mung dai atum hpe hkai nna asi si wa ai shaloi gaw, kabu gara she shi mung lu su sana re ngu myit nna dai ginshau si hpe ga dat ai shaloi gaw, ja n rawng taw ai sha, dai ginshau si kata kaw na lagat ni pru wa nna she shi hpe hkum ting na ya ai hte grai machyi nna dai kaw nan galau si mat wa ai da. Dai majaw, manawn masham ai myit, n hkru ai myit n mai rawng ai da. |
