कमला की परीक्षा
Summary
A poor farmer named Haricharan loses his two old bullocks to illness, leaving him unable to plow his fields. His daughter, Kamla, suggests he go to the wealthy landlord Sevaksingh, who offers a reward of ten thousand gold coins to anyone who can solve a riddle. The riddle involves a girl engaged to three men—one by her mother, one by her brother, and one by her father. On her wedding night, she is bitten by a snake and dies. One groom dies on her funeral pyre, the second renounces food and water, and the third uses a magical mantra to revive both the girl and the first groom. Kamla correctly answers that the girl belongs to the groom who renounced food and water, as the one who revived her is like a father, and the one who died with her is like a brother. Impressed, Sevaksingh offers to marry Kamla to his son, Prabhakar. Despite Prabhakar’s opposition, the marriage occurs. Prabhakar, wanting revenge, throws Kamla into a well and leaves for a foreign land, saying she must have three sons by his return or remain in the well forever. Kamla escapes through a tunnel to her father’s home and follows Prabhakar in disguise as a flower seller. She bears him three sons and eventually returns to the well with them. When Prabhakar returns and learns of four people in the well, he suspects infidelity. He orders them brought up, only to find Kamla with his three sons. She reveals the truth, and Prabhakar makes her the mistress of the house.
Conclusion
The story demonstrates that intelligence and courage can overcome even the most difficult circumstances. Kamala’s cleverness not only saved her family from poverty but also transformed her husband’s hostility into respect. Her ability to solve the zamindar’s riddle brought wealth and a prestigious marriage, while her quick thinking in the face of imprisonment ensured her survival and eventual triumph. The tale reinforces that a wise person remains steadfast and resourceful, turning challenges into opportunities. Ultimately, Kamala’s success led to her becoming the mistress of the household, and her husband reformed his ways. The narrative also subtly highlights the value of inner purity and ethical conduct, suggesting that true prosperity comes from wisdom and moral strength rather than mere wealth.