Three Riddles

Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time, there lived an idle youth named Ananth. He did nothing but roam the forests all day, eating berries and wild fruits. One day, he picked up a peanut from the ground and thought that he would plant it in his garden. He envisioned a bountiful harvest of peanuts to sell for profit, so much so that he would eventually need a ship to export them abroad. To achieve this, he would have to ask the king for assistance.

The Ogre’s Challenge

As he wandered through the forest, an ogre suddenly emerged from a tree and confronted him. The ogre growled menacingly and asked, “Man, where are you going?”

Unfazed, Ananth replied, “I have important things to export abroad. I’m heading to the king to request a ship.”

The ogre smirked and said, “Do you see that castle over there? That’s mine. In three days, I’ll come to the king’s castle and present you with three riddles. If you solve them, you can have my castle and all my wealth. If you fail, I’ll gobble you up. What do you say?”

Ananth agreed to the challenge and continued on his way.

An Unexpected Invitation

Soon, he stood before the king and repeated his request. The boldness of his request impressed the king, who mistakenly thought Ananth was a wealthy man in disguise, given his shabby clothes. The king asked, “Fellow, you look so poor. How can I believe you are a rich man?”

Ananth replied, “Sire, don’t mind my attire today. Tomorrow, I’ll return in fine clothing.”

The king was not satisfied with this response and wanted to test him further. He invited Ananth to stay in the palace that night, secretly ordering a hard bed and rough mattress to be prepared for him. He also instructed his royal spy to keep watch over Ananth while he slept.

The King’s Observations

The next morning, the spy reported to the king, “Sire, this young man hardly slept; he kept tossing and turning on the bed.”

The following night, Ananth was given a sumptuous satin and soft bed. The spy reported again, “Sire, the young man slept soundly.”

Now convinced that Ananth was an eccentric and wealthy young man, the king impulsively arranged for his only daughter, Shalini, to marry him.

A Troubling Threat

Unbeknownst to everyone, Ananth had lost the peanut he intended to plant during his first night, and thus he had spent the whole night searching for it. On the next night, fatigue overcame him, allowing him to sleep peacefully. The king, however, believed Ananth was simply accustomed to luxurious living.

After the marriage, Ananth remembered the ogre’s threat and became anxious about the approaching riddles. Noticing his restlessness, the princess asked what troubled him, but he remained silent.

Finally, the princess confided in her old nurse, weeping over Ananth’s strange behaviour. The old woman vowed to help and approached Ananth.

The Old Nurse’s Plan

“What ails you, young master, that you do not speak to the princess, your wife?” she inquired.

Ananth finally revealed his concern about the ogre and the riddles.

“Is that all?” the old woman exclaimed. “I know a thousand riddles and more! Let the ogre come. We’ll handle him.”

She instructed Ananth to stay in a dark room, bolting the door from the inside while they awaited the ogre’s arrival.

The Riddles Unraveled

Three days later, at midnight, the ogre arrived and knocked on the door, where a trembling Ananth awaited.

“Are you there, man?” the ogre called. “Yes, I’m here. Speak your riddles. If I can’t answer, break down the door and eat me,” Ananth replied bravely.

The old woman whispered the answer to Ananth, who responded, “Oh! You mean the flowers of the plantain tree.”

Again, with the help of the nurse, Ananth replied, “It is a snail.”

Victory and Fortune

Remembering the ogre’s castle, Ananth told the king he intended to return home. The king, still sceptical about his son-in-law’s fortune, accompanied the couple to Ananth’s new palace. To his great surprise, he discovered treasures beyond measure within Ananth’s castle, treasures unlike any in his own kingdom. All his doubts vanished, and he took pride in his son-in-law, who was indeed the richest man in the land.