പുരാതന സംസ്കൃതനാടകം രത്നാവലി ആസ്പദമാക്കി
In today’s tale from the Sanskrit classic “Retnavali” by King Harsha, we travel to the ancient world of kingdoms, sea voyages, and fateful disguises.Retnavali, the noble princess of Simhala, is betrothed to the distant King Udena. But destiny tests her courage when her ship wrecks in the stormy sea. Rescued by a merchant, she reaches Udena’s kingdom—unrecognized, disguised as a humble maiden named Sagarika.In the palace, fate weaves a web of love, confusion, and destiny. Udena, unaware of her true identity, falls in love with this mysterious girl, while his queen—Retnavali’s own cousin—struggles with jealousy and suspicion.Through moments of romance, revelation, and royal drama, the truth unfolds—revealing Retnavali’s strength, virtue, and destiny as queen.Join me to hear this poetic and powerful story of love, identity, and fate from India’s golden age of Sanskrit drama.
In this episode, we journey into the ancient legend of Sukanya, the brave and compassionate princess whose life changed with a single innocent mistake. Near her palace lived Sage Chyavana, so deep in meditation that an anthill formed around his body. While playing in the forest, young Sukanya mistook two glowing eyes within the anthill for fireflies—and accidentally blinded the sage.Her mistake brought misfortune upon the kingdom, and to restore peace, Sukanya boldly chose to marry the old, blind ascetic and live with him in the forest.What follows is a moving tale of duty, purity, temptation, and divine grace. When the radiant Ashwini Devas tried to entice Sukanya, her loyalty remained unshaken. Impressed by her virtue, the celestial twins restored Chyavana’s sight and youth, but only after testing Sukanya’s devotion through a divine trial.This story reveals how inner strength, integrity, and devotion can change destiny itself. Join this episode for a powerful retelling of love, sacrifice, and spiritual reward.
In today’s heart-touching story, we meet a gentle, spotted deer who is about to give birth in the middle of a quiet forest path. Kind travelers — a farmer, a mason, and others — help her build a humble little home, piece by piece, so she can raise her fawns safely.But peace doesn’t last long. One day, when the mother deer leaves to graze, a wicked wolf comes knocking. The fawns remember their mother’s words — “Don’t open the door for anyone.”With the help of a saffron plant growing outside, they resist the wolf’s tricks. But the cunning wolf finds a way to fool them, leading to a tragic twist.What follows is a story of motherly courage, the victory of goodness, and nature’s magical protection.Join me for this emotional forest tale of love, danger, and the clever saffron plant — a story that shows how truth and purity always triumph over deceit.
In this captivating tale of intelligence, destiny, and justice, we follow Aushadha Kumaran — a blessed child adopted by the king of Vaideha and raised within the royal palace. Even as a young boy, Aushadha Kumaran’s sharp mind astonishes everyone. When the courtiers mistake a glittering reflection in the royal pond for a hidden jewel, and the wicked minister Shenaka misguides the king into draining the entire pond, it is Aushadha Kumaran who uncovers the truth: the jewel lies in a crow’s nest high on a palm tree.Shenaka’s jealousy grows, but destiny brings another twist. A young woman, abandoned cruelly by her husband, is rescued by the king and becomes Queen Audhumbara Devi.
he Pious Cat – The Tale of Poocha Sanyasi
In this delightful folk tale, we follow the misadventures of a greedy cat who sneaks into a farmer’s house to steal curd. When the pot breaks and its rim gets stuck around his neck, the cunning cat transforms his accident into a grand lie — claiming it is a holy necklace from Kedar and that he is a great saint, the Poocha Sanyasi. Along the way, an innocent peacock, dove, and rat become his loyal disciples, believing his false spiritual journey to the Ganga. But the truth surfaces when the cat reveals his cruel intentions during the night. Just as danger closes in, fate intervenes in the form of a dog, saving the three helpless disciples.
This episode explores innocence, deception, greed, and the triumph of truth — all wrapped in humour and adventure. Perfect for children and families who love meaningful yet entertaining stories!
n this episode, we dive into the dramatic and emotional world of the Tamil play Manonmaniyam, the timeless tale of Princess Manonmani of the Pandya kingdom.King Jeevaka, the Pandya ruler, is gentle but weak, depending on his wise guru Sundara for guidance. But when the guru leaves on a pilgrimage, the wicked minister Kudila and his equally wicked son seize the opportunity. They twist the king’s decisions and mislead the kingdom for their own selfish plans.Under their influence, King Jeevaka shifts his capital from Madurai to Thirunelveli, and Kudila tries to force Princess Manonmani to marry his own son. When Guru Sundara returns, he advises the king to form an alliance through marriage with the noble Chera king, Purushottama. But Kudila again interferes. He secretly sends his son as a false messenger to the Chera court, where he rudely declares that the Pandya king is preparing for war.This sparks a terrible battle between the Chera and Pandya armies. In the chaos, Kudila and his son betray their own king by dividing the army. King Jeevaka is struck by an arrow and left for dead — but his loyal elephant rescues him and carries him to the guru’s ashram.Under Guru Sundara’s care, the king regains his strength. Truth finally triumphs. The evil minister and his son are punished for their treachery. And in a joyful ending, Princess Manonmani marries King Purushottama, uniting two great kingdoms and restoring peace.This story teaches us that betrayal may shake a kingdom, but righteousness, wisdom, and courage always win in the end.
In this episode, we explore an ancient tale of devotion, destiny, and justice. A righteous king receives a divine necklace with a deadly warning: anyone who tries to repair it will die instantly. When the queen accidentally breaks it, a poor, elderly goldsmith bravely steps forward, knowing the fate that awaits him.After repairing the necklace, he dies instantly—yet the king refuses to reward his grieving sons. What follows is a remarkable journey of reincarnation, sacrifice, and divine intervention. The goldsmith is reborn as a monkey, determined to help his sons receive the justice they deserve. Through twists of fate and the guidance of a holy ascetic, the truth eventually comes before the king—leading to repentance, forgiveness, and the long-delayed reward.This timeless story reveals how righteousness prevails, how actions return to us, and how justice finds its way even through extraordinary circumstances.
n this hilarious and clever folktale, we meet a tiger who is as foolish as he is fierce. One day, frightened by the way a father warned his son about “the tiger,” the confused animal hid inside a shed in the village — not knowing that he was the very creature they were talking about!Soon, four thieves arrived after a big robbery, carrying a huge treasure that was too heavy for them. In the darkness, they mistook the trembling tiger for a bullock. They loaded the treasure on his back, tied it tightly, and led him through the forest. On the way, they realized the horrible mistake — it was a tiger, not a bullock! Terrified, they ran for their lives.The poor tiger, shocked and burdened with the treasure, ran into the forest and got stuck between two trees. A kind shepherd rescued him, freed him from the ropes, and took the treasure home. Soon, the shepherd and his family became prosperous and happy.But the foolish tiger returned, suspecting the shepherd had tricked him. He took the shepherd away to kill him. At that moment, the shepherd’s wife — sharp, quick, and fearless — used her wit to outsmart the tiger and save her husband.This story reminds us that strength may frighten, but cleverness always wins — and even the fiercest creature can be fooled by human intelligence.
In this moving episode, we revisit a lesser-known but deeply powerful story from the Mahabharata — a story that shows the compassion hidden within divine destiny.As preparations for the Kurukshetra war began, elephants were used to clear the forest to create the battlefield. In this destruction, a mother bird and her two tiny chicks lost their home when their nest fell from a tree. Helpless and frightened, the mother bird flew to Krishna, who was surveying the battlefield with Arjuna. She pleaded for her children’s lives.Krishna gently explained that fate cannot be altered — if they were destined to perish, they would. But the little bird, filled with pure devotion, surrendered the life of her children at Krishna’s feet, trusting Him completely. Krishna remained silent, and the bird flew away with faith.On the eve of the great battle, Krishna did something unexpected: He asked Arjuna for his bow and arrow. Though Krishna had promised not to fight in the war, Arjuna handed it over. Krishna shot an arrow at an elephant — but instead of striking the animal, it hit only the bell on the elephant’s neck, knocking it down. Arjuna thought it was a miss, and the moment passed.Eighteen days later, after the war ended, the battlefield was filled with the fallen — men, animals, and shattered weapons. Krishna asked Arjuna to lift a bell lying on the ground. When Arjuna picked it up, he discovered the mother bird and her four chicks alive beneath it. Krishna’s single action — shooting down the bell — had formed a shield that protected the family throughout the entire war
In this delightful episode, we travel to Bengal to meet the legendary Gopal the Jester — a man whose wit could outsmart kings, misers, and even thieves! Known for his clever jokes and thought-provoking humor, Gopal was not just a jester but a wise man who used laughter to teach valuable lessons.
In this episode, Asha Teacher brings you five amusing stories about Gopal’s wit and wisdom:
This hilarious folktale tells what happens one strange night when a thief and a tiger accidentally meet at the same house — both trying to steal a cow! An old woman’s innocent words create a big misunderstanding, and the result is a night full of confusion, laughter, and surprise.
A funny village story that teaches us how fear and misunderstanding can lead to the most unexpected adventures. Tune in and laugh along with Story Time with Asha Teacher!
In this episode, we journey into the life of the great sage Agastya, known for his wisdom, humility, and divine strength. Through three remarkable stories, we discover how he shaped the world with his actions.
In the first story, Agastya sees his ancestors’ souls hanging from a tree, unable to attain moksha because he had not married or produced an heir. Moved by their suffering, the sage creates a girl with divine qualities from nature’s essence. This child, raised by the King of Vidarbha, later becomes his wife Lopamudra — a union of intellect and grace.
In the second story, Agastya seeks wealth to fulfill his wife’s wish for a home. Through wit and divine power, he defeats a deceitful Asura who tricks Brahmins and wins great riches — showing that true wisdom always overcomes evil.
And in the third story, we witness the sage’s might and humility as he brings down the arrogant Vindhya mountain and even drinks up the ocean to destroy the Asuras hiding within it.
These tales remind us that true power lies in balance — of knowledge, compassion, and purpose
In this episode, we dive into the enchanting world of Abhijnana Shakuntala, the immortal Sanskrit play by the great poet Kalidasa. It is a tale of love, destiny, and divine reunion.
Shakuntala, the gentle daughter of sage Vishwamitra and the celestial nymph Menaka, grows up in the peaceful forest hermitage of Sage Kanva. One day, King Dushyanta arrives while hunting and meets Shakuntala. Their eyes meet, and a tender love blossoms. The two marry in secret through the Gandharva custom, and Dushyanta gives her a royal ring as a token of remembrance.
But fate plays a cruel trick — the sage Durvasa, angered when Shakuntala fails to greet him lost in her thoughts of love, curses her that the one she dreams of will forget her. Only when Dushyanta sees the ring again will he remember her.
When Shakuntala travels to the palace, she loses the ring in a river — swallowed by a fish. Dushyanta, unable to recognize her, turns her away. Heartbroken, Shakuntala vanishes into divine care. Later, when the lost ring is found, Dushyanta’s memory returns, and he repents deeply. In the end, guided by fate and the gods, he reunites with Shakuntala and their little son Bharata, the future emperor of India.
This timeless story reminds us that true love, though tested by time and fate, always finds its way back
#Folk-Tale, Kadha
On a cold winter’s day, a clever little fox set out in search of a warm fire — but what she found instead was a series of clever tricks and wild adventures! From stealing a dumpling and trading it for a calf, to building a sledge and outsmarting a foolish wolf, the fox’s wit shines through every twist and turn. But when the greedy wolf ruins her fun, the fox finds a cunning way to take her revenge!
A charming folktale filled with mischief, wit, and winter magic — perfect for listeners who love tales where cleverness wins the day!
In this enchanting Russian folktale, join Prince Ivan on a thrilling adventure filled with mystery, magic, and courage. When a dazzling fire bird begins stealing golden apples from the royal garden, Ivan sets out to capture it. Guided by a wise and loyal wolf, he faces a series of daring challenges — from stealing a golden-maned horse to rescuing the beautiful Princess Elena. But every choice has its test, and every mistake brings a new twist! Will Ivan’s heart and bravery lead him to triumph?
A captivating tale of trust, temptation, and triumph — perfect for dreamers and story lovers of all ages.
This episode unfolds the divine legend of the sacred River Godavari — a story of devotion, jealousy, and redemption. Sage Gautama and his wife Vaheliya lived a life of virtue, blessed by the gods with an ever-flowing well. But when jealousy took root in the hearts of other sages, Lord Ganesha tested Gautama’s purity through the guise of a divine cow. Struck by guilt after the cow’s death, Gautama sought forgiveness through deep penance to Lord Shiva. Moved by his devotion, Lord Shiva released the celestial River Ganga through his matted hair — giving birth to the sacred River Godavari, the river of compassion and cleansing.
Listen to this mythic tale that flows with faith, penance, and divine grace.
Once upon a time, in a quiet village, lived a cheerful boy named Bhola with his three loyal pets — a dog, a cat, and a crow. One day, Bola rescued a clever mouse, and soon the four became inseparable friends.The mouse had a magical talent — it could sniff out hidden treasures! With his help, Bhola and his friends became rich, and life was full of joy and laughter.When Bhola’s wedding was fixed, he crafted a dazzling diamond ring for his bride. But just before the wedding, the ring mysteriously vanished!Determined to help their beloved master, the four brave friends — the dog, cat, mouse, and crow — set out on an adventurous quest to find the missing ring.Through teamwork, wit, and courage, they uncover the truth and return the precious ring — just in time for the wedding!A heartwarming story about friendship, loyalty, and adventure, perfect for all ages.
Once there lived a poor but honest farmer who earned 300 gold coins through hard work. But fate played tricks on him—his money passed from a pot to a butcher, from a goat’s belly to a well, from a thief’s stick to a river. Yet, every time, destiny brought it back to his hands. Through honesty, patience, and faith, the farmer proved that what is rightfully earned will always find its way home.
Once there lived a farmer with three sons. One was a soldier, second was a businessman, and the third, Pyari, was a farmer
listen to their story
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In this episode, we follow the tale of a poor boy living with his kind mother, a wonderful cook whose sweets were always taken away by greedy cousins. One day, hunger drives him to the lake, where fate introduces him to strange wizards. With wit and courage, the boy tricks the wizards into the depths of the lake, only to encounter the eldest wizard who tempts him with the promise of hidden treasure. Along the way, magical golden fishes and daring challenges await him. This is a story of resilience, cleverness, and destiny’s surprises.