Indian Fairy Tales

01 Jan 0001

Watercolor illustration of the son, a young man with brown hair and simple brown clothes, sitting beside his blind parents (dad with grey hair, mom with dark hair) in their humble home. The son looks determined. Soft, muted colors. The style should be illustrative and children-friendly

Once upon a time, there was a poor, blind dad and mom who depended on their son to help them get by. Every day, the son would go out and ask people for food. He did this for a long time, but he got really tired of living such a tough life. So, he decided to try his luck in a different place.

01 Jan 0001

A Lesson for Kings

Watercolor illustration of the young Prince Brahma-datta (light brown skin, dark curly hair, wearing simple gold-trimmed robes) as a sixteen-year-old student at Takkasila, diligently studying ancient texts with a wise-looking guru (white hair, long beard, saffron robes). Lush green trees and traditional buildings in the background. Soft, warm color palette.

Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, when King Brahma-datta was in charge of Benares, the future Buddha was born as his son! When it was time to give the little prince a name, they called him Prince Brahma-datta. He grew up big and strong, and when he turned sixteen, he went to a special school called Takkasila. There, he learned all sorts of amazing things. After his dad, the king, passed away, he became the new king and promised to be fair and kind to everyone.

01 Jan 0001

A WONDERFUL STORY.

Once upon a time, there were two super strong wrestlers! One was even stronger than the other, and he had a daughter named Ajit. The other wrestler didn’t have any kids. They didn’t live in the same town, but their towns were pretty close.

One day, the wrestler without a daughter heard about the wrestler with the daughter. He decided he wanted to wrestle him to see who was the strongest! So, he went to Ajit’s dad’s town. When he got to their house, he knocked and said, “Hello? Is anyone home?” Ajit answered, “Yes, I’m here!” and she came outside. The wrestler asked, “Where’s the wrestler who lives here?” Ajit said, “My dad took three hundred carts to the forest to get wood. He’s pulling them himself because he couldn’t find enough horses or cows to help!” The wrestler was super surprised. He said, “Wow, your dad must be REALLY strong!”

01 Jan 0001

BARBER HÍM AND THE TIGERS.

Once upon a time, there was a barber named Hím, and he was super poor. He had a wife and twelve kids – five boys and seven girls! Sometimes he would earn a little bit of money. One day, he was feeling really grumpy and left his family to figure things out on their own. “What can I do?” he said to himself. “I don’t have enough money to buy food, and my kids are crying because they’re hungry!” So he walked and walked until he got to a jungle. It was nighttime. This jungle was called the “Tigers’ Jungle” because only tigers lived there. No birds, no bugs, no other animals – just four hundred tigers! As soon as Barber Hím got to the jungle, he saw a big tiger walking around. “Oh no!” he cried. “This tiger is going to eat me for sure!” He grabbed his razor and the leather strap he used to sharpen it and started making his razor really sharp. Then he walked right up to the tiger, still sharpening his razor.

01 Jan 0001

BARBER HÍM AND THE TIGERS.

Once upon a time, there was a barber named Hím who was very, very poor. He lived with his wife and a whole bunch of kids – twelve of them! Five were boys and seven were girls. Sometimes he would earn a little bit of money. One day, he felt super grumpy and left his home, leaving his wife and kids to take care of themselves.

A watercolor illustration of Hím, a thin barber with a worried expression, holding a worn leather razor strap and a tarnished straight razor. Dawn light filters through the cracks in the wooden walls of his dilapidated house, casting long shadows. Twelve children of varying ages, their clothes patched and faded, stand before him, their faces gaunt and their eyes reflecting hunger and sadness. His wife stands framed in the doorway, her hands on her hips, her worn apron suggesting a life of endless toil, her concerned expression etched deep into her face. Patches of faded blue paint peel from the house, revealing the rough-hewn wood beneath. Chickens peck at the dusty ground. The overall color palette leans towards muted browns, grays, and blues, evoking a sense of poverty and desperation, but with hints of early morning gold adding a touch of hope. Soft blending is used to suggest worn textures.

01 Jan 0001

BRAVE HÍRÁLÁLBÁSÁ.

Once upon a time, there was a king called Manikbasa, the Ruby King, who had seven wives and seven kids. One sunny day, he told his wives he was going on a fun hunting trip! He rode his horse super far away from his fancy palace.

Watercolor illustration, golden hour lighting, of King Manikbasa, a strong, determined figure with a furrowed brow, adorned in ruby-red velvet clothing with intricate gold embroidery and a golden crown encrusted with sapphires. He rides a powerful, muscular white horse, its mane flowing in the wind. In the background, on the side of a dusty road with cracked earth and scattered pebbles, a sinister-looking, shadowy monster with glowing red eyes is mid-transformation into a beautiful queen with flowing dark hair and a deceptively alluring smile. The sky is a blend of orange, pink, and purple, casting long shadows. Emphasis on the contrast between the king’s vibrant colors and the monster’s dark, ominous presence. Watercolor with soft blending and natural flow.

01 Jan 0001

Harisarman

01 Jan 0001

HOW KING BURTAL BECAME A FAKÍR.

Watercolor illustration: Golden hour in a lush jungle. King Burtal, with a large, jovial belly straining against his golden-threaded, crimson robes and a golden crown slightly askew, aims a polished, ornate bow and arrow. Sunlight filters through the dense canopy, casting dappled shadows on the scene. The black antelope, its fur gleaming ebony in the light, stands alert and startled, with wide, intelligent eyes reflecting the impending danger. Brown and yellow antelopes graze peacefully in the background, unaware. The jungle floor is a tapestry of deep greens and earthy browns, with hints of vibrant orchids and ferns. Focus on the tension of the hunt, the king’s confident smirk contrasting with the antelope’s regal fear. Artistic style: soft watercolor with gentle blending and natural flow.

01 Jan 0001

How Sun, Moon, and Wind went out to Dinner

A watercolor scene with Star in the top center, looking lovingly at Moon in the foreground. Moon is a white crescent shape. Sun is on the left, colored yellow and orange, looking displeased. Wind is on the right, swirling in blues and greys, also looking annoyed. Star should be the largest, and the background has many stars.

One sunny day, Sun, Moon, and Wind went to eat yummy food with their uncle and aunt, Thunder and Lightning. Their mom (she’s a super far-away Star way up high!) waited all alone for them to come home.

01 Jan 0001

How the Raja's Son won the Princess Labam.

Watercolor illustration: A young prince, fair skin, wearing a green tunic, brown pants, and a gold crown, standing in a lush jungle, looking surprised. In front of him, a brightly colored parrot (Hiraman), predominantly red, green, and blue, squawks angrily. Other parrots of similar colors are flying away in the background. The jungle is dense and filled with various shades of green foliage. The overall mood is one of surprise and wonder.’, ‘details’: ‘Watercolor, no text, parrots are clearly visible and colorful, prince is recognizable and consistent with descriptions

01 Jan 0001

HOW THE RÁJÁ'S SON WON THE PRINCESS LABÁM.

Once upon a time, in a faraway land, lived a king called a Raja. He had a son who loved to go hunting every day. One day, the queen, who was his mother, said, “You can hunt anywhere on these three sides, but you must never go to the fourth side.” She said this because she knew that if he went to the fourth side, he would hear about the beautiful Princess Labam, and then he would want to leave his parents and go find her.

01 Jan 0001

How the Wicked Sons were Duped.

Watercolor illustration of an elderly man with a long white beard, wearing a faded blue robe, sitting at a table surrounded by four younger men, his sons, dressed in similar robes but in shades of green, brown, red, and yellow. The sons are looking at him with disdainful expressions. The table is mostly bare. Soft, diffused lighting, watercolor paper texture visible.

Once upon a time, there was a very rich old man. He thought he was about to say goodbye to the world, so he called his sons together and shared all his money and things with them. But guess what? He didn’t go anywhere for many years! And those years weren’t very happy ones. He was tired from being old, but even worse, his sons were not very nice to him. They were being mean and selfish!

01 Jan 0001

LOVING LAILÍ.

Watercolor illustration of King Dantal’s lush, sun-drenched garden at midday. Prince Majnun, a fair-skinned boy with bright red hair, rosy lips, and sparkly blue eyes, and his friend Husain Mahamat, are gleefully slicing mangoes and papayas with toy knives beneath a sprawling, ancient mango tree whose gnarled branches cast dappled shadows. Colorful flowers like hibiscus, bougainvillea, and jasmine bloom riotously around them, their vibrant hues popping against the emerald green grass. Sun filters through the leaves, creating pools of light and illuminating dust motes dancing in the air. The air is thick with the sweet scent of blossoms and ripe fruit. Details: A worn, woven mat beneath the tree, scattered fruit rinds, the boys’ bare feet digging into the cool earth, the intricate patterns on the toy knives, the sweat beading on their foreheads. Warm, inviting color palette. Soft, natural watercolor blending.

01 Jan 0001

PÁNWPATTÍ RÁNÍ.

A long time ago, in a faraway place, there was a big fair. Lots of people came, even kings and queens from all over! One king brought his daughter with him. Near their tent, another king’s son had his tent. He was very handsome, and the king’s daughter was very pretty too!

Watercolor illustration of a vibrant fair under a bright, sunny sky. Colorful tents of all shapes and sizes create a lively atmosphere. A handsome prince in regal attire of deep blues and golds, his face etched with longing, looks from his ornately decorated tent at a beautiful princess. She’s dressed in fine clothes of soft pinks and creams, laughter lines crinkling around her eyes as she speaks to someone just out of frame. Kings and Queens in vibrant clothing - ruby reds, emerald greens, sapphire blues - are walking around the fair, their shadows long and dancing on the dusty ground. The watercolor style emphasizes soft blending and natural flow, creating a whimsical and slightly dreamlike feel. Wooden stalls overflow with tempting treats. Sunbeams filter through the tent canvas, dappling the scene with light and shadow.

01 Jan 0001

Pride goeth before a Fall

Watercolor illustration of ten cloth sellers, dressed in colorful fabrics, walking wearily through a dark, spooky forest. Three menacing robbers with exaggerated features leap from behind gnarled trees, brandishing crudely drawn swords and sticks. The cloth sellers look frightened and defenseless.

Once upon a time, in a small village, lived ten cloth sellers who were best friends and always traveled together. One day, they went on a long trip to sell their beautiful fabrics and earned lots of money! As they headed back home, they had to pass through a thick, spooky forest. They didn’t know it, but three sneaky robbers lived in that forest!

01 Jan 0001

Punchkin

A watercolor illustration of seven princesses in a grand, dimly lit kitchen at dusk. Balna, slightly separated and looking skeptical, observes a gaunt, elderly woman (Prudhan’s widow) with deeply etched wrinkles taking firewood from a cast-iron stove. Soft light streams through a high arched window, casting long shadows. Dust motes dance in the light. Dirt subtly scatters from the widow’s gnarled hands, falling towards a simmering pot of stew. The wooden floor is worn and uneven. The color palette is muted, with earthy tones and hints of faded gold. Balna’s expression is a mix of suspicion and compassion, her body language guarded. The other princesses, dressed in colorful, slightly faded silk gowns, are focused on the widow with varying degrees of concern. Watercolor style: soft blending, natural flow, subtle washes.

01 Jan 0001

RÁJÁ HARICHAND'S PUNISHMENT.

Watercolor illustration of King Harichand, with a deeply lined but kind face and wearing a tarnished, simple crown, handing a large, overflowing bag of shimmering gold coins to a group of poor villagers with grateful and hopeful expressions. Some villagers kneel in thanks. The scene takes place outside the weathered wooden palace gates, bathed in the soft, warm light of early morning, casting long shadows from the figures. Use a warm color palette of golds, ochres, and muted greens. The air is misty and fresh. The gate stone is slightly wet from dew. Style: Soft watercolor blending with a focus on realistic fabric textures and subtle light reflections on the coins.

01 Jan 0001

Raja Rasalu.

A watercolor illustration of Queen Lona, dressed in royal blue velvet robes trimmed with intricate gold embroidery, sitting sadly on a jade-inlaid divan in her opulent palace. Sunlight, a warm golden hue, streams through a large, arched window with delicate Mughal-inspired latticework, casting intricate shadows across the polished marble floor. Her gaze is downcast towards her lap, where her hands are clasped tightly, her knuckles white. A single, shimmering tear rolls down her cheek, catching the light. The palace architecture features intricate Mughal-inspired designs: ornate columns, jewel-toned mosaics, and tapestries depicting scenes of past glory. The color palette is dominated by deep blues and golds, creating a somber yet majestic atmosphere. Soft blending emphasizes the melancholic mood. Texture is subtly applied to the velvet robes and marble flooring.

01 Jan 0001

SOME OF THE DOINGS OF SHEKH FARÍD.

Once upon a time, there was a king named King Hamansa. He had a son named Prince Gursan, who married Princess Khelapari, the daughter of King Gulabsa. After the wedding, Prince Gursan took her home to his father’s palace.

One day, Prince Gursan came home from hunting. He was super tired and really thirsty! It was around lunchtime. He asked Princess Khelapari to get him some water, and while she went to get it, he fell fast asleep. When she came back, he was still sleeping! He slept all afternoon and all night because he was so tired, and didn’t wake up until the next morning. His wife stood by him the whole time, holding the water in a shiny cup. When he woke up and saw that she had been standing there all that time, he felt really bad. He asked for forgiveness and wished that his wife could have anything she wanted, no matter what it was! So, Princess Khelapari wished that she would know everything that happened in the world, even in faraway places, all by herself without anyone telling her.

01 Jan 0001

The Ass in the Lion's Skin

Watercolor illustration, bathed in the warm, golden light of early morning, of a young man, representing the future Buddha, planting rice seedlings in a lush green field. Dew clings to the emerald blades of rice. His face is serene and focused, with a gentle smile playing on his lips. He wears simple, earth-toned robes. The rich brown mud splashes slightly as he works. The king’s city of Benares can be seen distantly in the background, rendered in soft, muted tones of ochre and faded blues, partially obscured by a gentle morning mist. Birds flit amongst the distant rooftops. The artistic style should emulate traditional watercolor with soft blending and natural flow.

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