Manasa Devi - The Merchant and Serpent Queen

Dadi**: "Guddu, are you afraid of snakes?"

Guddu**: "A little bit, Dadi. They're scary!"

Dadi**: "Well, tonight I'll tell you about Manasa Devi - the queen of all snakes - and a stubborn merchant who refused to worship her."

Guddu**: "A goddess of snakes?"

Dadi**: "Yes! Manasa was a powerful goddess who ruled over serpents. She lived in the region near the Bhagirathi river, and everyone there worshipped her - everyone except a wealthy merchant named Chand Saudagar."

Guddu**: "Why didn't he worship her?"

Dadi**: "He was proud and stubborn. He considered her an inferior deity. Manasa loved fine offerings - jewelry, elaborate meals, beautiful ornaments - but Chand gave her nothing."

Guddu**: "That wasn't very nice!"

Dadi**: "Manasa tried everything. She sent signs asking for devotion. She even appeared before him in person, almost begging! But Chand was miserly and refused each time."

Guddu**: "What did she do?"

Dadi**: "Her patience ran out. She revealed her terrifying form and made a dreadful threat: 'I will kill all your seven sons!' But Chand, foolish with pride, dismissed her warning."

Guddu**: "Oh no..."

Dadi**: "One by one, over six weeks, six of Chand's sons died from snakebites. Manasa's serpent children carried out her threat. But even this tragedy didn't soften Chand's heart. Only his youngest son, Lakhindar, remained."

Guddu**: "He still wouldn't worship her?"

Dadi**: "His stubbornness was incredible! Manasa declared that Lakhindar would die from snakebite on his wedding night. Chand, finally worried, built an iron room for the wedding - he thought no snake could enter."

Guddu**: "Did it work?"

Dadi**: "Lakhindar married a beautiful girl named Benlo. But even through the iron walls, Manasa's power found a way. On the wedding night, despite Benlo staying awake to guard her husband, a snake bit Lakhindar before dawn."

Guddu**: "Poor Benlo!"

Dadi**: "Now here's where the story becomes beautiful. Benlo refused to accept her husband's death. Like the legendary Savitri, she decided to bring him back!"

Guddu**: "What did she do?"

Dadi**: "She prayed in a banana grove, then built a raft from plantain stems. She placed her husband's body on it and floated down the river, following it all the way to where Manasa Devi lived."

Guddu**: "She went to find the snake goddess herself!"

Dadi**: "Imagine the courage! And when Manasa saw this young widow's devotion - how she had traveled so far, faced such danger, all for love - her heart softened."

Guddu**: "Did she bring Lakhindar back?"

Dadi**: "She promised to - but only if Chand would finally worship her. Benlo went home and with tears, begged her father-in-law to give up his stubbornness."

Guddu**: "Did he?"

Dadi**: "After losing seven sons and seeing his daughter-in-law's suffering, Chand finally agreed. But you know what? He was still a little stubborn! He offered worship with his left hand instead of right - a small act of defiance."

Guddu**: "Haha, he couldn't completely give in!"

Dadi**: "Manasa, knowing humans, accepted even this imperfect worship. And then - she restored ALL SEVEN sons to life! The family was whole again."

Guddu**: "Wow! That's a happy ending!"

Dadi**: "It is. But think about the journey. How much suffering could have been avoided if Chand had just been humble from the start? Pride caused him to lose everything before he gained it back."

Guddu**: "And Benlo's love saved everyone."

Dadi**: "Love and devotion are powerful, beta. They can reach even angry goddesses. But stubbornness and pride? They only bring sorrow. Remember Chand Saudagar when your pride makes you stubborn. Now sleep, and don't worry - no snakes in dreams tonight!"