Madhua lived in a village on the coast of Odisha. He was a stupid man who would make a meal of the simplest tasks. As a result, his wife supported him by doing some menial jobs.
One day, his wife fell sick. Madhua was quick to realize that it was his responsibility to take care of her. However, he did not have any money to buy her medicines and food. He went from one place to another in search of a job, but no one was willing to hire the foolish man. Depressed, he didn’t want to go back home and see his ailing wife.
Madhua walked down to the beach to drown himself in the sea. He sat on the seashore and began crying, blaming himself for lacking the brains to make enough money to lead a respectable life. Unable to bring himself to see his wife die a painful death, he walked into the turbulent ocean waves. Hearing his distressing pleas, the sea god decided to help him. A massive wave emerged from the ocean, dragging Madhua back to the coast. A few hours later, an unconscious Madhua woke up with the cool sea breeze stroking his face.
Before him stood Varuna, the sea god, a handsome, blue figure wearing a necklace made of precious stones. The pearls on the necklace shone bright. Lord Varuna gifted Madhua a conch shell that would get him whatever he wanted in life.
Overcome with gratitude, Madhua bowed humbly before Lord Varuna and went home happily with the conch shell. After he got home, he asked the conch shell to give him a hundred pieces of gold. The shell rewarded him with a hundred gold nuggets. Now he could get his wife the best treatment. As a result, she recovered quickly. Madhua now had the money to build a house, eat good food, and wear fine clothes. As a kind-hearted soul, Madhua even helped the poor folks who lived in and around his village.
When the king learned about the poor man’s overnight riches, he sent a few spies to find out how Madhua had made such a fortune. The spies were quick to figure out the reason for Madhua’s riches. They stole the conch shell and handed it to the king. Meanwhile, after exhausting all his money, Madhua could no longer lead the better life he had become accustomed. He couldn’t even help the needy anymore!
Once again, Madhua decided to drown himself in the ocean. The sea god came to his rescue yet again. This time, he gave Madhua a bigger conch shell that would give him ten times more of everything he asked for. Lord Varuna asked Madhua to gift the bigger shell to the king and get back the smaller one. He also instructed Madhua to leave the country immediately thereafter. The following day, Madhua went to the king’s court and presented him with the bigger conch shell. He explained its magical powers and convinced the king to return the smaller conch shell to him.
After Madhua left, the king asked the conch to bless him with precious stones, gold, and silver. However, instead of precious gems and gold, two blue hands emerged from the conch shell and beat the king black and blue. A voice from the shell even warned the king against being so greedy. Whenever the king tried to give any explanations, the conch dealt him even more severe blows.
The incensed king sent soldiers to get Madhua to his court at once. Fortunately, however, Madhua had traveled far away. With the riches he got from the conch shell, Madhua and his wife led comfortable lives thereafter.
Kalai is passionate about reading and reinterpreting folk tales from all over the country. Write to her at kalai.muse@gmail.com to know more about her.
Folk tale adopted and abridged from Internet Archive.