When a gardener’s daughter in the King’s garden declares that one day she will have a son unlike any other — a boy with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin — her playfellows laugh at her. But the childless King overhears her, marries her, and when the promised boy is finally born, four jealous Queens steal the newborn, leave a stone in his place, and turn his mother into a palace servant.
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The abandoned infant is rescued from a buried box by the King’s dog Shankar, who swallows the child to protect him — and when the dog’s life is threatened, he passes the boy to the King’s cow Suri, and she in turn to the King’s unruly fairy-horse Badal. Disguised by Badal’s magic as a poor, common-looking man, the grown prince finds service with a grain merchant, sings in the King’s garden, and is chosen — twice — by the youngest princess, to the astonishment of every king and raja who came as a suitor. Restored to his true form, the prince with a moon on his forehead and a star on his chin hunts where his brothers-in-law cannot, reveals the mark of the thief upon them, and finally returns to his father’s kingdom to free his mother, expose the four wicked Queens, and claim his place as the King’s son.
This story was obtained from public domain sources, but has been revised and rewritten by Amar Vyas and narrated by Sheerali Biju for gaathastory. Music and images obtained from public domain sources or Creative Commons license.
Last updated: October 1, 2026 at 6:08 am
