There once lived in Nubra an old woman and her son. The son’s name was Tundup. Every morning, he went out looking for wood, which he would cut and sell in the local market

One day, while digging under a bush, he saw a big hole underneath it. There were some steps down the hole. Intrigued, Tundup decided to go down it, and to his surprise, there laid a majestic palace right before his eyes.

Now, Tundup wanted to go inside because he had never seen a palace quite like this one before. He had only heard stories about them. Quietly, he slipped inside. In a big hall, there were beautiful curtains and carpets, and there, upon a golden throne, sat a fairy. 

She was crying because she was lonely, and nobody would come and talk to her. The tears that fell from her eyes became jewels.

Tundup sat for a long time and told her all about himself. The fairy then gave him one tear-jewel as he took his leave. She also asked him to come again. Tundup proceeded to bring the jewel home and gave it to is mother. She said, “It is very nice, but of no use to us. Go and present it to the king. He will surely give us some food in return.”

Tundup went to the city and gave the jewel to the king. The king gave the jewel to a goldsmith and asked him to make a locket for the queen, setting the jewel in it. When the ornament was ready, the king ordered everyone to come to the court, for the queen was to wear the ornament that day.

When the king and the queen were coming to the court, a crow came and sat on the horse’s head. The crow said, “Tundup gave the jewel because he wants to marry the queen.” The king was very angry, and he took the queen back to the palace. He sent for Tundup and asked him why he had given the jewel.

Poor Tundup was very scared, he said, “Your majesty, | only wanted something to eat for myself and my mother.” The king was very greedy; he wanted many more such jewels. 

He ordered Tundup to bring more such jewels, or he would be punished.

Crying, Tundup went home and quarrelled with is mother, “Why did you send me to the king? Now, where will I get the jewels from? The king will surely hang me.”

Tundup’s mother asked him to go and meet the fairy again. So Tundup went down the same hole once more. Crying, he told her everything. The fairy felt sorry for Tundup and gave him two more jewels out of a box beside her.

Tundup ran all the way and gave the jewels to the king. The king was very happy to get two jewels at once. He gave Tundup three yak-loads of food. Again, the king gave the jewels to the goldsmith and asked him to make earrings for the queen. Once again, he ordered everyone to come to the court. And, once again, the same crow appeared and said, “Tundup wants to marry the queen, so he has given her the jewels.” Again, the king and the queen went back to the palace, and Tundup was sent for.

The king was, just like before, very angry. He shouted and waved a stick at Tundup. “‘How dare you give jewels to the queen? I will have you killed.”’

Tundup cried and cried, “‘My lord, I told you before, I only wanted food. I am a poor man, why would I want to marry the queen?”

But the king did not believe him. He asked Tundup to get ready to fight a duel.

Tundup said, ‘Sir, I am just a poor man. I have no weapons. Nor do I have any forces. If you want to kill me, then do so.”

The king asked him to come to the maidan in a week’s time.

Once again, Tundup’s mother sent him to the fairy, and he told her everything. This time, the fairy gave Tundup a box. It was a beautiful box made of shell. She blew onto it and kept it in his pocket. She said that with this in his pocket, no one would ever be able to inflict harm on him.

Thanking the fairy, Tundup came home. After a week, the king’s forces collected in the maidan. Tundup, too, went there with his box in his pocket. He saluted the king and said, “My lord, I have no forces; I am alone. Shoot me if you want to.”

The king was very surprised. He ordered his chief minister to have boiling oil poured on Tundup. But nothing happened. Tundup was then thrown from the top of a mountain. Still, Tundup was unhurt.

The king walked upto Tundup and said, “You are surely some magician. I will kill you myself.”

Then Tundup opened his box. Seven giants came out, trampling the king and killing all his forces along with him. Tundup then really went onto marry the queen and ruled over the country

A Folktale sourced from Folk-Tales of Ladakh by Veena Mehta

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