There lived an old lady at the village of Kurmachal, who had seven sons. Six of the sons of the old lady used to work very hard. Early in the morning, they would get up, plough the field, sow the seeds and bring water from a far-off lake. They had built a wall around the field to protect the field from wild animals. The whole day they would look after the field. But during night, some animals used to graze the field and destroy the crops.

The seventh son, however, never took interest in any house-hold work. He used to leave the house early in the morning, roam about and return only after dusk. He treated his home only as a place to eat and rest. But he was very much interested in hunting. He would go out with his bow and arrows and hunt. He often brought home some wild animals. This went on for quite some time.

One day the old lady told her seventh son, “Look my boy, you should not go about like this. We have got to live on the crops of our field. Why do you not work in the field like your brothers?”

The seventh son replied, “Mother, I am interested in hunting. I feel, working in the field is a tame affair and a coward’s job. Ploughing the field is so common and drab and there is no act of bravery involved in that.”

The old lady then said, “If you are interested in showing your bravery, why not show it on your own field? Wild animals come and destroy the crops of the field. Why don’t you shoot them?”

The seventh son retorted, “Mother, they must be rats or hares. There is no bravery in killing them. I feel humiliated to make them my prey.”

The mother kept quiet. The seventh son started with his bow and arrow towards the jungle.

All the six sons decided to kill the animals that destroyed their crops. They built a small cottage in the field. At night they decided to keep a watch on the field by turn. After taking food the eldest brother took a spear and went to the cottage. He kept awake. Till mid-night no animal came. He felt a little sleepy. When he opened his eyes after some time he found a tan-coloured swine grazing and spoiling the field. The eldest brother shouted for his brothers but no one came. At last he took the spear and ran after the swine.

The swine saw the man running towards her. She ran for her life at a great speed. She crossed the mountains and plains and disappeared in a thick forest full of Deodar trees. The eldest brother chased her. He was very tired and sat under a tree. He saw a cave. He thought that the swine might have taken shelter in the cave. He got inside the cave. It was very dark outside but inside the cave it was very bright. He saw luxuriant trees and fountains and a lady dressed in a bright red sari. He also saw a big iron gate. He went inside it. He felt as if he had lost his senses. He wanted to run away. As soon as he ran towards the gate, the gate closed with a bang.

When the eldest brother did not reach home all his five brothers started worrying. His mother started weeping.

The second brother kept a watch on the field on the second night. The same Hing happened and he was also trapped in the same cave. One by one all the six brothers were caught there.

The mother bitterly lamented and asked her youngest son to search for his brothers.

The youngest son was a very courageous boy. He took his bow and arrow and kept vigil at the field. He saw the same tan-coloured swine. He followed her and shot an arrow which struck the animal. He chased and wanted to bring the trophy but to his utter surprise he found an old lady cutting grass. The seventh brother enquired of the old lady if she had seen the swine. The old lady said, “First, you take out the thorn from my foot and then only I will tell you the whereabouts of the swine.”

The seventh brother pulled out the thorn. The old lady said, “You go straight this way. You will come across another lady who will be cutting the leaves of a tree. She will show you the way.”

The seventh brother did as directed and found an old lady cutting the leaves of a tree. He asked the old lady to tell him the place where the swine lived. The old lady said, “First of all you put the bundle on my head without the help of your hand.”

The seventh brother asked the old lady to sit on the ground. He was very skilled in archery and shot an arrow on the bundle. The bundle was raised and settled on her head. The old lady said, “You go straight. You will come across a thick forest of Deodar trees. In that forest you will see a cave. The swine lives inside that cave.”

The seventh brother got into the Deodar forest and came near the cave. He wanted to go inside the cave. Suddenly his eldest brother shouted, “Please do not come in. If at all you want to come, please jump over the front lawn. Do not put your foot there.” The seventh brother did as directed. He saw a beautiful lawn and a fountain. The fountain was flowing. He was very thirsty. He went near the water and was just going to drink water. Suddenly he heard the second brother’s voice. He said, “Please do not drink this charmed water even if you are thirsty.” The seventh brother went ahead without drinking the water.

The seventh brother saw another beautiful lawn. In the centre of the lawn there was a beautiful marble table. On it were placed some fruits and sweets. He was going to eat as he was hungry. Suddenly he heard his third brother shouting, “Please do not touch anything on the table.” The seventh brother did not touch the fruits and sweets and walked ahead.

The seventh brother came near a rose garden. He saw beautiful sweet-smelling roses of all shades. He wanted to pluck some flowers. He went near them. His fourth brother said, “Please do not pluck these flowers.” The seventh brother desisted from plucking the flowers. He again started walking ahead. He saw a beautiful Veena on a table. He heard his fifth brother’s voice: He said, “Please do not touch the Veena.” The seventh brother checked himself and moved forward. He walked for a long time. He saw a beautiful girl dressed in red, sitting on a cosy chair. He went near her. Suddenly, his sixth brother spoke out, “My dear brother, you should not touch this lady. She is a witch” The seventh brother gathered courage and took up his bow and selected a sharp arrow. The woman jumped from her seat and quickly turned into a swine. The seventh brother shot an arrow. The swine fell down dead. The palace with all the gardens, fountains and lawns vanished in the twinkling of an eye. All the brothers came out of their captivity. They hugged each other and came back home.

The mother was beside herself with happiness seeing all the sons come back together. She gave a big feast to all the people in the village, celebrating the homecoming of her sons.

A folktale sourced from Folk Tales of Himachal by K. A. Seethalakshmi.

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