A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

Overview

Lita spends his trading capital saving animals from people hunting them, including a snake that has bitten many people. The snake speaks, promises repayment and invites him to its parents’ home. Lita initially fears being eaten, but the family repeatedly assures him of their gratitude. The son secretly advises him to request the ring worn on his father’s finger rather than money.

After entertaining Lita in their splendid home, the parents agree to give him the ring. When placed in a seer of milk and asked for something, it produces the requested object; Lita tests it on food and later obtains a covered bridal passage. The family’s luxury and the father’s finger are stated features of this anthropomorphic serpent household, without a narrated change between human and snake forms, a royal title or individual names.

Rescued serpent and his parents who give a wish-producing ringSpecific Santal narrative witness
01

Origins & earliest records

Santal Parganas, eastern India; source-specific Santali storytelling

02

Records & interpretation

Complete relevant tale directly read with existing collection preface and narrator-chain record.

Selected bibliography

Documented works and useful reading. This is not a list of every appearance.

  1. 01

    Folklore of the Santal Parganas

    Cecil Henry Bompas, translator; O. Bodding, collector; Sagram Murmu, principal Santali writer credited in preface · 1909

    XXII, Lita and His Animals, pp. 88–97

Family & connections

A source-supported family tree or inspiration record has not yet been compiled for this profile. Related reading below indicates a connection in subject matter, not a proven lineage or creative influence.

Primary records and illustrations

Direct primary record

Cecil Henry Bompas, Folklore of the Santal Parganas (1909)

Part I, Santal folktales. XXII, Lita and His Animals, pp. 88–97

Complete long tale through final animal release read. Three ring recoveries separated, serpent family’s anthropomorphism retained without invented human transformation or royal identity.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

Sources supporting this profile. Linked pages have their own scope and editorial standards.

  1. Historical translation of collected narrativesBompas, Folklore of the Santal Parganas (1909), XXII, Lita and His Animals, pp. 88–97Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

A sourced illustration has not yet been added. This gap is included in the coverage record.

FT·1687 · RESEARCH EDITION 01Back to top ↑