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

Overview

In Parker’s No.243, a prince’s sister and her lover plot to send him into danger by asking for a lotus from a forest pool. The lover explains that celestial nymphs bathe there and that its crocodile swallows other visitors. The supposed divine instruction that the flower will cure the sister is their fabrication, not an actual command from the pool’s deity.

The prince’s accompanying leopard, cat and parrot warn him not to enter. The parrot offers to bring the flower’s pollen grain by grain, but the prince considers that too slow. When he descends, the crocodile swallows him. His sword pierces its stomach in the act, killing both animal and prince. The three companions lament on the bank until the celestial nymphs arrive to bathe.

The nymphs summon the pool’s dēvatāwā, who opens the crocodile’s stomach and restores the prince to life. The crocodile itself is not revived. No personal name, speech, hybrid anatomy or measured size is supplied; its narrative distinction is the dangerous celestial pool and the supernatural recovery from its body. The subsequent exposure of the plot, killing of the conspirators and prince’s marriage belong to the rescued human’s story. A gigantic fish in Parker’s comparative note is a separate Kolhān narrative, not this crocodile’s alternative form.

Celestial bathing poolSwallowing a princeDeath from the swallowed swordDivine rescue from its body
01

Origins & earliest records

Sri Lankan village tale recorded by H. Parker

02

Records & interpretation

Complete numbered main narrative, comparisons and all associated footnotes read.

Selected bibliography

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

  1. 01

    Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume III

    H. Parker · 1914

    No.243. Main pp.293–299; comparisons pp.299–300; two footnotes.

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

H. Parker, Village Folk-Tales of Ceylon, Volume III (1914)

III. No.243. Main pp.293–299; comparisons pp.299–300; two footnotes.

Complete parker3-s243.txt retained/read including ending and notes. Main witness distinguished from all comparator retellings; no inferred hybrid anatomy or added resurrection.

Inspect the digitized plate · Source collection manifest

References

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

  1. Historical translated folktaleParker, Volume III (1914), No.243Research access: 2026-10-05

Image credits

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

FT·1962 · RESEARCH EDITION 01Back to top ↑