Harisarman by Joseph Jacobs (1892)
A Brahman named Harisarman, impoverished and foolish, struggles to provide for his large family. Seeking better fortune, he becomes an attendant to a wealthy householder, Sthuladatta. During a wedding feast, he is overlooked and, feeling disrespected, decides to feign magical abilities to gain respect. He steals a horse belonging to Sthuladatta's son-in-law and, when the horse goes missing, claims he can retrieve it. His wife informs Sthuladatta of her husband's supposed magical skills, leading to Harisarman being called upon. He pretends to use astrology to locate the horse, which is soon found, earning him respect and a place of honor. As time passes, a thief steals treasures from the king's palace, and Harisarman is summoned due to his newfound reputation. He delays, fearing exposure of his deception, and is confined in a chamber. A maid named Jihva, who is the actual thief, overhears him lamenting his false claims and, in fear, confesses to him, revealing the treasure's location. Harisarman, seizing the opportunity, demands gold from her and later leads the king to the buried treasure, claiming the thief escaped with part of it. The king rewards him with land and riches. However, the king's minister grows suspicious and devises a test. He presents Harisarman with a covered pitcher containing a frog, challenging him to identify its contents. Fearing for his life, Harisarman recalls a childhood nickname for frogs and cleverly speaks to the frog, inadvertently impressing the onlookers with his apparent divination skills. The king, believing in Harisarman's magical prowess, rewards him further with more land and wealth. Harisarman's fortunes rise, and he continues to thrive, despite the precariousness of his deception.
By Joseph Jacobs · First published 1892 · Genre: Fable, Folklore, Fantasy · 1,424 words
First lines
There was a certain Brahman in a certain village, named Harisarman. He was poor and foolish and in evil case for want of employment, and he had very many children, that he might reap the fruit of his misdeeds in a former life. He wandered about begging with his family, and at last he reached a certain city, and entered the service of a rich householder called Sthuladatta. His sons became keepers of Sthuladatta's cows and other property, and his wife a servant to him, and he himself lived near his house, performing the duty of an attendant. One day there was a feast on account of the marriage of the daughter of Sthuladatta, largely attended by many friends of the bridegroom, and merrymakers. Harisarman hoped that he would be able to fill himself up to the throat with ghee and flesh and other dainties, and get the same for his family, in the house of his patron. While he was anxiously expecting to be fed, no one thought of him.
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Harisarman is listed on Textopian as a short story by Joseph Jacobs, dated 1892 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Joseph Jacobs
- Date: 1892 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Fable, Folklore, Fantasy, Comedy, Adventure
- Length: 1,424 words
- Structure: 1 section, 5 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Harisarman by Joseph Jacobs
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- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Fable — The story conveys moral lessons through the experiences of Harisarman, illustrating themes of wisdom, deception, and the consequences of one's actions.
- Folklore — The narrative reflects traditional storytelling elements common in folklore, including a poor protagonist, magical elements, and cultural values.
- Fantasy — The presence of magic and supernatural occurrences, such as Harisarman's pretended knowledge and the theft of treasure, aligns with fantasy genre conventions.
- Comedy — The humorous situations and the foolishness of Harisarman provide comedic elements throughout the story.
Tags
Folklore · Mythology · Indian Literature · Short Stories · Anthology · Cultural Heritage · Social Commentary · Historical Fiction · Literary Analysis · Symbolism · Imagery · Character Study