Sri Lanka is a land of enchanting folk tales passed down across generations. Stories like Gamarala’s wise daughter show how ordinary villagers can be clever, brave, and quick-witted. These tales entertain, preserve culture, and teach valuable life lessons, especially to young readers.
Gamarala and the King’s Riddles
Long ago, a king sent letters with riddles to neighbouring villages. Anyone receiving a letter had to solve it and appear before the king the next day. Those who failed were beheaded. Seven men had already lost their lives trying to answer the king’s riddles.
One day, a Gamarala from a nearby village received a letter. He was the eighth to face the king’s challenge. Reading it, he could not understand the riddle. Fear filled his heart—not only for himself but also for his daughter, who would be left alone if he failed.
That day, his daughter was working in the paddy fields. Returning home, she saw her father crying heavily.
“Ane! Father, why are you crying?” she asked.
“I received a letter from the king, the same king who beheaded seven men,” he replied.
“Tomorrow I must go to him. If I cannot solve this riddle, I will be killed. You will be alone,” he said, weeping.
The daughter calmly asked to see the letter. She read it carefully, understood the riddle, and explained the answers to her father. With her guidance, the Gamarala memorised everything perfectly.
The next morning, he approached the king confidently. When questioned, he answered exactly as his daughter had instructed. The king was astonished.
“Who taught you this?” the king asked.
“My daughter, Your Highness,” the Gamarala replied respectfully.
Impressed by her intelligence, the king declared, “I shall come to marry your daughter tomorrow.”
The Gamarala panicked. “Build inner and outer sheds. Milk the oxen, leave it to curdle, and press oil from sand. Complete everything perfectly before I arrive,” ordered the king.
Confused and worried, the father did not know how to fulfill these impossible tasks. When his daughter returned from the field, she found him anxious and scared.
“Father, do not worry,” she said. “You build the sheds. I will handle the rest.”
Following her clever instructions, the father completed the sheds while the daughter managed all other preparations perfectly.
The next day, the daughter and her friend waited by the sesame chena for the king. The king’s ministers recognized her and alerted him.
“Where are you going, girl?” the king asked.
“We are going to the Dobi’s house,” she replied cleverly, “because our father has attained age, as women do.”
The king was puzzled. “How can a man attain age as women do?”
Smiling, the daughter replied, “Just as your commands are impossible to fulfill, so is it possible for a man to attain age like a woman.”
The king laughed and then asked, “Where is the oil in this sesame flower?”
She answered cleverly, “Oh King, when your mother conceived, where were you?”
Pleased with her wit, the king lifted her onto his horse and returned to the palace. The Gamarala remained safe, and his daughter became queen.
This story of Gamarala’s daughter is a classic example of intelligence and bravery celebrated in Sri Lankan folklore. It reminds us that even ordinary villagers can overcome impossible challenges and protect their loved ones.
For more captivating stories, explore other tales like Andare – The Royal Comedian of Sri Lanka, Gamarala and the White Elephant, Andare and the Coconut Plants, and How Andare Ate the King’s Sugar.
Learn more about traditional Sri Lankan village life on Galle Fort and explore a rich collection of folk stories.
For external references on the cultural significance of Sri Lankan folklore and women in folktales, you can check resources like UNESCO on Sri Lankan intangible cultural heritage and World History Encyclopedia – Folklore.