The Tale of Two Brothers: A Tagin Folktale

Once upon a time, in a quiet village, there lived a husband and wife who had two sons. The elder son was simple-hearted and foolish, while the younger son was wise and clever. As the boys grew, they lost both parents and soon reached the age of marriage.

While the younger brother found a beautiful, kind-hearted wife, the elder brother faced rejection due to his foolishness; no girl in the village wanted him as a husband. The elder brother, though lacking wit, worked tirelessly from morning to night in the fields, yet he remained an object of ridicule to the villagers. The younger brother, growing ever more disdainful, often left him behind because he viewed his elder brother’s simplicity as a flaw.

The younger brother’s wife, however, was generous and compassionate. She would quietly slip food to her foolish brother-in-law without her husband knowing. In the village, the cunning villagers took advantage of the elder brother’s innocence: they would shower him with praise and offer him food whenever they needed his help, only to abandon him once they had used him. Witnessing his brother’s gullibility, the younger brother grew to dislike him even more.

|The Tale of Two Brothers: A Tagin Folktale

A skilled hunter, the younger brother was known for his prowess in the jungle, often returning with spoils like wild boar, bear, and deer, which he would generously share among the villagers—though he refused to give even a single piece to his brother. The villagers, enjoying the hunter’s bounty, praised his hunting skills, further feeding his pride.

One day, the younger brother ventured deep into the jungle for another hunt. As he passed through dense foliage, he heard the sounds of wild boars playing and nurturing each other. Suddenly, a tiger appeared, attacking the herd. The boars scattered, but one mother boar, who had just given birth, stayed behind to protect her helpless baby. Bravely, she fought the tiger to shield her newborn. The hunter observed this fierce battle, moved by the mother boar’s selfless love and determination. Witnessing her courage struck a chord in his heart, inspiring him to test the true love of the villagers who always seemed to admire him.

With a plan in mind, he killed a boar and a snake, wrapping the snake around his body.

Pretending to be bitten and lying motionless, he cried out dramatically, as though he had been struck down. Hearing his cries, the villagers rushed to the scene but, seeing him still and lifeless, they assumed he was dead and quickly left without offering further help.

But when the elder brother learned of his younger brother’s plight, he immediately went to the jungle, carrying a rope to bring his brother’s body home. Upon finding him, the elder brother threw himself over him in sorrow, hugging him tightly and crying bitterly. At that moment, the younger brother stirred and revealed that he had been pretending all along to test who would truly come to his aid. Touched by his elder brother’s pure and genuine love, he felt a profound change in his heart.

From that day forward, the younger brother understood the importance of family and blood relations, realizing that his foolish brother was the one who truly cared for him. Their bond grew stronger, and their relationship flourished with love and respect.

Moral of the Story: This Tagin folktale teaches us that genuine love and loyalty are often found in unexpected places and that family ties are irreplaceable. It reminds us that wisdom alone does not make one a better person; kindness, loyalty, and respect for family are just as important in life.