Book Review: Manorama-katha

This review discusses a collection of Prakrit folk tales known as the Manorama‑kathā, which belong to the broader category of wit and cunning stories. The tales revolve around two tricksters, Vachansar and Chipitanas, whose devious schemes expose the follies of the greedy and gullible. In one story Vachansar sells a merchant a ‘magical’ blanket and later dupes a wealthy man into buying a goat that allegedly excretes gold coins. When the goat fails to produce riches, he offers a remedy involving the goat’s ear that drains the man’s fortune. Vachansar’s conniving continues as he tricks a shepherd into handing over his goods by pretending to be married and needing his father’s help. These episodes highlight how intentional word‑trapping and manipulation of language can exploit human greed and ignorance. The review situates the Manorama‑kathā within Hasu Yagnik’s broader study of “Bole Bandhanarni Kathao” (word‑trapper tales), which categorises trickster stories into unintentional and intentional types. It notes Yagnik’s argument that many Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali stories originate from folk traditions and that once oral tales are written they become fixed texts yet continue to evolve through regional variations. The Manorama‑kathā exemplifies the intentional word‑trapper: the tricksters deliberately twist words to deceive others for personal gain. The review appreciates the moral commentary embedded in these tales—the downfall of the greedy and foolish—and observes that the narrative devices, such as clever dialogues and ironic twists, keep readers engaged. It also underscores the historical value of preserving such stories, as they reveal social attitudes and rhetorical strategies used in medieval Gujarati and Prakrit literature. The reviewer encourages scholars to explore how these tales reflect the dynamics between orality and literacy in Jain narrative traditions.

Summary reviewed by a volunteer editor.