Kalaket

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Kalaket is a well-known folk tale in Isan (northeastern Thailand) and Laos. It is sometimes linked to a group of Jataka tales, but it is not part of the main collection. An editor later worked from an old palm-leaf manuscript written in Tai Noi script, and the story was published in 1976. The tale is said to have been created in Luang Prabang around 1738. Over the years it has appeared as a lullaby, a central Thai theatre piece, and in southern versions as well, and it has even inspired stage plays and films.

In the story, in the ancient city of Varanasi, King Suriyawong rules with his queen Kala and owns a magical horse named Manikap. The king wishes for a son, prays to the god Indra, and Indra sends a male and a female deva to be born as humans. The male deva becomes Prince Kalaket, born to Queen Kala. As a young man, Kalaket plays in the royal stables, secretly rides Manikap, and the horse flies away with him to the Himavanta Forest. He tells a pair of myna birds to tell his father he will be away for three years.

Kalaket reaches the city of Phi Mon, where he learns that the king’s daughter, Princess Maleechan, is beautiful. Kalaket and Maleechan meet in a garden, fall in love, and secretly visit each other at night. King Phi Mon discovers the visits and sets a mechanical spear trap. On his next visit, Kalaket is struck by the spear and dies. He asks that his body not be cremated but placed on a raft to drift away. The raft is found by a hermit, who revives Kalaket with magic. Kalaket then learns magic from the hermit and returns to find Maleechan.

King Phi Mon learns of Kalaket’s return, and they fight. Kalaket defeats Phi Mon, and the king cedes Phi Mon’s city to him and to Princess Maleechan. They rule for a time and then return together to Varanasi.