Summary:
Phadaeng Nang Ai is a tragic love triangle story of King Phadaeng, Princess Aikham, and the Naga Prince,
Phangkhi. The story tells of Princess Aikham, the daughter of King Ek-Thita and Queen Sida of the ancient
Khmer Empire. She fell in love with King Phadaeng of Phaphong city. Their secret love was never recognized,
as King Phadaeng failed to win the rocket contest in Bun Bangfai, the rocket festival organized by the Khmer king. At the
same time, the Naga Prince Phangkhi was deeply in love with Princess Aikham without her knowledge. During the rocket
festival, he came in disguise as a young man to take a glimpse at her beauty. Later, he came in disguise as a white squirrel
wearing a bell to attract her attention. Seeing the squirrel, Aikham wished to have it as her pet, but she ordered the court
hunter to shoot it for her with a poisoned arrow. The squirrel died, but he made a wish that his meat be deliciously aromatic
and plentiful for all to enjoy. So, Aikham shared the meat of the squirrel with everyone in her city, save for the widows as
they had no husbands to work for the king's army. When the Naga King Suttho received the news of his son being killed by the
Khmer hunter, he led the naga army to kill everyone in the Khmer kingdom, particularly those who had eaten the squirrel meat.
For those who did not eat the meat, the Naga King left them alone. Phadaeng heard about this disaster and came to rescue his
lover, Princess Aikham, but in vain. The Naga King threw his tail to wrap the princess and pull her down to live in the
Badan, the naga city. Phadaeng ended his life. He became the ghost king and organized a ghost army to fight for Aikham in
Badan. The battle went on and on until Indra came to stop the fight and told everyone involved waiting for the next Buddha,
Phra Si-aan, to judge as to whom Princess Aikham belonged. (Translated by Wajuppa Tossa)
No. of Pages: 194; No. of Fascicles: 1 Script: Tham Isan Physical Condition: Missing some pages