Once, there were five brothers who looked alike and were gifted with strange abilities.
The first brother could swallow the sea, the second one could not be cut by steel or iron, the third one could grow his legs and hands long, the fourth one could
not be burnt by fire and the fifth one could hold his breath indefinitely.
One day, their neighbour noticed that the first brother would always catch a lot of fish. So, he sent his son with the brother to learn the trick.
On reaching the seashore, the first brother said, “I will suck the sea in my mouth. You go and gather as many fish as you want from the bottom.” But the boy became fascinated with the corals at the bottom.
And he did not return. The first brother could not hold the sea in his mouth any longer, so he let it out, and the boy almost got drowned.
Everyone accused the first brother of trying to kill the neighbour’s son. He was taken to the judge, who sentenced to have his head cut off.
The first brother requested, “Please let me visit my family before you punish me.” The judge agreed. The first brother went home and told his brothers what had happened. The second brother said, “Brother, we all look alike. I will go in your place, since no steel or iron can harm me.”
So, the second brother went to the judge. The executioner struck a blow but the sword broke. So, the judge ordered that the brother should be drowned in the sea.
The second brother pleaded, “I want to let my brothers know that I am being drowned in the sea.” The judge agreed. Now, the third brother was sent. He grew his legs so long that they touched the sea floor and his head remained above water.
The judge ordered that he should be boiled in hot oil. Once again, on the third brother’s plea, the judge sent him home. Now, the fourth brother was sent. He was put into a huge pot of boiling oil, but he remained unharmed. The judge finally decided to bury him alive.
With the judge’s permission, the fourth brother went to meet his family and the fifth brother went in his place. He was buried deep. But since he could live without air, he crawled out safely at midnight. Thus, the five brothers helped one another and lived happily ever after.