M23A. The turtle asks to soak it, ATU 122G (2) .23.
Theturtle says that before it can be eaten, it must be properly soaked in water, and once in the water, it swims away.
Ancient India, Marathi, Varli, Sinhalese.
South Asia. Ancient India (Sanskrit texts) [the one who catches the turtle suggests soaking it in water first; swims away]: Bødker 1957, No. 638:69; Marathi [fox tries to smash unsuccessfully turtle shell; she suggests putting it in water to soak; pulls a fox into the sea]: Dexter 1938:24-26 in Bødker 1957, No. 639:69; Varley [Tiger offered Hare, Deer, Turtle, Fox and Great The lizard stopped in his cave; said that he would eat them now; the Hare rushed to run, the Tiger followed him, all the animals escaped, but the Turtle did not have time; advised the Tiger to put it in the water first so that the shell wet; swam away]: Satyawadi 2010:54-55 (Vozdigan translation 2012b: 195); Sinhalese [storks carry a turtle, holding the ends of the wand that the turtle holds in the middle in their beak; the jackal asks the turtle, she answers and falls; when the jackal wants to eat it, the turtle laughs: I have been dry for 7 years and I must first be soaked in water to eat it; once in the water, the turtle swam away]: Parker 1910:230.