Born for Water (Tóbájíshchíní)
Also known as: Tóbadzĭstsíni (Matthews's spelling), Child of the Water
Mythological Narrative
The younger of the Hero Twins, Monster Slayer's brother; in Matthews's version the son of White Shell Woman by the water, in many later tellings Changing Woman's son by the Sun.
Scholarly Commentary & Evolution
## The younger twin
Tóbájíshchíní, Born for Water, is the brother of Monster Slayer, and the two act together through the journey to their father's house and the killing of the first monster. His name, usually translated "born for water" or "child of the water", reflects the version of his birth told in Matthews's *Navaho Legends*, in which White Shell Woman conceives him by the dripping of water, while Changing Woman conceives Monster Slayer by the Sun. In many later tellings both are Changing Woman's twin sons by the Sun.
## Staying home
After the twins kill Yéʼiitsoh, the brothers' paths divide in many tellings: Monster Slayer goes out to destroy the other monsters, while Born for Water stays at home to watch over their mothers, keeping watch over a sign (in some tellings a prayer-stick) that will show whether his brother is in danger. The partnership, one who goes out and one who guards, is part of what the twins represent.
## Together
The twins are often invoked together, and in ceremonial contexts that this site does not describe they have complementary roles.
Academic Discussion & Critique
Exchange peer-reviewed hypotheses, comparative Indo-European etymologies, and archaeological field interpretations regarding Born for Water (Tóbájíshchíní).
You Might Also Like
Changing Woman (Asdzą́ą́ Nádleehé)
The most beloved of the Diné Holy People, 'Woman who changes', found as an infant on Chʼóolʼį́ʼí, mother of the Hero Twins by the Sun, and creator of the first Diné clans; she grows old and young again with the seasons.
First Man (Áłtsé Hastiin)
One of the first beings of the lower worlds, who with First Woman leads the people through the emergence, helps order the world above, and in many tellings finds the infant Changing Woman.
First Woman (Áłtsé Asdzą́ą́)
First Man's partner in the lower worlds, whose quarrel with him leads to the separation of women and men and, in many tellings, to the birth of the monsters; she helps raise Changing Woman.
The Sun Bearer (Jóhonaaʼéí)
The Sun, who carries the sun across the sky, father of Monster Slayer by Changing Woman; he tests the twins harshly before recognising them as his sons and giving them lightning weapons.