Dhammabal is the young wise man who defeats Thao Kabinlaphrom in the Songkran legend.
In the traditional story, Dhammabal is renowned for his learning and understanding of birds’ language. Thao Kabinlaphrom challenges him with riddles concerning the changing location of human radiance or fortune during the day. Dhammabal initially does not know the answers, but he overhears a conversation between eagles and learns the solution.
He then gives the correct answers and wins the contest. Kabinlaphrom must keep his promise and surrender his head, creating the annual duty of the seven Nang Songkran daughters. Each daughter carries the head in turn according to the day on which the New Year arrives.
Dhammabal is a figure from Songkran mythology, not the name of a historical king or a modern festival organizer. Spellings can vary in English transliteration, but “Dhammabal” is the form commonly used in English descriptions of the legend.