Once upon a time, there lived in a certain village an avid gambler, and he had no worries except playing cards. He was never at home at all; he abandoned his wife and children. The only problem was that the cards didn’t bring him luck, and every now and then he ended up losing.
But I must say, this gambler was a superstitious person. Therefore, before taking up the game, he went to the spreading banyan tree to lay flowers at the foot of the figurine of the nat he revered and light the lamp.
One day a gambler decided to try his luck in a neighboring village. Before setting off, he, as usual, went to bow to his nat.
- Oh my God! - said the gambler, stretching out his hands to the figure. - Help if you can. And if I win, I promise to buy you a new robe.
“Play, feel free to make big bets,” he heard in response.
The gambler was beside himself with joy. And how can you not be happy! After all, Nat himself blessed him. The gambler rushed home and sold the boat and the cow - all the parental property he had inherited - and hurried with the proceeds to his friends.
Three days later, having lost to smithereens, he returned home like a beaten dog. His wife began to scold him at all costs. And the gambler again went to his friend. He came to the banyan tree, lit a lamp, laid flowers and prayed for a long, long time, kneeling, and then said: - My God! I followed your advice in everything: I played boldly and made big bets, but, alas, I lost again.
“Don’t be sad,” he heard in response. – If you have no money left, sell the land. Play boldly, place big bets, and this time you will definitely win!
The gambler sold the land, grabbed the money in his arms and went back to playing. Just like the first time, he lost everything until his last drink. Heartbroken, the gambler trudged to Nat. As before, he lit a lamp, laid flowers at the feet of the figure, prayed respectfully and said:
- My God! I followed all your instructions, and again I failed. Help me! If happiness smiles on me, I promise to build you a new abode.
And this time he heard the same answer:
– You will definitely win! The main thing is to grab more money and don’t get discouraged. This time you are guaranteed to win. Just don't miss the opportunity. Today is a very favorable day for this.
The gambler perked up and headed home to get the money. He searched all the nooks and crannies, but found only twenty-five drinks, which his wife hid behind a figurine of the housewife. He had nowhere to borrow money, and he began to persuade his wife to agree to sell the house. The wife was indignant:
– Where should we go with the children?
- Live with your mother for now. Today I will probably win, and then we will buy a new house, better than this one.
The husband and wife argued for a long time, and finally the wife gave in. There was nothing to do, she collected her pitiful belongings and went with the children to her mother. And the gambler sold the house and, having filled his pockets with money, again indulged in his favorite pastime. At this point he shook his purse properly. At first, things went well for him, he won back the boat and the cow, then the land. All that remains is to win back the house.
But here the gambler failed again. And what! He returned to his native village without a single drink. Now he did not have his own home, and he had to go to his mother-in-law. What is life like for a mother-in-law? He mumbled and mumbled and went wherever his eyes led him. He did not even notice how his feet themselves led him to the banyan tree.
The gambler carefully lit the lamp, laid flowers at the feet of Nat’s figurine, bowed deeply and began to lament:
- Why, God, did you reassure me in vain, why did you promise me good luck?
And then he heard the same voice:
– Try to get more money, play boldly! Place big bets.
“Where can I get money now,” the gambler answered him bitterly. - I sold everything I had. Now I don’t even have my own home.
Hearing this confession, Nat left the niche and started dancing.
- So you don’t have a home either? So you're homeless like me? Looks like me! Looks like me! I, too, lost everything at cards, even my niche! And I had to temporarily settle in the niche of another Nat, I am Nat - the patron saint of gamblers!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru