In a certain kingdom, in a certain state, there lived a king. One day he called all his courtiers and associates and gave them the following task:
- Will any of you have the courage to get me a peacock that laughs with silk yarn and cries with pearl grains?
Dead silence fell in the palace hall. No one stepped forward, no one raised a voice. Then the king became angry, stamped his feet and said to his princely sons:
“Is it really that the ancestral blood of warriors has dried up in your veins, that you are dumbfounded, that you look down!”
The princes felt ashamed. They gathered their courage, approached the king and said:
“Dear father, we will all certainly find such a peacock together.”
The king was delighted, hugged his seven sons tightly, ordered swords, shields and other weapons to be brought for them, blessed them and said goodbye to them.
And the seven princes set off in search of the peacock. They had already come far, although they themselves did not know where to go. No one had ever heard of such a peacock anywhere. Finally they came to a dark forest. In the middle of the forest they saw a strange hut - it hung between heaven and earth. The eldest prince bravely stepped towards her, and she began to land directly on his head. The prince got scared and ran away, and the hut quietly sank to the ground. The door was open, but none of the princes had the courage to enter the hut. The youngest prince was simple-minded - so the brothers persuaded him to go inside. He entered and saw: a hermit was sitting there, lost in deep thought, his beard had grown to his feet, the hair from his head was scattered in waves on the floor. The prince stood and was silent, but the elder never came out of his thoughts. Then the prince washed the hermit’s body and combed his hair with a comb. In one corner of the hut he saw a pot of oil, and in the other - roots and fruits. He took some oil and began to rub the old man’s forehead with it. The hermit came to his senses and said:
“Son, I’m very pleased with the way you took care of me.” Ask for whatever you want for it.
The prince asked the elder to promise three times that he would fulfill his request, and then he said:
- I am the king's son. My father entrusted me and my brothers with a very difficult task. Please teach us how to do it.
- What is this matter?
“Most Honorable Father, father told us to get a peacock that laughs with silk yarn and cries with pearl grains.”
“Son, this task is not just difficult, it is impossible.” That's okay, I'll teach you how to find a peacock.
The hermit took out a box of antimony from the folds of his dhoti, handed it to the prince and said:
- Here, take it. If you let your eyes down with this antimony, you will become invisible. Go with God, he will help you in everything.
As soon as the prince left the hut, the brothers attacked him with questions about what he had been doing there for so long. The prince showed them the box and said:
- Brothers, a hermit lives in a hut. He gave me this box of antimony. Whoever draws his eyes with it will become invisible.
- So this is a magic box! Come on, give it to me. “You’re little, you’ll lose,” said the older brother.
The younger brother had no idea about deception and cunning. He gave the box to his older brother. Everyone was tired during the day and, as soon as they lay down, they fell asleep. The elder brother did not sleep. He quietly woke up all his brothers except the youngest, and they left the forest. When the prince opened his eyes in the morning and discovered that the brothers had left, he became sad. But what can you do? He gathered his strength and set off on his way. A few days later he came to some city. There the king had a mute daughter. Heralds walked through the streets with drums and shouted loudly that the king would marry the princess to the one who would force her to speak. And anyone who tries and fails will be sent to prison. The prince heard the heralds and thought: there is no need to rush into anything. So he decided to stop at an inn.
As soon as the owner of the inn saw him, she immediately said:
“Son, six princes came here, they look exactly like you.” They tried to marry the princess, but were unable to get her to speak. Now they are languishing in prison.
“These are my brothers,” said the prince. “It’s them I’m looking for.” Didn't they leave their things with you?
“Their things are here, completely safe,” answered the hostess.
The prince was delighted and gave her five gold pieces. And she gave him things, among them a box of antimony. Then the prince asks:
“You’ve been living in this city for a long time and you certainly know how to make the princess talk?”
The hostess wanted the prince to pay her generously once again, and she took him into the room, locked the door and said:
“Son, our dumb princess is an expert at playing chess.” Nobody can beat her. As soon as she sees that the matter is going to lose, she immediately makes a sign to her cat. And the cat is a scientist: he will come up, knock over the lamp, and mix up the pieces and pawns in the darkness. So it turns out that the princess wins, and the daredevil who sat down to play with her is put behind bars.
The prince found out the secret, caught the mouse and began to tame it. When the time came, he hid the mouse in his sleeve, appeared at the palace gates and struck the gong. The royal guards immediately guessed that they had caught some kind of bird again. The prince was let in and brought to the princess. At her command, the chess set was set up. Now they are left alone. The prince played so skillfully that the princess was taken aback. Apparently she is losing. Here she made a sign to her cat. The cat turned off the lamp and was already approaching the chess pieces when the prince released his mouse. The cat is after the mouse, who cares about chess! The princess received a mat from the prince.
- How is this so? - she asked in anger. The prince even jumped for joy.
“Beat the kettledrums,” he shouted, “the dumb princess has spoken!”
Timpani thundered throughout the city. The people learned that the princess had spoken. Old and young praised and glorified the prince. Soon they were engaged, and then the princess said:
- Now I will never be separated from you.
“I will certainly take you with me,” said the prince. - But not today. First, immediately release my brothers from prison!
By order of the queen, the six brothers were released. They envied the happiness of their younger brother.
“Brother,” they tell him, “there is no need for us to spend time here in pleasure.” We must quickly go after the peacock.
And they all left that city together. They walked and walked and climbed into a dense forest. They were almost dying of thirst. Suddenly they see a well. The younger brother began to get water. As soon as he bent over the edge of the well, the brothers pounced on him, cut off his hands and pushed him down, and they themselves left. There was little water in the well, and the prince did not drown. At that time, merchants passed by. The prince heard steps and began to sing loudly. The merchants look around, but there is no one anywhere. One merchant looked into the well and stepped back.
“Brothers,” he shouted, “there’s an evil spirit there!”
When another merchant looked down, the prince said:
- Why are you needlessly afraid? I am not an evil spirit, not a ghost. I'm human, just like you.
He showed them his severed hands and said:
“My brothers cut off my hands.” You can see for yourself that I won’t do you any harm.
The merchants felt sorry for the prince, and they pulled him out of the well. The prince began to graze their oxen and began to live without worries. Time passed as usual. It's getting cold. The merchants stocked up a large pile of straw to feed their livestock. The poor prince buried himself in it at night, and it was warm for him to sleep. Once in the middle of the night he heard some singing. He opened his eyes and looked - there was a hole under the straw, and steps leading underground. He quickly lined his eyes with antimony from a box, went down and saw a large dance floor, sweepers sweeping it, water carriers pouring water. On the platform in the middle of the platform is a golden throne, covered in precious stones. Velvet carpets are spread out all around, and the rare perfumes make your head spin. Indra sat on the throne in all his splendor, and in front of him the apsaras danced and sang. Sitting quietly in a corner, the prince admired this spectacle. Suddenly it occurred to him to wipe off the antimony and see what would happen when his presence was noticed. As soon as he wiped away the antimony, Indra rose from his throne and shouted in anger:
-Who are you? Don't you know that people are not allowed to go where the gods gather?
- I know, great Indra! - the prince answered humbly. - I know everything. You love music. Here you have the best music and the best dancing, but without a drum it’s like food without salt.
Indra liked the prince’s words and asked:
“Can you bring us a good drummer here?”
“Where will I bring him from?” said the prince. “If I had hands, I would serve you myself.”
Indra was delighted and ordered the younger gods to fix the prince’s hands. In the blink of an eye, the prince had both hands. And what happened then! The prince beat the beat on the drum so well that everyone gasped with pleasure. The dancing and music ended, and the prince was about to leave, but Indra stopped him and said:
-Where are you going? First, put your hands back.
The prince returned his hands and left. From then on, he began to go to the meeting of the gods every night and play the drum. Indra was very pleased with him. One day the prince asked him:
- Lord, it’s difficult for me without hands. The night is spent dancing and music, but what is it like during the day? I can’t even earn enough to feed myself. Have mercy, leave these hands to me.
That night Indra did not take his hands from the prince. And the next day the prince left that place. He walked and walked and came to some city. He looked at the roof of the palace and saw: the king’s daughter was standing on it and combing her hair. She noticed the prince. Both took a liking to each other. The prince heard from the people that whoever marries this princess dies on the first night. He decided to marry her anyway and sent news about it to the palace.
The princess called the prince to her and said:
- I wouldn't mind marrying you. Just know that anyone who marries me cannot live until morning. Six princes came here, just like you, and they all died - one after another. I myself am suffering, but I can’t do anything. For the sake of your life, refuse to marry me.
The prince did not listen, and the wedding was celebrated. That night the princess fell asleep soundly, but the prince did not sleep. He lined his eyes with antimony and began to wait for trouble. At midnight he sees a black snake crawling out of the princess’s mouth and wriggling. And she crawls - as was her custom - straight to the prince’s bed. Yes, he was on his guard, pulled out a sword and cut it into three parts; He picked up the pieces and threw them into the corner. Then he lay down and fell fast asleep.
At dawn the princess woke up, but she was afraid to even look at the prince - it was hard to see her dead husband. And when she heard that he was snoring, she jumped up and joyfully exclaimed: “Yes, he’s sleeping!” - and pressed herself close to the prince. The prince opened his eyes and said:
- Queen! Today I had a joyful dream. The princess could not even think about the trouble she was carrying within herself. He says to the prince:
- Today my soul is so light! Tell me the truth, by what miracle did you save your life and save me from shame?
The prince showed her three pieces of snake in the corner and told her everything. The princess was incredibly happy that she had gotten rid of such a terrible evil. She took the prince to the closet and showed the bones of the princes that because of her they had become victims of a black snake.
When the time came for the prince to leave, the princess prepared to go with him. But the prince said:
“I’m looking for the peacock that laughs with silk yarn and cries with pearl grains.” I still don’t know where he is. Why do you want to wander with me? Stay home for now. If I complete my task, I will return immediately.
“Not far from here, a holy hermit performs feats of repentance. He knows where the magic peacock is. He will certainly help you. “But everyone says that it’s difficult to please him,” said the princess.
The prince promised to return soon and set off on his journey. Soon he saw the holy hermit. He sat motionless, immersed in deep thought. He is all overgrown with dirt, ants are crawling all over his body. So from that day on the prince began to take care of the hermit. He spent six months in tireless service to him. One day the prince sees: the saint opened his eyes. He was very happy and fell at his feet.
“Son,” says the saint, “caring for your neighbor is never without benefit.” I'm pleased with you. I know you are looking for a peacock. He lives in the capital of the Daityas - evil spirits. Whoever goes there will not return alive. But I will teach you how to be. Here's a ball for you. Throw it in front of you, and it will lead you to the capital of the Daityas without interference or obstacles. Their king has a princess living in his palace. With her help, your business will be settled. Go without fear, my blessing is with you.
The prince walked for a long time after the ball and finally came to the capital of the Daityas. He lined his eyes with antimony, went into the royal garden, climbed a tree and began to pick and eat apples. In that garden there was a gazebo, and in it the princess lay on a luxurious bed.
- Beauty, I came to free you! - said the prince in a loud voice.
The princess was surprised, looked around - there was no one in sight. She got scared and asked:
- Where can there be a human voice in a city where there are no people?
The prince quickly wiped off the antimony and approached the princess. The princess fell in love with the prince at first sight, but immediately remembered the king of the Daityas. She says to the prince:
- Why did you come here? Now, leave immediately. The king of the Daityas is about to come. He won't spare you. I beg you, run away from here.
The prince lined his eyes with antimony and again became invisible. Then the king of the Daityas soon appeared. The princess got him drunk, began to affectionately touch his hair, and said:
- Father, you are already old. If something happens to you, how can I live here alone? I'm completely tired of this thought.
Daitya laughed and replied:
- Stupid, who can take my life? I'll tell you this, and you listen carefully. A white peacock sits on a fountain in the garden behind the palace. Do you know what kind of peacock this is? He laughs with silk yarn and cries with pearl grains. If you remove it from its place, you will see a pipe. There is a frog sitting in that pipe. It is in this very frog that my death lies. Now tell me, are your worries in vain? No one will find this frog, no one will take my life.
While talking, the Daitya king fell asleep. The next day at dawn he went in search of prey.
So the prince, invisible, overheard everything that the king of the Daityas was talking about with the princess. As soon as the Daitya left, the prince made his way into the back garden. First he caressed the white peacock, then removed it from its place. There was indeed a pipe underneath. A frog immediately jumped out of it. And immediately a terrible storm arose. The daitya rushed straight towards the prince, panting. The prince saw him and tore off the frog's leg. The daitya limped, but still ran to grab the prince. The prince tore off the second leg of the frog, so the daitya crawls towards him. The prince immediately broke the frog's neck. Then the king of the Daityas wheezed, stretched out on the ground and gave up his ghost.
The prince was delighted, took the peacock and came with it to the princess.
“Now make him laugh and cry,” he said.
“Brother peacock, brother peacock, but the rakshasa died,” said the princess. The peacock laughed, and immediately a whole pile of silk yarn appeared in front of him. Then the princess said:
“Brother peacock, brother peacock, I’m leaving you, leaving with the prince.”
The peacock began to cry, and instead of tears, pearl grains fell from his eyes.
The prince's joy knew no bounds. He took the princess and the peacock and went to his kingdom. The dear princess tells him:
- Know that these pearls are not simple. If you sprinkle it on the bones of a dead person, he will come to life.
Now the prince saw that he could do whatever he set his mind to. And now all he was thinking about was how to quickly get to the princess, in whose womb the black snake was hiding, and bring the brothers back to life. He did not walk, but flew straight and soon found himself in place. He entered the closet and poured pearls onto the bones. And the princes rose safe and sound.
The prince took both this princess and the brothers. They walked and walked and came to the kingdom of the dumb princess. The mute princess ordered her craftsmen to make a flying carpet. The prince seated everyone on a magic carpet. But he didn’t have time to sit down - his brothers deceived him again and flew away without him. They flew home and told their father that they had caught the peacock.
Both princesses were very sad in their separation from the younger prince. The king saw that the peacock did not laugh or cry, and he became very angry. He suspected that his sons had deceived him, and ordered them all to be impaled. Everything was ready for the execution when the younger prince appeared from distant travels. The peacock saw him and laughed joyfully. And immediately such a pile of silk yarn grew around that it was impossible to lift it. And the angry king dispersed and ordered the guards:
- And impale the youngest one too!
The peacock heard the royal order, burst into tears, and pearl grains began to rain.
Then the king saw that the peacock was the one he needed, and was delighted, but he still didn’t know who got the peacock. He canceled the execution and called all the princes to him. They told the whole truth and asked for forgiveness. Only the king did not forgive them. He gave his entire kingdom to his youngest son, and sent the elders away from the country.
And the younger prince began to live in happiness and joy with his queens.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru