One day a man was walking along a deserted road. His clothes were covered in dust, his bare feet were bleeding, and his tangled hair hung over his forehead. And from under them small and angry eyes sparkled.
Suddenly the man stopped and listened. His face wrinkled, he ducked down and ran to the edge of the road: somewhere far, far away in the mountains a song began to ring. The singer's voice flowed freely and sweetly.
Here is a song bursting out of the mountains. The man turned around and saw a young, handsome horseman.
The rider was cheerful. He looked joyfully at everything that was around and affectionately stroked his horse between the ears.
Having caught up with the pedestrian, he stopped and asked:
- How far are you traveling, wanderer, may the days of your life be blessed!
“My journey is long,” the man on foot answered quietly, looking at the rider.
-Who are you, a singer?
The horseman smiled and, with sparkling eyes, answered:
- I'm Mard.
“A-ah-ah...” drawled the man on foot. - Well, if you are Mard, then I am Namard...
Mard laughed at the answer. Then he looked at Namard’s bruised legs and suggested:
“We are now fellow travelers, but our road is long.” Would you like to mount my horse? After all, you are tired!
Namard, hiding an evil smile, agreed and mounted his horse. And Mard walked alongside, holding the stirrup. He walked and hummed.
Mard sang quietly and did not know what dark thoughts were hidden in Namard’s head. Suddenly Namard stopped his horse and, turning to Mard, said:
– Do you see that flower by the side of the road?
- Yes.
– This flower gives the power of love. Rip it off!
-Are you telling the truth?
- Why should I deceive you? – Namard replied, making an offended face.
Mard let go of the stirrup and went to the flower. At the same moment, Namard whipped his horse and, falling to his neck, rushed forward.
- Stop! - Mard shouted, but in response only an echo laughed in the mountains.
Namard moved further and further away and soon turned into a small, barely visible point. Mard sank to the ground and thought bitterly: “I wanted to help a man, but this is what happened...” But he was a cheerful man and never lost heart. And then, after grieving for a short time, Mard got up and went to the mountains to look for a place to stay for the night.
By this time, the flames of the sunset had gone out, the sky had frowned menacingly and a strong wind blew from the mountains, so strong that Mard almost fell off his feet.
There is not a soul around. Mard became scared. And then thunder struck, tearing the dark sky to shreds.
Mard quickened his steps and, in pitch darkness, reached a huge cave. As soon as he entered it, a terrible downpour poured in.
The chilled Mard, huddled in the far corner of the cave, tried to warm up.
“I’ll sit for a while, and then I’ll light a fire,” he thought, trying to warm his numb fingers with his breath.
But just as Mard was about to leave the cave to gather brushwood, he heard a growl, and a pair of green eyes appeared at the entrance to the cave.
- O great Allah, save me! - Mard whispered. He saw that these eyes belonged to a huge tiger.
The tiger sniffed the air, yawned and lay down at the entrance, resting his terrible head on his powerful paws. He lay there for a long time, now releasing and now hiding his huge sharp claws.
But after a while a wolf approached the tiger and, sighing heavily, also lay down next to him. And after a while the beautiful fox came running.
The tiger grinned kindly and roared in greeting. And the wolf, sighing again, said:
- Salam, fox!..
Mard sat neither alive nor dead from fear and only prayed to Allah so that the animals would not smell him.
After talking about various news, the fox turned to the tiger:
-Where do you go all day? After all, you are our main hunter. And now you’re not visible while hunting, and at the same time you’re so... - The fox waved her tail, looking for a word: - ... so well-fed!.. I don’t know how you live, but we have a hard time without your leftovers! – the fox joked, nodding towards the shabby and thin wolf.
The flattered tiger grinned again and growled so loudly that stones fell in the mountains, and the wild goats on the rocks froze in horror.
“I can trust you with my secret.” Do you see a big rock? There is a priceless treasure buried under a stone. Every morning at sunrise I come there and lie in that place. I am full of the gold that is buried in the ground. And I don’t want to think about anything else.
Mardu could clearly see the huge stone that the tiger pointed at. Mardu was scared, but he remembered that stone.
The fox was silent, then turned to the wolf:
- Wolf, why are you so thin that your ribs cling to the stones? Maybe love is drying you out?
“What kind of love is there!” the wolf answered angrily. “There are three thousand sheep grazing in the valley.” Three thousand of the fattest, stupidest and most delicious sheep! But they are guarded by a huge, evil wolfhound, like Satan. As soon as I appear, he rushes at me, as if at an infidel...
- I know that wolfhound. And I also know that if you mix the liquid from his eyes with the leaves of this tree,” the fox nodded at a small tree at the entrance to the cave, “you will get the best cure for madness.”
Everyone was silent. Then, yawning sweetly, the fox spoke again:
“And I’m losing so much weight because I’ve completely stopped hunting and I’m almost always hungry.” All day long I keep an eye on a mouse that lives in a valley. This mouse has twenty gold coins, and she plays with them like wandering artists with balls. Every day I see this, and those golden ones sparkle before my eyes... I’m enchanted because of them!
Soon the animals fell asleep. But Mard could not sleep - he sat in his corner and shook with fear.
Only in the morning, when the sun had not yet peeked out from behind the rocks and everything around seemed unclear and gray, did the animals disperse. Then Mard got out of the cave. He picked the leaves of the magic tree and went to look for the clearing where the mouse was playing with gold coins.
I searched for Mard for a long time. Finally, when the sun hung directly above his head, casting its sharp rays down and looking at the ground in surprise, something flashed before his eyes. Mard looked closer and noticed a small mouse that skillfully and deftly played with coins. Mard rushed to her. The mouse got scared, darted into the hole and managed to take with it only one gold coin, and Mard took the rest and went on to look for the flock of sheep.
Only in the evening did he come across a small shepherd's hut. A huge wolfhound lay at the entrance. His muzzle was covered in foam, his eyes were bloodshot. Seeing Mard, he rushed at him to tear the stranger to pieces. But the shepherd called the wolfhound away. Then he suggested Mardumesto by the fire and addressed him with words of greeting:
– Hello, traveler, may Allah send you good luck!
- Hello, father, may the days of your life be blessed!
In silence they drank three bowls of tea, which gives strength to the weak and fills the heart with vigor. Then the shepherd asked:
– Why did you come to this wild land, traveler?
Without answering, Mard took nineteen gold coins from his pocket and laid them out in a row. When the shepherd saw such wealth, the bowl fell from his hands.
- This is for you, shepherd!
“I didn’t do you any harm.” Why are you making fun of me like that? Why do I need such wealth?
- For what? – asked Mard. - It’s nothing! Give me this dog.
- But why do you need it? And who will then guard my sheep?
- Buy yourself five others. You will be a rich man!
The shepherd thought for a minute and agreed. He took the wolfhound by the collar and wanted to give it to Mard.
- Eh, wait! Kill him first.
The shepherd was surprised: what a strange man! But he fulfilled the request.
Then Mard took out the dog's eyes, mixed the eye fluid with the leaves of the tree and made pills from this mixture. He spent the night by the shepherd's fire, and in the morning he set off.
He walked past high mountains, so high that their peaks were always torn apart by snow clouds, past small villages hiding from the scorching sun in the bright green mulberry trees, past flowering gardens, he walked and sang about everything he saw around him.
Mard walked for a long time. But then one evening he approached the walls of a big city. Mard passed the gate and immediately found himself among the running, confused townspeople. Everyone was hurrying to the main square. There, surrounded by guards, the gray-bearded sages stood and lamented bitterly, raising their dry hands to the sky.
-What happened, father? – Mard asked one tall old man.
- Oh, don’t ask, traveler! Walk past...
- Tell me, father, maybe I can help the trouble? - What are you talking about! Go ahead!
But Mard did not let up and bothered the old man so much that he told him everything:
“Our khan has a daughter, Rabiyya, the beauty of beauties. For several years now she has been suffering from a serious illness and sits in a room, chained to the wall. Shaitan entered her head and she went crazy. The Khan ordered to gather all the wise men of the city and said that if we do not cure his daughter, he will order us all to be executed.
Mard laughed so loudly that the elders standing nearby recoiled from him in fear.
- Yes, this is a waste of time! I will cure the Khan's daughter.
- What are you saying, impudent one! Do you know that the Khan will execute you if you don’t keep your word?
- Don't be afraid. Just give me a robe, a turban and sandals, otherwise it’s awkward to appear before the khan in this form.
The sages rejoiced. Shaking their beards as white as snow, they tore off their turbans, beautiful robes, sandals and vying with each other to offer Mardu.
He took off his tattered clothes, put on a modest but beautiful robe, tied a turban, put on light sandals and went to the palace to the khan. The guards surrounded him and led him through huge and beautiful chambers into a large hall, where the khan sat on the throne, thoughtful and sad. Seeing them enter, he frowned with displeasure.
-What do you need?
Mard stepped forward and said boldly:
- O great khan, owner of a beautiful land and ruler of people! I have come to cure your daughter.
Khan shook his head in disbelief. – Do you know what awaits you if you don’t keep your promise?
“I’m not used to boasting and deceiving,” Mard said proudly, bowing his head.
- Take him to my daughter. I give you three hours, stranger...
The guards surrounded Mard again and he was led to the other end of the palace.
They climbed up the spiral staircase into the tower. There, in a small room, sat the mad daughter of the khan, chained in chains. She didn't even turn her head when the heavy door opened with a grinding sound. Mard ordered him to be left. Everyone obeyed and silently left. Mard froze in place, peering at the beautiful features of the motionless Rabiyya. Her hair was loose, her hands were bloody with heavy shackles, her beautiful eyes sparkled with madness. Her expensive dress was torn and revealed skin as clean and white as milk. Mard approached her carefully, grabbed her head and, opening her mouth, quickly put in one pill. A little time passed. The Khan's daughter began to look around the room. She was calmer than before, but there was still madness in her eyes.
Then Mard repeated the treatment again, and immediately Rabiyya came to her senses. Looking around and seeing an unfamiliar man, she screamed:
- Maids! Come here quickly! Why is there a stranger here?
She wanted to cover her face, but could not because her hands were shackled.
Frightened, Rabiyya began to cry and began to call the servants even more pitifully and shout: “Why did you put me in chains?”
Mard smiled and left the room. He went to the khan and told him:
– Your daughter is healthy, lord! Khan did not believe the miracle and rushed to his daughter’s chambers. Great was his joy when he saw Rabiyah healthy. The chains were immediately unfastened, the girl was taken to the bathhouse, the wounds were washed, and she became healthy and healthy.
Khan, returning to Mard, told him this: “Stranger, you have performed a miracle.” You made me happy. There is no such gift that would be worthy of your good deed. Therefore, I give my daughter to you as a wife.
Mard beamed with joy and answered the khan:
- O great of the great! Sweet are your words and I bow my knees to your kindness and wisdom. But how will your daughter live with me? After all, I am poor!
“The mind is a person’s wealth,” the khan answered and ordered two mules to be loaded with gold and brought to Marda.
When the mules were brought, Mard took servants and slaves with him and went into the mountains, to the place where countless riches were hidden under a stone, on which a tiger lay every day. There Mard and his servants set up camp.
“Here we will build a palace,” said Mard and went to the city to hire workers.
Great was his surprise when, at the bazaar, among the poorest hired workers, he saw Namard.
He did not recognize Mard, and when Mard approached him with an offer to hire him, Namard agreed.
A few days later, Mard, together with hired workers, came to the mountains and ordered the construction of the palace to begin.
Taking the cook aside, he said to him:
– Whenever Namard turns to you for food, always feed him plenty and fulfill all his whims.
The cook was a little surprised, but did not question the owner.
A week passed, and every day Namard was more and more surprised at how he was treated. He was not forced to work, he was fed better than everyone else and was paid a lot of money.
"What's the matter?" - Namard racked his brains, lying in the sun and exposing his thin back to its rays.
Every day he became more and more impudent, offended other workers, shouted at the cook. And one day, approaching Mard, he asked him:
- Master, tell me why they treat me like this here?
- What, are you feeling bad? – asked Mard.
- No, on the contrary. What good have I done to you that you care about me so much?
Mard paused, and then, inviting him to sit next to him, asked:
“Don’t you remember Mard, whose horse you stole and left him alone in the mountains?”
Looking closely at Mard's face, Namard turned pale.
“I recognize you,” he said in fear, jumping up from the ground.
- Don't be afraid of me. I didn’t mean you harm then and I don’t want you harm now. Eat, drink, rest, and I will treat you like this for the rest of my days. Now sit down and listen. I'll tell you everything that happened to me. And he told Namard everything that had happened, concealing only what he had learned from the tiger.
When he finished telling, Namard, without raising his eyes, as if by chance, asked:
- How far is that cave from here?
- No, there are five Kurukhs - in that direction! – Mard pointed to the north.
[Kurukh is a measure of length.]
When he went to bed, Namard rushed to the cook and shouted loudly:
- Hey, you were born of a jackal and a hyena! Give me food quickly.
And while he greedily devoured food, a plan matured in his head - to go to the cave, learn everything from the animals and become the same as Mard.
He found a cave, climbed into it and hid in the farthest corner.
At night, the animals came to the entrance and started talking among themselves. Lisa asked:
-What's wrong with you, tiger? You've lost so much weight. Are you sick? The tiger smiled bitterly:
- Sick... No, not sick... Only I feel very bad, because in the place where the treasure is hidden, a palace is now being built, and I can’t lie there...
“Yeah, that’s the thing! – Namard thought joyfully. - So there is a treasure there! Well, Mard, today is the last day in your life,” At this time the fox continued the conversation:
- But you’ve gained so much weight, wolf! It's just a pleasure to look at you now!
“You know, fox, after our conversation that night, something incomprehensible happened. The wolfhound is no longer there, I now eat beautiful, fat sheep, that’s why I’ve grown fat...
- Tell me, it’s the same for me! - said the fox. “After that night the mouse disappeared, he no longer plays with gold coins, and I can hunt in peace!” As you can see, I’ve also gained a little weight! - And the fox happily fanned himself with his beautiful red tail.
At these words from the fox, the tiger became wary:
“You know, my friends, it couldn’t have happened without a person.” Probably someone overheard our conversation then. Come on, fox, look, is there anyone in the cave?
Lisa laughed:
- What are you doing, tiger! Since when did you become so suspicious?!
The tiger growled angrily:
– And you have become too talkative, fox!
Then the tiger got up and went into the cave. Great was his surprise and anger when he saw the cowering man.
The tiger became furious, rushed at Namard and tore him to pieces in an instant.
And Mard built a palace and lived there happily with his beautiful wife. He has not seen Namard since then.
This is the end of the true story about Marda and Namarda, about good and evil.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru