There lived in a village a poor widow, and she had only one son. He was what is called a klutz and, while studying at a monastery school, he only learned iti-pi. No matter how hard the teachers fought over him, they could not teach him anything more. Since then, fellow villagers endlessly laughed at the klutz. In addition, he himself constantly repeated “itipi, itipi”*. So over time, the nickname “Itipi” was established for him.
[Itipi is the initial word of the prayer.]
Meanwhile, Itipi grew up without learning anything. And the poor mother, trying to adapt her unlucky son to some business, one day sent him to the river to fish. Itipi sat down on the shore and started his favorite “itipi”.
Nat, the keeper of the river, heard his prayer.
- This man reveres the three shrines. We need to help him so that he no longer burdens himself with fishing.
And Nat Itipi sent three huge miracle fish with gold. Itipi was very surprised at the fabulous gifts and reasoned that since the poor man had no need for such riches, and their place was in the royal palace, then they should be sent to the king.
Meanwhile, Nat, the guardian of the river, guessed Itipi’s thoughts and sent a ship towards him. Deciding that this was a royal ship, Itipi turned to the captain of the ship:
- Give these gifts to the king and say that Itipi sent them!
The captain, who turned out to be the same nat - the guardian of the river, immediately carried out his instructions.
The king was incredibly happy about Itipi’s generous gifts and thought: “It must be a very kind person who sent me such riches. I, too, must give him royal gifts.” And he, in turn, asked the nat to give Itipi offerings that were no less beautiful.
Seeing the king’s offerings, Itipi became very confused, was afraid that all this was not good, and began to pray even more fervently.
Itipi, who unexpectedly became rich, returned to the village, built a good house and married a beautiful girl.
One day, while touring his possessions, the king saw Itipi’s wife and fell in love with her. Having conceived an insidious plan to take possession of the woman he liked at any cost, the king decided to kill Itipi. He called Itipi to the palace and commanded:
– There are five types of lotus growing on Lake Mahodeka. In seven days you must deliver them to the palace.
Itipi was saddened. He realized that the cruel king had decided to get rid of him and was deliberately sending him to the lake, which was guarded by a terrible cannibal who devoured everyone who dared to approach his domain. In sadness and longing, he returned home and told his wife about the misfortune that had befallen him.
“Don’t worry, Itipi,” his wife told him. “I’ll give you a handkerchief for the journey, and it will help you out of trouble.”
With a handkerchief in his pocket, whispering a cherished prayer, Itipi went to the lake guarded by the cannibal. Two days later he reached the lake and sat down under a tree to rest.
It was then that the cannibal saw him and, rejoicing that he could finally feast on human flesh, he rushed at Itipi, but the power of the scarf was very great, and nothing came of it to the cannibal.
And the simple-minded Itipi began to instruct the cannibal on the right path, explaining how unworthy and even disgusting it is to engage in cannibalism.
And the cannibal swore an oath to Itipi to end cannibalism. Having then found the lotuses Itipi needed, the cannibal taught him the art of transformation and bid him a warm farewell.
Endowed with a new gift, Itipi returned to the palace with lotuses in his hands.
However, the king did not rest on this. Again he called Itipi to the palace.
“Let me just change my clothes,” Itipi asked the ministers sent for him.
Having secured their consent, Itipi went to the kitchen and pinned a large banana branch to his shirt.
“If the king kills me, then let me turn into a banana branch!” – Itipi cast the spell.
King Itipi invited him into the garden and announced to him that he wanted to take his life with his own hand.
“I agree to fall at the hands of your mercy,” Itipi said humbly, “but I ask you for one thing: allow me to become a banana branch after death!”
The king fulfilled Itipi's request and cut him in half. And Itipi immediately turned into a lush banana branch.
Pleased that he had finally managed to get rid of his rival, the king gathered his ministers and military leaders and ordered them to bring Itipi's wife to the palace.
And in Itipi’s house, a huge army was waiting for the king’s envoys - Itipi turned numerous bananas into his soldiers. And the army of the royal servants prevailed. And Itipi became king. And he happily ruled the country, not being separated from his beloved wife until his death.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru