One Shah had eleven sons. Ten of them were from one mother, and the last one was from another. His name was Mukhtar.
Deciding that it was time to marry his sons, the Shah called the vizier and informed him of his intention. The vizier approved his decision and informed the Shah's sons about it. However, they did not agree with their father. When the Shah found out about this, he summoned his sons and began to persuade them to get married. After much deliberation, the sons told their father that they had heard that the Chinese padishah had eleven daughters and, if their father allowed them, they would go and marry them, but did not intend to marry other girls.
Finding no other way out, the Shah gave them his consent. Then he called Mukhtar to him and told him that when they reach the grove where the horse is grazing, they should under no circumstances stop; having traveled a little further, they will reach another grove where a ram is grazing, they should not stop there either; then they will reach the fortress, where there is also no need to stop.
After these instructions, the Shah prepared everything necessary and sent his sons on their way.
Having traveled a considerable distance, the Shahzal reached the first grove that the father had spoken about, and saw a horse grazing here. Mukhtar's brothers decided to spend the night here, and no matter how much Mukhtar dissuaded them, the brothers insisted on their own. Mukhtar was forced to concede.
They stopped and made a halt here. At night the horse neighed and rushed at them. The brothers fled in fright, and Mukhtar went to meet the horse and, after great effort, killed it. Then they slept peacefully for the night and continued on their way the next day.
Having traveled a long distance, the shahzade reached the second grove, where they saw a ram. The brothers suggested staying here for the night; Mukhtar tried to dissuade them, but they insisted on their own. Mukhtar was again forced to concede.
At night the ram suddenly rushed at them. The brothers got scared and ran away; Mukhtar entered into battle with the ram and eventually killed it. The brothers returned to the place, skinned the ram, ate its meat and slept peacefully for the night.
The next day they went further and soon reached the very fortress that Mukhtar’s father had told him about. Mukhtar's brothers wanted to stop here for the night, saying that they were tired and could no longer continue their journey. Mukhtar again reminded them of their father’s instructions, but they did not agree with him, insisting on their own. Mukhtar again had to give in.
The fortress gates were locked. The brothers broke them open, slept peacefully the night in the fortress, and the next day continued on their way; they soon caught up with a large caravan. Shahzadeh was asked how long it was left for them to travel to the Chinese capital. They were told that there was still half a mile to go to the capital.
Finally, they reached the Chinese capital and did not find a single person in the city; houses and shops were open. The Shahzadehs entered and stayed in one house, and Mukhtar went into the city. No matter how much he walked, he did not meet a single soul. Finally, he took some barley and hay for his horses from one shop, some meat, bread and other foodstuffs from another shop, left the money for the taken food on the counter and returned to his brothers.
When he arrived, they were already asleep. Mukhtar prepared dinner from the food he brought, then woke up his brothers. At this time, an old man approached them; he was hungry, like them, and took part in their dinner.
Mukhtar asked the old man where the inhabitants of the city had gone? He replied that the Chinese padishah has a bird, which he feeds with human meat. Fearing for their lives, residents fled the city. Hearing this, Mukhtar asked the old man to take him to the place where the bird was. The old man agreed and led him to some garden.
“The bird I was talking about,” he said, “is in this garden in a golden cage.” Ten people are guarding it. Until the guards are killed, it is impossible to kill the bird.
Mukhtar made his way into the garden and saw that nine of the watchmen were sleeping, and one was on guard. He hid to the side and began to observe: after a while, the awake guard went away somewhere. Mukhtar quickly rushed towards him and, without allowing him to come to his senses, attacked him and killed him. Returning, he killed the sleeping guards one after another. He then pulled the bird out of the cage and tore off its head.
After that, Mukhtar made his way into the padishah’s palace, with difficulty passed by the guards, entered the padishah’s bedroom and saw that the padishah was sleeping. He jumped on his chest. The padishah opened his eyes and asked who he was.
“I am Azrael,” Mukhtar answered him, “and I came for your soul.” If you give me a receipt of your consent to marry your daughters to the sons of such and such a Shah, then I will let you live.
The padishah got scared and agreed to give an undertaking. Mukhtar quickly stood up and placed a sheet of paper and a pen in front of him. The padishah took a pen, wrote a receipt and handed it to Mukhtar.
Then, having tied the padishah’s hands and feet, Mukhtar went to the vizier’s house. Entering his bedroom, he frightened him in the same way and forced him to put a seal on the issued commitment of the padishah.
After this, Mukhtar entered the bedroom of the padishah’s daughters. Ten girls slept there together, and one, the most beautiful of them, slept separately. Mukhtar guessed that the padishah's ten daughters were from one mother, and the eleventh from another. He returned to his brothers.
In the morning, all the brothers introduced themselves to the padishah and began to ask for his daughters as wives. The padishah was forced to fulfill their desire, prepared everything they needed and sent them on their way.
Having traveled some distance, the shahzade reached the very fortress that the father had spoken about and stopped for the night in it.
At night everyone slept, except Mukhtar, who was watching over them. And then late at night some diva appeared and wanted to attack the sleeping people. Mukhtar grappled with him and after a long struggle killed him.
The diva's mother found out about this. Breathing out flames, she rose into the air, flew to the fortress, grabbed Mukhtar and imprisoned him in a dungeon near Mount Gaf.
One day, while telling fortunes from a book, the old woman, the diva’s mother, learned that any diva who entered into a fight with Mukhtar would be killed by him. Wanting to use it, she took Mukhtar out of prison and said that a ring was hidden in such and such a place and if he brought her this ring, she would free him and take him to his father.
Mukhtar agreed. The old woman put him on her shoulders and, spewing out flames, took him to some castle.
“Enter this castle,” she said. - There you will see a wheel; you must jump over him without hitting him with anything. Then you will see a woman who looks like your mother, but she is not your mother. Do not be deceived by her sweet words and kill her. In the third room you will see an old woman. Under the mattress on which she sits lies a ring. Kill the old woman, get the ring and bring it to me.
In one leap, Mukhtar jumped over the wheel and, when he entered the second room, he saw a woman in the image of his mother. He wanted to kill her, but she began to beg him to spare her, since she was his mother. Deceived by her flattering speeches, Mukhtar spared her. Then the woman suddenly picked him up and threw him into the air. But the old woman, the diva's mother, who brought him here, caught him in the air and lowered him to the ground. “Didn’t I warn you that she is not your mother?” she said. “Now you have no mercy, kill her and bring me the ring.”
Mukhtar again jumped over the wheel and entered. the second room killed a woman who looked like his mother. He then entered the third room and killed the old woman who was there. He took the ring from under her mattress and put it on her finger. Immediately a marvel appeared before him.
-I am ready for your service! he said.
“Who are you?” asked Mukhtar.
“I am obliged,” answered the diva, “to obey anyone who puts this ring on his finger.” Now command me what you want, and I will do everything.
Mukhtar ordered him to take him home to his father. Div quickly took Mukhtar, carried him and lowered him to the ground near his hometown. Mukhtar released the diva and went to the city. A little later, he met a shepherd who was dressed in black. When Mukhtar asked him why he wears black clothes, the shepherd replied:
“Our Shah had a son named Mukhtar. Both the Shah and the people loved him very much. But the divas killed him. That's why all the people are dressed in black.
- Brother shepherd! - Mukhtar told him. “You are dressed in black, and yet I am the same Mukhtar for whom you are mourning.” Go and convey this good news to the Shah.
Hearing these words, the shepherd ran to inform the Shah about this. And Mukhtar’s brothers, having returned, told about everything that had happened and entrusted Mukhtar’s bride to the care of his mother.
As soon as the brothers heard that Mukhtar had returned, they rushed to meet him, brought him to the palace and gave him a wedding and a feast for the whole world.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru