Once upon a time there lived a young man named Salik. He was a resident of a city ruled by a stern king, whose decrees were so precise and comprehensive that people were accustomed to obey them without reasoning, considering them the laws of nature itself.
The king had a daughter named Kamala, which means “perfection.” Indeed, she was perfection in every way. She was smart, beautiful and wise, and the king made a law according to which one could neither look at her, nor speak, nor even think about her too much. Of course, there were people who saw her from time to time, some had to talk to her, such as servants, but in general people talked so little about her, and the danger of thinking about her was so great that most townspeople were simply afraid of her name.
One day, Salik was walking along the seashore and noticed a princess emerging from the sea after a morning swim, and immediately fell in love. Well, at least he thought he was in love, because he was filled with feelings of attraction, fear and curiosity.
Salik told his parents about everything, but they advised him to quickly forget about what he saw.
“We can provide you with a quiet life here by obeying the king’s orders and serving him faithfully,” said Salik’s father, a respected and learned man.
But Salik felt a stronger and stronger desire to see the princess. He wandered along the seashore and through the forests, hoping to meet her again.
The princess, for her part, noticed Salik and fell in love with him. She trusted an old woman, a peddler, who came to the palace, and she, going from house to house, found Salik.
“Son,” she said, “the princess is in love with you, and now it’s up to you.” Despite the king's orders, you will have to win her hand; or is she not as beautiful as the full moon?
Salik, naturally, was flattered to hear that such an unremarkable young man like him was loved by the princess herself, and he promised the old woman that he would find his way to the princess and, despite all the dangers, would prove his love.
Inspired, Salik was much less afraid of the royal wrath than before and went for a walk around the city, thinking over his plans.
Soon he saw a crowd of people gathered on the corner to watch the punishment of a man.
- What did he do? - Salik asked.
“This man,” they told him, “allowed himself to speak of the princess with admiration.” Now he will be whipped.
When Salik saw the scarred back, his heart sank, and he thought that such a fate could await him if he persisted in his secret desires.
But as he continued on his way, he gradually calmed down, and his admiration and determination returned to him. Walking around the corner, he saw a crowd destroying the store of one merchant. People threw mud at him, and the king's soldiers threw goods from his shop. In response to Salik’s questions, they happily explained to him:
“So it will be with every wicked person who covets the daughter of our powerful and wise ruler.” This man wrote a poem about her.
Salik’s heart seemed to be plunged into cold water, and he felt that he deserved this punishment, but soon his courage returned to him again.
Then he saw a man walking down the street with his head held high. Suddenly the royal guards appeared and grabbed him.
-Looking up is a crime. Anyone who looks up may one day see the princess in the castle window, but this cannot be allowed.
Salik immediately fixed his eyes on the ground and quickly walked away. He walked further and further until he saw an old peddler making signs to him.
“Young man, you don’t do anything, and time passes.” Since you love her, and she loves you, you need to do something, otherwise you will disappoint her.
“In my opinion, I have already taken the first steps,” answered Salik.
- And what is this?
- Firstly, I didn’t tell anyone anything about her except my parents, and secondly, I didn’t write poetry about her.
“And you’re also looking at the ground.”
- This is exactly what I wanted to tell you about. I protect myself so that no one thinks I'm looking out the window.
- Idiot! You probably don’t know that there is a law and custom according to which people are forbidden to look at the ground, because then they might see the princess’s footprints?!
And she went her way.
Passing by one of the houses, Salik, thinking about the princess, suddenly heard moans and howls from inside. Without remembering himself, he ran into the house and shouted:
- Is she dead? Dead? Let me see her one last time!
The mourners looked at him as if he were crazy.
“Young man,” they said, “we are mourning the death of our relative, and it is not proper for you, a stranger, to barge in and disturb us.” Besides, this is a man, not a woman.
Salik went his own way.
Soon he found himself at a crossroads, where a venerable old man, a Sufi master, was sitting with his eyes half-closed. He spoke:
“Salik, my friend, you have little time left to find the princess.” You looked up and down, you followed your desires and became worried when you thought she was dead. It's time to decide whether you are really looking for the princess or whether you are trying to escape the fate of the people of this city.
Salik shouted:
- But what can I do?
“You can choose the straight path,” said the Sufi, “but because of what people do and allow to be done to them, you cannot make a choice on your own.” Follow me.
He took Salik by the hand and led him along the road that led them to the king's palace.
-Are you afraid of death? - asked the old man. —Are you afraid of losing what you have and disgracing yourself? Are you afraid of advice and help?
“I just did what everyone else did, and avoided what everyone else avoided,” Salik answered.
“Only that,” said the sage, “that some did and some did not, and now you attribute their behavior to “everyone else.”
They entered the palace, and Sufi led Salik into the throne room, where the king sat surrounded by his courtiers.
“Your Majesty,” the sage spoke, “here is young Salik, who was afraid and who imagined how he would come to you and ask for the hand of your daughter, Princess Kamala.”
“I rule this country,” said the king. - A country where fear reigns, where danger is everywhere, and any of my subjects can be convicted and executed. Those who are overly afraid of danger, who are afraid of death and cannot bear the judgment of others, remain slaves. Are they worthy of a ruler's daughter?
“If Your Majesty’s law says that I must die, I am ready to do it,” Salik said. - If you condemn my ambitions, shame me! All I want is to marry a princess!
So Salik, which means “Seeker,” married Kamala, “Perfection,” and began to rule the country in his turn, but only after he managed to throw away all the obstacles between them.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru