Once upon a time there lived a very fat padishah. He was so obese, his body reached such dimensions that it became difficult for him to walk. The padishah gathered doctors so that someone could cure him - the padishah really wanted to lose weight. But no matter how much they treated him, he became increasingly fat. Finally, a smart doctor was found. He took the padishah by the hand and said:
“If the kind padishah pleases, I will look into astrological books.” I will study all the medicines that nature knows and give them to the padishah.
“Very good,” the padishah rejoiced, “go read all the books on astrology.” When you find a way to treat, bring me the medicine.
The doctor left, and the next morning he came and reported:
- There is no medicine for the merciful padishah.
- How is this so! - cried the padishah. - Why is there no medicine?!
“The books say,” the doctor answers, “that the padishah has only forty days to live, and then he will die.”
The padishah became terribly angry:
- Throw this charlatan into prison! And when forty days have passed, I will order the execution of the villain!
They threw the doctor into prison, but the padishah finds no place for himself: what if he really only has forty days left to live?! What if the astrologer's books don't lie? Day and night he was in despair, and his relatives and friends were already mourning him.
Forty days have passed. The padishah lost weight and became light and thin, like a reed. But still he didn’t die. Then he ordered the doctor to be brought to the palace.
“I’ll execute you tomorrow,” he says. “Why did you lie to me?” See, I'm alive and well.
“I see,” answered the doctor. “I haven’t found any other medicine to make you lose weight.”
The padishah was delighted and generously rewarded the doctor.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru