One day the mighty Suleiman was sitting on the throne, surrounded by people and peris, divas and genies, birds and animals, and out of trembling reverence for his unspeakable wisdom, no one dared to utter a word. Only the Sar bird, flapping its wing, made a strange sound. Suleiman was angry and ordered her to be punished for her disrespect.
- O great messenger of God! - the bird Sar prayed. - Show mercy to your servant! What just happened is not my fault: after all, my every move is predetermined by fate.
The Simurgh bird standing nearby became indignant:
- What kind of nonsense is this obscene one talking about! All the talk about fate is pure fiction. Sinners resort to them in order to justify their immoral actions. For example, I don’t believe in any destiny.
These words of the Simurgh bird clearly did not please Suleiman, but before he had time to utter a word, the prophet Gabriel descended from heaven and appeared before the almighty ruler.
And the prophet said:
- O wise Suleiman! Do not lament the unworthy speeches of the bird Simurgh. She will soon have a chance to see otherwise. Let it be known to you that this night a son was born to the padishah of the Eastern lands, and a daughter was born to the padishah of the Western lands. By the will of fate, they will unite in the future, and they, unmarried, will have a son. And no matter how much the whole world strives to prevent this predetermination of fate, nothing can change it. Tell the Simurgh bird about this and listen to what she will answer you.
Suleiman called the Simurgh bird and, in the presence of his entire retinue, addressed it with the following words:
“We know that you don’t believe in fate.” So be it. But what can you say about this story: this night a boy was born to the padishah of the Eastern lands, and a girl was born to the padishah of the Western lands. I know for certain that when they reach marriageable age, they, unmarried, will have a son. And no one and nothing in the world can prevent this, because it is so predetermined by fate.
- Sheer absurdity! - exclaimed the bird Simurgh. - How can the fate of a boy from the Eastern lands be combined with the fate of a girl from the Western lands!
Hearing such speeches, Suleiman became extremely angry.
- Uncourteous! Your happiness is that I have invested you with power over all the birds! Otherwise, you would not have escaped punishment for these impudent words! Give up these absurdities immediately and never again doubt the inviolability of destiny.
- O omnipotent lord! - answered the bird Simurgh. “I have not forgotten that you are God’s viceroy on earth, and I am just his pathetic slave.” However, I won’t lie about it. If you wish, I am ready to try to change the fate of these two young people. Then we will see which of us is right.
Suleiman listened to Simurgh's speeches and, in the presence of his entire retinue, proposed in fifteen years, when the newborns reach marriageable age, to check who was right: the prophet Gabriel or Simurgh. This agreement, by order of Suleiman, was written down in golden letters, and the Simurgh bird immediately set off on its journey. Soon she reached the Western lands, found the palace of the padishah and there, in a beautiful garden, on a special elevation, she saw a girl in an elegant cradle. Numerous nannies and nurses fussed around the newborn. And they were so carried away by their troubles that they did not notice how a huge bird flew up and, grabbing the cradle with the girl in front of the frightened nannies, carried it into the sky.
As soon as the sad news reached the ears of the padishah, he immediately summoned his army and ordered that his beloved child be returned to him at all costs. The warriors carefully aimed at the bird, but the arrows they sent flew first to the right and then to the left of it, and not a single one hit it. Meanwhile, the Simurgh bird rose higher and higher above the clouds and soon disappeared completely from sight.
The Simurgh bird flew for a long time, now seven rivers flashed below, and it finally reached a tall mountain, where no bird had ever been before. The Simurgh bird built a house on a tree, like a large birdhouse, placed a cradle there and began to carefully look after the girl. Night and day she was constantly with her, grooming and cherishing her in every possible way. “Until the girl is fifteen years old,” thought the Simurgh bird, “I will hide her from human eyes, and when the agreed period expires, I will deliver her to Suleiman safe and sound, so that Suleiman and his entourage will then believe that I am right and stop claiming that it is impossible to change what is destined by fate.”
Years passed. The girl grew up in complete confidence that she was born from a bird and that in the whole world there were no living creatures except her and the Simurgh bird. The bird Simurgh became so attached to the girl that she could not stay without her for a minute. When the girl was five years old, the bird Simurgh realized that over the years the girl would become a rare beauty.
For now, let's interrupt the story about the girl and the bird Simurgh and listen to what happened to the boy from the Eastern lands.
As soon as the boy was five years old, his father, the padishah, began to take him hunting with him. And the boy became so addicted to hunting that it became his favorite pastime. Time passed, and then one day, and the boy was seven years old at that time, he wanted to hunt. He began to ask his father to let him go hunting, and the padishah loved his only son so much that he did not find the strength to refuse him, and, having ordered to stock up on food for a whole month and entrusting his son to the care of his close associate, he saw them off on the road. They took the birds of prey with them and left the palace. They walked without rest until they reached the river. Then they boarded a ship and sailed downstream to the place where the river was especially wide and islands covered with dense forest protruded above the water. Shahzadeh took a fancy to one such island and, forgetting about rest and sleep, indulged in the passion of hunting.
Five days later there was not a single bird left on the island. And then Shahzade decided to go to another island.
They boarded the ship again and sailed on. Suddenly the sky became cloudy, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and streams of rain poured onto the ground. Huge waves came down the river, and soon the ship was broken into pieces, and everyone on it found themselves in the abyss of water. Only one Shahzade survived. He grabbed onto some piece of wood and thanks to this he was saved. He was carried along the waves for a long time and finally washed up by the current to an unfamiliar shore.
Sad and lonely, the shahzade sat on the river bank, indulging in his sorrowful thoughts. Suddenly he sees a ship sailing, and there are a lot of people on it. When the ship sailed to the shore, the shahzade jumped to his feet and bowed in respect to the crowd of people on board.
They began to question him:
-Who are you and how did you get here?
And Shahzadeh told them his sad story:
“The ship I was sailing on was wrecked. Everyone riding on it died, and only I was lucky enough to survive. However, my salvation does not promise me anything good. After all, I’m young and inexperienced and I don’t know what to do next. If any of you agrees to take me with you, I will become his obedient and devoted servant.
Having said this, Shahzadeh began to cry bitterly. People were amazed at his noble speeches, and one of them - as it turned out later, a former close associate of Suleiman - caressed the boy and said:
- Don't be sad! I agree to take you into my service.
Shahzade thanked his benefactor, took off his expensive shah's clothes and, putting on the dress of a simple servant, began to diligently serve his master. Meanwhile, he was so disposed to the young servant that he loved him like a son and entrusted him with all his wealth.
After a long time they arrived in Egypt.
“Oh, my son,” the benefactor once said to the shahzade, “it’s been two years since you’ve been in my service.” However, until now I have not had the opportunity to give you anything.
Shahzade responded:
- None of your gifts can increase my gratitude to you. If I had a thousand lives, then I would be ready to give every single one of them for you.
And this answer came very well to the master’s soul.
Soon, upon his arrival in Egypt, the shahzade went to the bazaar and, having sold his golden belt and the only pearl that he had preserved after the shipwreck, he gained a certain amount of money, and with this money he from time to time made modest, but at the same time exquisite offerings to his master, and he did not remain indifferent to them.
In one hour promising good fortune, the shahzade addressed his benefactor with the following speech:
“May your life be long, my venerable lord!” I was overcome by an irresistible desire to go to the source of the Nile. I ask for your blessing on this journey.
The benefactor became sad and began to admonish his servant:
“You are still small, but the source of the Nile is far away in the Western Lands.” You can't get there alone.
But the shahzadeh repeated again and again with firm respect:
“I must definitely carry out this plan of mine.”
And then the master realized that he was unable to shake the will of the shahzade, and said to him like this:
- Do as you wish, I will not resist. “Then he took a white package out of his pocket and, handing it to the boy, added:
- Take this, it may be useful to you on your way. Shahzade thanked his benefactor and asked:
- What is this? And he explained:
“I got this powder from the treasury of the great Suleiman, and your truly great honesty and devotion prompt me to give it to you.” The magical property of the powder is that whoever takes it gains the ability to understand the language of all living beings.
Shahzade swallowed the powder, then, bowing in respect, thanked his master and, bidding him farewell, set off on the road. Having traveled a long way, he reached a certain city located in a most beautiful place on the banks of the Nile. Here he decided to relax, and also admire the beauty of nature and satisfy his hunger with the fruits of fabulous plants. Suddenly, trees with golden foliage appeared before his eyes. Shahzadeh came closer and saw that the trees themselves were wrapped in white cloth. Shahzade intended to touch the trees, but changed his mind, deciding that there was some kind of secret hidden in them and it would take a lot of time to unravel it.
Before the shahzade had time to think so, he heard some noise and, turning around, saw the shah heading towards the tree, surrounded by his retinue. Shahzadeh decided to hide and see what would happen next.
And the Shah and his seven viziers settled down not far from the place where the Shahzadeh was hiding and began to discuss their affairs. And then the Shah, turning to the viziers, said:
“Some time ago I ordered you to unravel the mystery of the tree wrapped in white cloth. However, you apparently haven’t figured it out yet. If you do not comply with this command of mine in the near future, I will order your execution.
At first the viziers were confused, but then the eldest among them dared to speak. Bowing in respect, he said:
“May you remain the ruler of the whole world, our most worthy ruler!” I served your father for many years in a row, and now I serve you faithfully. However, in my entire long life I have never met a person who knew the secret of the golden tree. If your desire to know her is so irresistible, allow us to leave the palace for some time in order to devote ourselves to unraveling that mystery. Perhaps then your curiosity will be satisfied.
The Shah thought and gave the viziers a month to solve the mystery and also warned that, in case of failure, they could not avoid the death penalty.
The Shah said so, got on his horse and rode off. The viziers, too, without wasting any time, mounted their horses and set off to fulfill the highest command.
Before the viziers had time to drive away from the palace at a respectful distance, they met a shahzade.
—Where are you from and where are you heading? - asked the viziers.
“I come from the Eastern lands, but I’m heading to the Western ones,” answered the Shahzade.
The viziers were surprised.
—What made you embark on such a difficult journey? - they ask.
And Shahzade answered them:
“I was overcome by an irresistible desire to find out where the Nile originates.
And then one of the viziers said this:
“This youth is obsessed with curiosity, like our master, and has set himself an equally elusive goal.
“Perhaps you are right,” the shahzade respectfully objected, “but I cannot return home without fulfilling my plans.”
The viziers liked the shahzade's determination, and they invited him with them.
And Shahzadeh agreed and went with them along the banks of the Nile. Soon they saw a certain man who was busy mowing down ripe and unripe wheat and throwing it into the river. The viziers marveled and moved on. A little later they saw three people. One of them was scooping water from the well with a ladle, the other was sitting holding a jug in his hands, and the third was pouring water from the ladle into this jug, not daring to quench his thirst with a single sip. The viziers marveled again and moved on. And then they met a certain bird, which, having left the nest, could not get into it again. Then on the way they came across a no longer small goat, still sucking its mother’s milk. And after some time, a snake blocked the road, stinging everyone who passed along this road. Following the snake, they met two butchers. One of them sold fatty meat, the other sold lean meat, and most people bought meat from the second one.
The viziers also happened to see many strange things. So, continuing on their way, they met two people who, having caught a gazelle, could not divide it among themselves, and therefore, grabbing one by the front legs and the other by the hind legs, each pulled it in their own direction. Having driven a little further, they noticed a man who had picked up a huge bundle of brushwood, which he could no longer lift anyway, but everything seemed not enough to him. Having walked another part of the way, they arrived at the dastarkhan and there they saw several people sitting at a meal. They vied with each other to treat each other to various dishes, but did not eat anything themselves. Then they saw a group of people who, huddled around a hanging piece of white cloth, tried to tear it to shreds. And finally, they came across a gray-haired old man, bent under the burden of life's adversities to death.
— What business brought you to our region? - he asked the viziers.
And they answered him like this:
“We met a lot of strange and amazing things along the way. Would you mind telling us what this all means? “And the viziers told the elder about everything they had seen.
“I’m very sorry,” the elder said sadly, “but I can’t be of any use to you.” “I’ve lived here for hundreds of years, but I don’t know how to explain what you saw.” Unless my older brother can help you.
The viziers said goodbye to the elder and continued on their way. They drove and drove and met another old man. Having shown him due respect, the viziers began questioning him.
The elder listened to the viziers’ speech and sadly shook his head. He has been living in this world for one hundred and seventy years now, and still cannot explain why people sometimes act so strangely. Then, after thinking a little, he said that his elder brother lived not far from these places, who might resolve their doubts.
The viziers were delighted and went in search of their elder brother. They searched for him for a long time, and when they finally found him, they were quite surprised, for he turned out to be quite vigorous and youthful. The viziers respectfully greeted him, and he responded by asking who they were and why they had come to him.
And then the viziers answered:
“We are traveling from afar and during our long journey we saw a lot of strange and amazing things. Explain all this to us if you can.
“Tell me about everything that worries you,” the elder said then.
And the viziers began to tell the story:
“We saw, for example, a golden tree, the trunk of which is wrapped in white cloth, and the fruits emit radiance. Do you know what kind of strange tree this is?
The elder willingly began to explain:
“I also heard from my father that in time immemorial the city, in which strange trees grow, was ruled by a certain Shah, famous for his justice throughout the world. During his reign, one man rented land from another, and when he began to plow it, he discovered a large treasure buried there. Without hesitation, the man went to the owner of the land and told about his find. However, the owner of the land, a man of no less impeccable integrity, answered him like this:
- This treasure is yours. After all, I leased the land to you, and now what you find in it rightfully belongs to you.
However, the tenant was still hesitant. Meanwhile, this story reached the ears of the Shah, and the Shah ordered the owner of the land and the tenant to be immediately brought to him, and when they appeared and told the Shah about the miraculous find, one of his close associates stepped forward and said that the treasure should belong to the Shah, for the Shah is its only undisputed owner. The Shah himself did not agree with this. He inquired whether the owner of the land and the tenant had children, and when he learned that one had a son and the other a daughter, he ordered them to be immediately taken to the palace and divided the treasure equally between them. And the Shah was so fair and merciful to his subjects that after a short time, trees with golden trunks and golden leaves grew from every grain that the tenant sown on his plot. The news of the amazing trees reached the Shah, and he wanted to see them with his own eyes. The Shah was amazed at the magnificence of the trees, and those accompanying him began to convince their master of the need to collect gold from the trees to replenish the treasury.
However, the Shah opposed.
- Allah Almighty! Will I take what doesn't belong to me?!
Those close to him thought and decided that if the Shah does not want to accept gold into the treasury, it should belong to the owner of the land, because golden trees grew on his land. But he, in turn, said that the fruits rightfully belonged not to him, but to the one who plowed and watered the land. The tenant also did not consider himself entitled to take possession of the gold, explaining that he sowed only wheat, and it turned into gold thanks to the justice and wisdom of the almighty Shah, and therefore it should be taken to the Shah’s storeroom. The Shah rejoiced at such honesty of his loyal subjects and ordered the trunks of all these trees to be wrapped in white cloth, so that they would always remind people of justice and selflessness.
Now I will explain the second case to you. A certain man who mowed down ripe and unripe wheat and threw it into the river was none other than the angel of death. By the will of Allah, he mercilessly destroys both young and old, sparing no one. In the third case, the man who sat by the well, offering an empty jug to another, personified people who enrich themselves at the expense of others, and wealth acquired in this way, as is known, does not go to future use, and therefore they cannot pass it on to their children.
The incident with the bird that left the nest and cannot climb into it again reminds us that what has been said cannot be taken back, for words are like an arrow shot from a bow.
Further, the case when a no longer small goat continues to suck milk from its mother, and at the same time she becomes more and more skinny and loses strength, is reminiscent of an unreasonable Shah who robs his subjects, thinking that his strength is in wealth. Only he is mistaken, because a ruler who mercilessly robs his people cannot be strong.
The incident of a snake lying in the middle of the road and stinging travelers passing along it should remind us of the destructiveness of earthly passions. And yet people continue to mindlessly indulge in them.
In the case of the two butchers, the fat meat means his own wife, and the skinny meat means someone else’s. And men invariably prefer the vices of someone else to the virtues of their wife. The case of the gazelle, which two people, one by the front legs and the other by the hind legs, each pulled in their own direction, is reminiscent of the greed of people trying to grab at least a little bit of wealth for themselves.
Further. A man with a bundle of brushwood is like a sinner who can no longer straighten his back under the weight of his sins, but is unable to stop, and adds more and more new sins to his previous ones.
The people who sat at the dastarkhan and vying with each other to treat each other with various dishes are none other than learned sages who love to teach others, but do not accept these teachings themselves.
Here is the interpretation of all your riddles.
The viziers thanked the elder and asked:
- You are the eldest of three brothers. Why do you seem younger than everyone else?
And this is how he answered them:
“The youngest of us looks the oldest, because his wife is grumpy and clueless.” There are quarrels and disorder at home, which is why he turned gray and grew old before his time. The second brother's wife has a changeable temperament. Either she is caring and affectionate, or she is evil and deceitful, which is why some of the hair on his head is black, and some is gray. I am black-haired and cheerful because my wife is loving and kind and, moreover, an excellent housewife.
The viziers listened to the elder’s answers, thanked him properly and got ready to head back. Shahzadeh, having said goodbye to them, moved on.
He wandered for a long time along unfamiliar roads and finally reached the gates of a big city. Shahzade intended to enter the gate, but suddenly a stranger stood in his way.
—Where are you from and where are you heading? he asked.
And Shahzadeh replied:
“I come from the Eastern lands, but I’m heading to the Western ones. I want to get to the source of the Nile.
“A difficult and long journey awaits you,” the stranger said politely. “Do me the honor of spending the night in this city, and tomorrow you will move on.”
The stranger brought Shahzade to his house and, first of all, offered to wash in the bathhouse. Shahzadeh readily agreed - he washed himself, washed his clothes, put on a clean dress and, satisfied, returned to his owner. He turned out to be so hospitable that the shahzade happily stayed with him for a whole week. And it must be said that the room allotted to the shahzade overlooked a lawn where a donkey and a buffalo grazed. And one day Shahzade overheard a conversation (the fact is that, having swallowed the powder that he had once received as a gift from a benefactor, he began to understand the language of living beings).
And the donkey and the buffalo were having this conversation.
- How are you doing? - asks the donkey.
“And don’t ask,” answered the buffalo. “I have suffered such severe torments that no living creature has ever experienced.” I can’t imagine what I should do. I can’t work, and the owner won’t let me not work. There is no more strength! As soon as it’s light, they drive me out into the field and force me to plow, and so I have to work until late at night. And besides, they won’t feed me enough.
The donkey listened to his friend’s complaints and said:
“We need to think of something so you can rest for at least a few days.”
The buffalo rejoiced:
“It’s your intelligence that I’m counting on.” The buffalo's words gave the donkey confidence, and a plan immediately matured in his head.
“Tonight,” he said in an instructive tone, “refrain from food.” In the morning the owner will see that you have not touched the food and will decide that you are sick. So you can rest.
The buffalo was delighted and began to thank the donkey for his wise advice.
The conversation between the donkey and the buffalo amused the Shahzade a lot. Having listened to him to the end, he laughed cheerfully. And the young owner decided that the shahzade was laughing at his poverty, and he was very upset.
Shahzade hastened to correct the awkwardness and began to console him.
“You are so kind to me,” he said, “how can I afford such ingratitude?!” I simply remembered a funny incident that happened to me as a child.
The next morning, the servant was about to drive the buffalo out into the field, but seeing that the food given in the evening remained untouched, he went to the owner for advice.
The owner listened to the servant's story and ordered to take a donkey instead of a buffalo.
Then the donkey realized that he had made a mistake - he served the buffalo, but caused harm to himself. However, there was nothing to do, he had to go into the field himself. In the evening the donkey returned a little alive. As soon as the servant tied him, as usual, next to the buffalo, she approached him with questions.
- Well, how did you spend your day?
“I’m happy with today,” answered the donkey. “It’s not often that I have the good fortune to graze in a meadow from morning to evening.”
“Did the owner say anything about me?”
- Of course, he said. He said if you don’t eat today, I’ll have to kill you, otherwise you’ll become completely emaciated.
The buffalo became worried.
- What should I do? - asks. And the donkey answered her:
“I think you shouldn’t pretend to be sick anymore, and then you can easily avoid trouble.” It is better to live and work than not to work and die.
And the buffalo, she is the buffalo. How can she figure out the donkey's cunning! And she again began to thank the donkey for his wise advice.
Shahzadeh laughed again, which greatly embarrassed his hospitable host.
- Oh dear guest, what are you laughing at now? he asked.
And Shahzadeh told him the following:
“Allah is my witness, I’m not laughing at you.” I remembered one funny story.
Here the owner’s wife wanted to find out at all costs what story the shahzade remembered, and threatened her husband that if he didn’t find out, she would hang herself.
And the concerned owner began the following conversation:
- Oh dear guest! I hope you are well aware of how curious women are. My wife is no better than anyone else. For the sake of Allah, tell me what made you laugh so much just now?
Shahzade thought for a moment, and then said:
“As soon as I tell you what I laughed at, death will immediately overtake me.” However, if instead of telling, I write everything on paper, death will pass me by.
The housewife immediately went to get ink, and just then a rooster and a dog quarreled over a crust of bread.
- Don't be ashamed! - the dog said in anger. “You are fed properly, but I only occasionally have the good fortune to satisfy my hunger with garbage. Apparently, you are as unscrupulous as your owner.”
- How can an intelligent person be unscrupulous? - objected the rooster. - There is no smarter person in the world than my master!
“You can’t really call him smart,” the dog snapped. “For the sake of the whim of this stupid woman, he is ready to destroy such a glorious young man!” After all, if he tells why he laughed, death will immediately overtake him. But even knowing this; the owner was unable to appease his curious wife.
Shahzade, who heard this whole conversation, laughed again, and the owner became seriously angry.
- Dear guest! - he exclaimed. - How long will you fool me?
- How can I not laugh at funny things! - Shahzade answered. “If you swear an oath to keep the secret sacred, then I will reveal it to you.”
The owner swore, and then the shahzade said:
“I took a potion that helped me gain the ability to understand the language of birds and animals, but I have to hide it from women. If any woman finds out my secret, I will die immediately. Now, while we are alone, I can tell you what made me laugh so much. Know, O brother, first I laughed when the donkey gave advice to the buffalo, and then when the dog scolded you, quarreling with the rooster.
The owner listened to his guest’s story, grabbed a thick stick and rushed at his wife, shouting: “What do you, a woman, care about what men laugh at?”
The wife got scared, cried and began to ask her husband for forgiveness.
The next day, Shahzade said goodbye to his kind host and moved on. His path again ran along the banks of the Nile. He drove and drove and finally saw a chapel, and at the door of the chapel a handsome old man. Shahzadeh respectfully greeted the elder, who, in turn, was curious about where Shahzadeh was from and where he was going.
And Shahzadeh answered like this:
“I come from the Eastern lands, but I’m on my way to the Western ones.” I want to know where the Nile originates.
“What prompted you to undertake such a difficult journey?” — the old man was curious again. And the young man admitted that he was following the dictates of his heart.
The elder wished him a good journey and said goodbye.
- O young man, after two or three days you will go to the river bank and see a huge bird there.
Cling tightly to the legs of this bird, and it will carry you over the mountains and rivers straight to the iron ground. There you will part with the bird and continue on foot. When you leave the iron land behind, your path will be blocked by a golden mountain, crowned with domes and battlements, like the walls of a fortress. The teeth are made of pure gold, and in addition they are decorated with pearls and diamonds. There are four holes in that mountain, and clear water flows from each. Wash in that water and say a prayer. And ask the Almighty to help you achieve what you want. Just don’t forget to remember me in your prayer. When you have done everything as I tell you, go back the same way. Having reached the iron land, you will see the same bird, and it will bring you here again. However, I will no longer be alive. You bury my remains, performing all the required rituals, and then move on.
The shahzade said goodbye to the elder and walked along the road he had indicated. And when he came to the bank of the river, then, as the elder said, he saw a huge bird. The shahzade clung tightly to the legs of that bird, and she carried him over the mountains and rivers to the iron ground. Then he released the bird and continued on foot. And when the iron land was left behind, his path was blocked by a golden mountain, crowned with domes and battlements. Shahzadeh set out to climb this mountain, but suddenly a mysterious voice reached his ears: “Don’t try to reach the top of the mountain, otherwise you will die. This mountain is not simple, but magical, and on it rise the domes of paradise, in which the wheel of fate turns. There is no need for you to strive there, because you have already achieved what you wanted.”
Shahzadeh took off his clothes, performed ablution and offered a prayer to Allah, asking for his help. When he finished the prayer, he saw a bunch of grapes coming down to him from the top of the mountain. And then the mysterious voice was heard again: “Before you are fruits from heaven, and once you taste them, you will never need earthly food again.”
Shahzade was already preparing to head back, but then he was overcome by doubt. “So I never found out what kind of water flows from the holes in the mountain.”
Before he had time to think about it, a mysterious voice announced: “And this water flows from the heavenly abode and gives rise to four rivers: the Nile, Furot, Dajlal and Jayhun.”
Shahzade mentally thanked the elder, for everything happened as he had predicted. When he returned to the iron land, a huge bird was already waiting for him. She carried him over mountains and rivers and lowered him to the ground not far from a familiar chapel. Shahzade hurried to look at the old man and found him dead.
The young man buried the elder’s remains, having completed all the required rituals, and moved on. After a short time he met a man. That man was the devil in human form. The devil greeted the shahzade and asked:
- O young man, where are you coming from and have your journeys been favorable?
And Shahzade answered him:
“Thanks to the mercy of Allah, I achieved what I wanted and returned safe and sound. - And shahzade showed the devil a bunch of heavenly grapes.
The devil looked at the bunch and saw grapes in it of four colors - white, like milk, black, green and red. The devil put his hand in his bosom, took out a large beautiful apple and, holding it out to the shahzade, said:
“The pious old man asked me to give this apple to you.”
The young man took an apple and just took a bite when the grapes disappeared somewhere. The devil said with a laugh:
“I am the same devil who expelled Adam from paradise.” It was important to me to prevent you from eating the grapes of paradise. And now you can go in all four directions.
The shahzade bitterly regretted what happened, but he could not fix anything.
Saddened, he walked on and soon reached the river bank. For seven days he did not encounter a single human habitation; he had to eat only dried fish. And at the end of the seventh day, he saw a ship floating on the river and began to cry out to the shipbuilders for help. They heard his call and accepted him into their company. Then the shipmen started asking him who he was and where he was from, and the shahzade told them this:
“My father was a merchant, and I went on a voyage with him, but on the way we were shipwrecked and everyone died. I was the only one left alive.
The shipowners were sympathetic to his fate and invited the young man to stay with them.
Shahzade rejoiced.
“So be it,” he exclaimed cheerfully.
After several days, a storm suddenly broke out, the ship crashed against a rock, and all the shipmen died. Only one Shahzade and three more horses survived. Soon one of the horses hurt itself, and Shahzade cut it down. He tore off the skin from it, dried the meat in the sun and began to eat it. Day after day passed, the shahzade walked around all the surroundings, but did not find anything unusual. “Shouldn’t I climb this mountain? - he thought one day. “Maybe I’ll find something interesting there?”
Having overcome many obstacles, climbing from stone to stone, the Shahzade finally reached the top of the mountain and saw that this mountain rose to the skies, and on its top there was a huge tree growing. However, the day was already approaching evening, and the shahzade was so tired that he lay down right on the ground under that tree and fell asleep.
And just on this tree, in a house similar to a birdhouse, lived the daughter of the padishah of the Western Lands with her named mother bird.
The daughter of the padishah saw the sleeping shahzade, and he seemed so young and beautiful to her that she fell in love with him at that very moment and, consumed by passion, bending over to him, tenderly whispered: “What a wonderful creature!” After all, she had never before seen a single living creature, much less people, and thought that in the world there was only this mountain and she and her mother bird. She picked a fruit from the tree and carefully threw it at the young man. He perked up, opened his eyes and through the thick foliage saw a beautiful girl, capable of eclipsing the radiance of the moon with her beauty. And Shahzade fell in love with her at first sight.
“Oh beauty,” he asked, turning to the girl, “how did you end up here?”
“I am the daughter of the bird Simurgh,” the girl answered him, “and I live here.”
Shahzade was surprised.
- Simurgh is a bird, but you are from the human race.
-What is the human race?
- Look at yourself, you don’t look like a bird at all.
“I had never seen a single living creature before, and I always believed that the Simurgh bird was my mother.”
“Let Simurgh get you a mirror,” advised the shahzade, “and you can look into it.”
-What is a mirror? she asked.
- How can I explain it to you? When you see the mirror, then you will understand.
-Can you come up to me? - the girl asked.
“Among thousands of people like me, you cannot find a person who could overcome such a tall tree!” - Shahzade objected.
“In that case,” said the girl, “take refuge somewhere for a while.” Now the Simurgh bird should fly in, and if it sees you, then, what good, it will destroy you.
Shahzade went to the river bank, climbed into a horse's skin, but dreams of a beautiful girl haunted him.
When the bird Simurgh arrived, the girl said:
“I’m bored alone, at least get me a mirror.”
The bird Simurgh immediately brought her a mirror. The girl cried all night out of love for shahzade. The Simurgh bird flew away in search of food with the onset of morning.
Let's leave the girl and the bird Simurgh for now, and in the meantime we'll talk about Shahzad. So, consumed by passion, Shahzade wandered for a long time through the desert, and then again went to the top of the mountain. The girl was incredibly happy when she saw Shahzade. She showed him the mirror, and Shahzade said:
- Look in the mirror and you will see your reflection.
The girl looked in the mirror and realized that she had nothing in common with the Simurgh bird, but rather, she looked like a shahzade. And then she thought: “Apparently, everything that the Shahzadeh said was the true truth.”
Shahzadeh could no longer cope with the love passion that gripped him.
- My beloved! - he exclaimed. - Fate wants us to be together. When the Simurgh arrives, say that you are sad here, and ask him to take you to the river, supposedly so that you can admire it and wander along the shore.
The girl liked Shahzade's proposal. So until late in the evening they had a loving conversation, and when it was time for the bird Simurgh to return, the shahzade went to the river bank, climbed into the horse’s skin and again spent the whole night dreaming of his beloved.
The girl began to look forward to the return of the bird Simurgh.
As soon as the bird landed near their home, the girl rushed to her feet with the words:
“Today I looked in the mirror and saw my appearance for the first time. And my heart was filled with melancholy. After all, I am an earthly creature, and I spent my whole life on a tree. I ask you, when you fly to Suleiman, take me to the river bank so that I can have a little fun.
The bird agreed to fulfill the girl’s request and, when the next morning came, she said:
“Wait a little, I’ll just fly to the river and choose a suitable place for you, and then I’ll come back for you.”
The bird Simurgh flew to the foot of the mountain, where two Shahzade horses were grazing. She saw the horses and was surprised: “Where did these creatures come from here? Didn’t they come out of the river?” She tied the horses to a tree and flew after the girl.
Left alone, the girl timidly approached the horses and began stroking their necks.
Turning to the girl, the bird Simurgh said:
- Stay here until I return. When the Simurgh bird flew away, Shahzadeh got out of the horse's skin and approached the girl. And he hugged her and kissed her. It was a happy day, the like of which he had never known in his life. Thus the destiny was fulfilled. Shahzadeh hooked up with a girl. They indulged in lovemaking until late in the evening. When the time came for the Simurgh bird to return, the shahzade again hid in the horse's skin, and the girl went to the horses.
At home the bird Simurgh asked:
- Well, how did you have fun? And the girl answered joyfully:
“In my entire life, I have never experienced such pleasure.” I ask you to take me there again tomorrow.
And the night passed, and the girl did not sleep a wink. And in the morning the bird Simurgh again took her to the river. And before she had time to fly away, the shahzade immediately crawled out of the horse’s skin, and the lovers again indulged in lovemaking.
Meanwhile, anxiety lurked in the bird’s soul.
The girl is about to turn fifteen years old, and hiding her here all these years from people cost the Simurgh bird a lot of trouble. It wouldn’t be a bad idea to take her to another place, so that some misfortune would not happen and all her many years of efforts would not be in vain. In the meantime, the bird Simurgh decided to prepare a place for horses under the tree, so that the girl could delight her eyes with them without leaving her home.
In the evening, the bird Simurgh had the following conversation with the girl:
“Oh my child, I don’t think you should go to the river tomorrow.”
The girl was sad, sad, but there was nothing to do, she had to obey her. She was left alone at home and spent the whole day in tears. And shahzade waited in vain for his beloved, and without waiting for her, he climbed to the top of the mountain where the girl lived, and approached the tree, and began to whisper:
- Oh moon-faced one, are you really bored with me? Why did you leave me?
Then the girl told him everything that the bird Simurgh had said.
- Oh beauty, who captivated my heart! When the bird Simurgh returns, fall at her feet and pray, if she doesn’t want to let you go to the river, let him at least let you walk under the tree.
Saddened, the shahzade returned to the foot of the mountain. Meanwhile, the bird Simurgh flew in and, seeing the girl in tears, wanted to know what had plunged her into sadness. Then the girl said as the Shahzadeh ordered and asked to be taken to the river again.
“Oh, the light of my eyes,” said the bird Simurgh, “believe me, I only care about your happiness.”
Calm down. Tomorrow morning I will tie the horses to this tree, and you will be able to admire them again, and once a week I will let you play with them.
The bird Simurgh led the horses, tied them to a tree, and flew away. Shahzade, seeing horses tied under a tree, asked the girl what this meant, and, after listening to her answer, said:
“Don’t say anything to the Simurgh bird for now, and after some time has passed, I’ll think of something.”
From then on, the girl came downstairs once a week, and she and Shahzade indulged in lovemaking. So forty days and forty nights passed, and one day the girl, turning to the shahzade, said:
- O beloved! When you are not with me, it seems to me that everything around is shrouded in darkness. Can you make sure that we are never separated?
Shahzade thought for a moment, and then said:
“There is only one way out in this matter: I will slaughter a horse, climb into its skin and throw myself into the river.” And when Simurgh arrives, ask her to get the horse out of the water and bring it to your nest. And then we will always be together.
Shahzadeh did everything as they agreed. When the bird Simurgh returned home, the girl began to cry and told her about her sadness.
The bird Simurgh listened to her story and said:
- Don't be sad. The morning is wiser than the evening. Tomorrow I'll think of something.
And when morning came, the bird Simurgh went to the river and, pulling out a horse skin from the water, took it to the girl. The girl’s sadness seemed to shine like a hand.
Leaving the girl in the nest, the Simurgh bird flew to the powerful Suleiman, and meanwhile the shahzade threw off his horse skin, and they indulged in lovemaking. But then the due date passed, and the time came for the girl to give birth. And by the grace of Allah she gave birth to a son.
Allah sent the prophet Gabriel to Suleiman, and he told Suleiman to ask the bird Simurgh how it decided the fate of the daughter of the padishah of the western lands.
And the mighty Suleiman, turning to the bird Simurgh, said:
- Well, how did you decide the fate of that girl?
“I did everything as I promised,” the bird Simurgh answered him.
Then Suleiman ordered the girl to be taken to the palace, and he himself, surrounded by people and peris, divas and genies, birds and animals, sat on the throne. The bird Simurgh wrapped the girl in a horse skin and brought her to the palace. Suleiman sat the Simurgh bird in the place reserved for it and asked:
— Did you manage to change the fate of the daughter of the padishah of the Western lands and the son of the padishah of the Eastern lands?
- O Messenger of Allah! - answered the bird Simurgh. “Fifteen years ago I took this girl to Mount Kaf and settled her on the highest tree, where she was completely alone.
Then Suleiman said:
- Unfold the horse skin and you will see which of us is right.
When the bird Simurgh unwrapped the horse's skin, there were the daughter of the padishah of the Western lands, the son of the padishah of the Eastern lands and their child.
Bowing in respect, the shahzade addressed Suleiman with a greeting:
- Peace be with you, O Messenger of Allah!
- May peace be with you! - answered Suleiman.
Then the mighty Suleiman turned to the bird Simurgh and said:
- Well, now you see, Simurgh, that the predetermination of fate is inevitable. Following our agreement, I am free to punish you in such a way that it will serve as a lesson for all my subjects.
Hearing these words, the Simurgh bird shook with fear, and then, spreading its wings and screaming pitifully, soared upward.
And the wise and generous Suleiman suitably united the fate of the shahzade and the girl. And he informed their parents about it...
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru