Once upon a time there lived a Rajah named Tashethang. One evening he was walking through the garden. The sun was already setting behind the mountains. A light breeze carried the scent of flowers. Peace and quiet reigned all around, and even the bees did not disturb them with their buzzing. And suddenly a beautiful song reached the rajah’s ears; its sounds included the sun setting behind the mountains, a fragrant breeze, and even a calming silence. The singer had long since fallen silent, and the Raja still stood, enchanted by the amazing melody. “I have never heard anything like this before,” he thought. “What kind of strange creature must this be if it is capable of bewitching the human soul with its singing?”
The next morning the Raja woke up as soon as the sky turned red. The cool morning wind at first brought only the rustling of leaves from the garden, and then the same captivating sounds that he had heard yesterday reached the rajah’s ears.
Tashethang closed his eyes, and now in these amazing sounds he heard the voices of heavenly maidens. The song became louder and more beautiful, and it began to seem to the Raja that a whole orchestra of the most skilled flutists was playing outside the window in the garden. But then, quite unexpectedly, on the highest note, the singer fell silent.
Raja jumped out of bed, ran out onto the veranda and began to listen carefully in the hope of enjoying the magical sounds for at least a moment. But everything was quiet all around. The Raja waited a whole long day for the song he loved to start playing again. And when evening came, he, accompanied by all his courtiers, came into the garden to the very place where he first heard the wonderful singing. Soon the evening silence was filled with the same enchanting sounds. Raja and everyone with him held their breath. The amazing melody flowed for a long time, and when the singer grew tired and fell silent, the sovereign announced to the courtiers:
“We have never experienced such happiness as this singing brought us.” However, we still do not know who delights our ears. Therefore, I command: to immediately find the singer and bring him before our eyes. The one who fulfills my order will receive a great reward.
The courtiers rushed to search, scoured the palace garden, every bush, every branch, but all to no avail. Finally, two ministers came across a pond and looked at the frog sitting.
“Aren’t you, my dear, making such wondrous sounds that have bewitched the soul of our sovereign?” - the ministers asked her. “Don’t be shy, tell us frankly - and you will be presented to the rajah himself!”
- Of course, of course! - the frog croaked. - Who else if not me! Can anyone's voice compare with mine in both beauty and sonority?
And then the ministers carefully lifted the frog and took it with honor to the rajah.
Tashethang was incredibly happy that he finally saw a wonderful musician in front of him, and asked the frog to once again please everyone with his incomparable art.
The frog almost burst with pride when he heard such flattering words from the lips of the sovereign himself. She took in as much air as possible and poured out all her strength:
- Kva-aa-kva-kva-aa-kva-kva!..
- What is this?! — the Raja angrily interrupted the croak. - No way, you, insignificant, decided to mock us! Hey! Throw the deceiver who insulted our ears to the dogs! And the ministers who dared to bring her before our eyes will be put in shackles!
The royal soldiers immediately threw the frog to the dogs, and the offending ministers were sent to prison, but the rest again rushed to look for the mysterious singer.
The Raja waited for a long time, until finally one of the royal servants brought the ruler a small black bird.
They found some singer again, and rumors spread throughout the garden. Yes, that’s right, and this impostor is too unattractive to look at.
Nevertheless, all the courtiers immediately gathered around the rajah, and he looked at the bird and said menacingly:
— In the evenings and mornings I enjoy someone’s singing. If it is truly you who gives us joy, a great reward awaits you. But if you only imagine that you can please with your singing, beware! Well, now I'm ready to listen.
The little black bird Kalchunda sang, and the whole world was filled with wonderful sounds.
“Chi-chi-yu, chi-chi-yu, chu-maen...” sang the kalchunda, and in this song there was the sun setting behind the mountains, and the fragrant breath of the breeze, and the silence that brings peace...
When the last sounds melted into the air, the Raja said to the bird:
- Forgive me, kalchunda, that I didn’t believe you right away. Of course, it was you who made me happy with your singing. Your voice is beautiful and your song is the best in the world. I just don't know its meaning. Would you mind revealing it to us?
The kalchunda bowed her head before the rajah and said:
— I sing to bring people joy. This is the meaning of the song and the meaning of my life.
Now the Raja bowed his head before the kalchunda:
“You are not only the sweetest-voiced, but also the wisest bird.” May all who live on earth follow your words!
And Raja Tashethang ordered to decorate the modest black bird with gold.
They say that it was from that time that the kalchunda’s paws and beak became golden.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru