The Prince and the Fakir
Adapted from Indian Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs (1892)
Once upon a time, there lived a King who had no children. This King was so desperate for an heir that he went and laid himself down at a crossroads, where four roads met, so that everyone who passed by had to step over him.
After many people had passed, a Fakir came along and asked, “Man, why are you lying here?”
The King replied, “Fakir, a thousand men have already come and gone. You should pass on too.”
But the Fakir persisted, “Who are you, man?”
“I am a King,” he answered. “I have no shortage of wealth and gold, but I have lived many years without children. I have come here and laid myself down at these crossroads. My sins have been numerous, so I lie here hoping that as people pass over me, perhaps my sins will be forgiven, God will show mercy, and I will be blessed with a son.”
The Fakir considered this and said, “O King! If you have children, what will you give me?”
“Whatever you ask, Fakir,” the King promised.
The Fakir nodded and said, “I have no need for wealth or gold, but I will say a prayer for you, and you will have two sons. One of those sons will be mine.”
Then he took out two sweetmeats, handed them to the King, and instructed, “Take these two sweetmeats and give them to your wives—give them to the wives you love most.”
The King took the sweetmeats and tucked them into his robe.
The Fakir then said, “King, in one year I will return, and of the two sons who will be born to you, one is mine and one is yours.”
“I agree,” said the King.
The Fakir went on his way, and the King returned home and gave one sweetmeat to each of his two favorite wives. After some time, two sons were born to the King. But instead of honoring his promise, the King hid his two sons in an underground room that he had built beneath the earth.
Time passed, and one day the Fakir appeared and said, “King! Bring me that son of yours!”
The King, attempting to deceive the Fakir, brought two slave-girls’ sons and presented them instead. While the Fakir was sitting there, the King’s true sons were below in their cellar, eating their food.
Just then, a hungry ant carried away a grain of rice from the princes’ meal and was making her way to her children. Another stronger ant attacked her, trying to steal the grain. The first ant pleaded, “O ant, why do you take this from me? I have long been lame in my feet, and I have just this one grain that I’m carrying to my children. The King’s sons are sitting in the cellar eating their food; go and fetch a grain from there. Why should you take mine?”
Hearing this, the second ant relented and went off to where the King’s sons were eating.
The Fakir, who had understood the ants’ conversation, said to the King, “These are not your sons. Go and bring those children who are eating their food in the cellar.”
Caught in his deception, the King went and brought his true sons. The Fakir chose the eldest son and took him away.
When they reached the Fakir’s home, he told the King’s son to go out and gather fuel. The boy went out and collected cow-dung, bringing it back to the Fakir.
The Fakir then placed a large pot on the fire and said, “Come here, my pupil.”
But the King’s son replied, “Master first, and pupil after.”
The Fakir repeated his command once, twice, three times, and each time the King’s son gave the same answer: “Master first, and pupil after.”
Growing angry, the Fakir lunged at the boy, intending to catch him and throw him into the cauldron, which contained about a hundred gallons of oil heating over a fire. But the King’s son was quick and strong. He grabbed the Fakir instead, gave him a mighty toss, and threw him into the cauldron. The Fakir was burned and became roast meat.
The prince then noticed a key belonging to the Fakir lying nearby. He took the key and opened the door to the Fakir’s house. Inside, he discovered many men locked up as prisoners. In a hut, he found two horses standing, two greyhounds tied up, two magnificent simurgs (mythical birds) imprisoned, and two tigers. The King’s son released all the creatures and freed all the imprisoned men. They all thanked God for their deliverance.
The prince took with him the two horses, the two tigers, the two hounds, and the two simurgs, and set off for another country.
As he traveled along the road, he saw a bald man grazing a herd of calves. This bald man called out to him, “Fellow! Can you fight at all?”
The King’s son replied, “When I was young, I could fight a bit, and even now, if someone wants to fight, I’m not so cowardly as to turn away. Come, I will fight you.”
The bald man proposed, “If I throw you, you shall be my slave; and if you throw me, I will be your slave.” They prepared themselves and began to wrestle. The King’s son proved stronger and threw the bald man.
The prince then said, “I will leave my animals here—my simurgs, tigers, dogs, and horses. They will stay here while I go to the city to see the sights. I appoint the tiger as guard over my property. And you, as my slave, must also stay here with my belongings.”
So the King’s son set off for the city. When he arrived, he came upon a pleasant pool and decided to stop and bathe. As he began to remove his clothes, the King’s daughter, who was sitting on the palace roof, noticed the royal marks on his body.
She said to herself, “This man is of royal blood. When I marry, I will marry him and no one else.” She went to her father and announced, “Father, I wish to marry.”
“Very well,” said her father, pleased.
The King made a proclamation: “Let all men, great and small, attend the hall of audience today, for the King’s daughter will choose a husband.”
All the men of the land assembled, and the traveler Prince also came, dressed in the Fakir’s clothes, thinking, “I must see this ceremony today.” He entered and took a seat.
The King’s daughter came out and sat in the balcony, casting her gaze over the entire assembly. She noticed the traveler Prince sitting among them in Fakir’s attire.
The Princess instructed her handmaiden, “Take this dish of henna, go to that traveler dressed as a Fakir, and sprinkle scent on him from the dish.”
The handmaiden obeyed, went to him, and sprinkled the scent over him.
The people murmured, “The slave-girl has made a mistake.”
But she replied, “The slave-girl has made no mistake; it is her mistress who has chosen.”
And so, the King married his daughter to the supposed Fakir, who was actually a Prince. What fate had decreed came to pass, and they were married. The King was secretly saddened that his daughter had chosen a Fakir over the many chiefs and nobles present, but he kept these thoughts to himself.
One day, the Prince said, “Let all the King’s sons-in-law come out with me today to hunt.”
People whispered, “What is this Fakir that he should go hunting?”
Nevertheless, they all set out for the hunt and agreed to meet afterward at a certain pool.
The newly married Prince went to his tigers and instructed his tigers and hounds to kill and bring in many gazelles, deer, and markhor (wild goats). They immediately obeyed, killing and bringing in a great number of animals. Taking these hunting trophies with him, the Prince came to the designated meeting place. The other princes, also sons-in-law of the King, arrived there too, but they had caught no game, while the new Prince had brought a great deal.
They returned to the town and went to present their game to the King, their father-in-law. Now, this King had no son of his own. The new Prince then revealed to him that he too was actually a Prince. The King was overjoyed at this news. He took his son-in-law by the hand and embraced him warmly.
He seated the young man beside him and said, “O Prince, I am grateful that you have come here and become my son-in-law. This brings me great happiness, and I hereby pass my kingdom to you.”
And so the Prince, who had overcome the wicked Fakir and proven his worth through courage and honesty, became the heir to the kingdom. He ruled wisely alongside his Princess, and they lived happily ever after.
This tale reminds us that appearances can be deceiving, and that true character is revealed through actions rather than outward show. It also teaches that keeping one’s promises is important, as the King’s attempt to break his word to the Fakir led to complications. Finally, it shows that courage and quick thinking in the face of danger can turn a difficult situation to one’s advantage.
