The Tale of the Wise Akil and the Magic Lake

 


The Tale of the Wise Akil and the Magic Lake

Long ago, in the vast steppes and towering mountains of Kyrgyzstan, there lived a poor but clever shepherd named Akil. He had nothing but his flock of sheep, a loyal horse, and a heart full of kindness. Though he was poor, he always helped travelers and neighbors in need.

One day, while grazing his sheep near a hidden valley, Akil stumbled upon an old, mysterious man sitting by a sparkling, blue lake. The old man looked weak and thirsty. Without hesitation, Akil gave him some water and bread.

The old man smiled and said, "You have a good heart, Akil. This lake is no ordinary lake. It is the Lake of Wishes. Because of your kindness, I will grant you one wish. But be wise, for greed leads to sorrow."

Akil thought for a moment. He could have wished for gold, power, or land, but instead, he said, "I wish for the wisdom to always make the right choices."

The old man nodded, pleased. "A wise choice indeed. From this day forward, you will see with the eyes of truth and speak with the voice of wisdom." Then, the old man disappeared into thin air, leaving Akil alone by the lake.

As Akil returned to his village, he noticed how people struggled with disputes, greed, and dishonesty. With his newfound wisdom, he helped settle arguments, guided people to make fair decisions, and taught them the value of kindness over wealth.

News of Akil’s wisdom spread far and wide, reaching even the ears of the Khan (the ruler). The Khan, a proud and greedy man, summoned Akil to his palace and demanded, "If you're so wise, tell me how I can become the richest man in the world!"

Akil calmly replied, "True wealth comes not from gold, but from the hearts of grateful people. Share your riches, and you will become richer in ways that last forever."

The Khan was furious. He wanted gold, not wisdom. He ordered Akil to be thrown into a deep dungeon. But Akil’s wisdom had earned him many friends, and soon, the people of the kingdom, grateful for his guidance, rose up and convinced the Khan to release him.

In time, even the Khan realized the truth in Akil's words. He became a just ruler, sharing his wealth and caring for his people. Akil, meanwhile, returned to his simple life as a shepherd, happy and content, knowing that wisdom was the greatest treasure of all.

Kyrgyz fairy tales often reflect the nomadic spirit of the people, focusing on wisdom, kindness, and the connection to nature.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

THE PARROT AND THE CAT

Image
  241. THE WILY LION  A lion watched a fat bull feeding in a meadow, and his mouth watered when he thought of the royal feast he would make, but he did not dare to attack him, for he was afraid of his sharp horns. Hunger, however, presently compelled him to do something; and as the use of force did not promise success, he determined to resort to artifice. Going up to the bull in friendly fashion, he said to him, “I cannot help saying how much I admire your magnificent figure. What a fine head! What powerful shoulders and thighs! But, my dear friend, what in the world makes you wear those ugly horns? You must find them as awkward as they are unsightly. Believe me, you would do much better without them.” The bull was foolish enough to be persuaded by this flattery to have his horns cut off; and, having now lost his only means of defense, fell an easy prey to the lion. 242. THE PARROT AND THE CAT  A man once bought a parrot and gave it the run of his house. It reveled in its...
Read more

THE SHEPHERD’S BOY AND THE WOLF

Image
  46. THE SHEPHERD’S BOY AND THE WOLF   A shepherd’s boy was tending his flock near a village and thought it would be great fun to hoax the villagers by pretending that a wolf was attacking the sheep; so he shouted out, “Wolf! Wolf!” and when the people came running up he laughed at them for their pains. He did this more than once, and every time the villagers found they had been hoaxed, for there was no wolf at all. At last, a wolf really did come, and the boy cried, “Wolf! Wolf?” as loud as he could. But the people were so used to hearing him call that they took no notice of his cries for help. And so the wolf had it all his own way and killed off sheep after sheep at his leisure. You cannot believe a liar even when he tells the truth. 47. THE FOX AND THE GOAT  A fox fell into a well and was unable to get out again. By and by a thirsty Goat came by, and seeing the fox in the well asked him if the water was good. “Good?” said the fox. “It’s the best water I ever tas...
Read more

THE WOLF AND THE GOAT

Image
  176. THE WOLF AND THE GOAT  A wolf caught sight of a goat browsing above him on the scanty herbage that grew on the top of a steep rock; and being unable to get at her, tried to induce her to come lower down. “You are risking your life up there, madam, indeed you are,” he called out. “Pray take my advice and come down here, where you will find plenty of better food.” The goat turned a knowing eye upon him. “It’s little you care whether I get good grass or bad,” said she. “What you want is to eat me.” 177. THE SICK STAG  A stag fell sick and lay in a clearing in the forest, too weak to move from the spot. When the news of his illness spread, a number of the other beasts came to inquire after his health, and they one and all nibbled a little of the grass that grew round the invalid till at last there was not a blade within his reach. In a few days he began to mend, but was still too feeble to get up and go in search of fodder; and thus he perished miserably of hunger owin...
Read more