Long ago, in a quiet land of forests and open plains, there lived a humble woodcutter and his wife. Though their lives were honest and hardworking, sorrow weighed heavily on them, for they had no child to brighten their home. One day, while cutting wood deep in the forest, the woodcutter discovered a djinn trapped and bound by ancient magic. Moved by pity, he freed the spirit without asking for reward. In gratitude, the djinn gifted him a magical apple, instructing that he and his wife share it together.
From this miracle, a daughter was born. From her first days, the child revealed signs of otherworldly grace. When she cried, pearls fell like tears. When she spoke, flowers bloomed at her feet, and golden sand followed her steps wherever she walked. People marveled at her beauty and gifts, calling her Princess Aubergine, though she was born to no palace. Her fame spread across the land, drawing admiration from near and far.
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As the girl grew, kings’ sons and noble lords sought her hand. Yet danger also took notice. A wicked djinn, fierce and possessive, desired Princess Aubergine for himself. When he attempted to seize her, a courageous batyr, a hero of great strength and honor, rose to defend her. In a fierce struggle, the batyr drove the djinn away, saving the maiden from his grasp. Grateful beyond measure, the woodcutter promised that when the time came, his daughter would marry her brave protector.
Years passed, and Princess Aubergine’s beauty only deepened, balanced by kindness and humility. At last, the day arrived for her journey to her bridegroom’s home. She set out with attendants and blessings, unaware that treachery waited along the road. There she met a rich old woman, who claimed to be her aunt. Speaking softly and with false affection, the woman earned Princess Aubergine’s trust.
But envy ruled the old woman’s heart. Desiring the girl’s beauty and wonders for herself, she committed a terrible act. She blinded Princess Aubergine, stripping her of sight and abandoning her helpless by the roadside. Disguised in the princess’s fine garments, the woman took her place and continued toward the wedding, believing deceit would grant her fortune.
Yet the wicked djinn had not forgotten Princess Aubergine. Finding the old woman, he deceived her in turn, revealing that the girl’s life was bound to a precious gemstone hidden within a golden fish. Greedy for power, the woman took the gem, and at once Princess Aubergine fell into a deathlike enchanted sleep, her spirit held captive by magic.
Despite this cruelty, fate still guarded the innocent. Princess Aubergine was laid to rest in a tomb, preserved by enchantment. Meanwhile, her true bridegroom sensed something was terribly wrong. Refusing to accept the false bride, he followed a white dove, a silent guide sent by destiny. The bird led him to the hidden tomb where Princess Aubergine lay, untouched by decay.
There, the batyr confronted the truth. Discovering the gemstone and understanding its power, he seized it back from deceitful hands. The moment the gem was reclaimed, the spell broke. Princess Aubergine awakened, her sight restored, her beauty unchanged, and her gifts returned. Justice swiftly followed. The wicked were exposed, the djinn’s schemes undone, and the old woman punished for her betrayal.
At last, Princess Aubergine and her brave batyr were united in rightful marriage. Their union was celebrated not for wealth or magic alone, but for truth restored and loyalty rewarded. And so the land remembered the pearl-teared maiden, whose innocence endured through suffering, and whose story reminded all that deception may triumph briefly, but never forever.
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Moral Lesson
This tale teaches that kindness invites blessings, while greed and deceit bring ruin. True love and courage, guided by truth, will always overcome betrayal and dark magic.
Knowledge Check
1. Who are Princess Aubergine’s parents?
A humble woodcutter and his wife, rewarded for freeing a djinn.
2. What magical signs mark Princess Aubergine from birth?
Pearls from her tears, flowers from her speech, and golden sand from her steps.
3. Who protects Princess Aubergine from the evil djinn?
A brave batyr who later becomes her bridegroom.
4. How is Princess Aubergine betrayed?
A rich old woman blinds her and steals her place through deceit.
5. What sustains Princess Aubergine’s life-force?
A magical gemstone hidden inside a golden fish.
6. What leads to her rescue?
Her bridegroom follows a white dove and reclaims the gemstone.
Source: Uzbek folk tales collected in Tashkent, published by Издательство литературы и искусства им. Гафура Гуляма (1972)
Cultural Origin: Uzbekistan (Uzbek folk tale)
