Wild Dumrul

Once upon a time there was a warrior called Wild Dumrul, son of Duha Koja. He had a bridge built over a dry riverbed. From those who crossed it he took thirty-three silver coins, and from those who did not cross it he took forty, beating them as he did. When anyone asked him why, he said: "If there is anyone wilder or stronger than me, let him come and fight me. Let my courage and my wildness be known as far as Rum and Damascus."

One day a camp was pitched beside the bridge. In that camp a handsome young warrior fell ill and died. Laments were raised in the camp, and everyone was weeping. Wild Dumrul mounted his horse and rode over: "Why are you weeping? Why are you wailing beside my bridge?" "One of our young warriors has died, and we're weeping for him," said the people. "Who killed that warrior?" asked Wild Dumrul. "Azrael with his red wings came and took his life," they said.

Wild Dumrul was furious: "Who is this Azrael you speak of? He takes the life of a young warrior! O God, praise be to your oneness and your being. Show me this Azrael. Let me fight him and struggle with him and save that handsome warrior's life. Let him never again take the lives of handsome young men." God did not like these words at all. "This madman trusts in his own strength and no longer knows my oneness," He said, and He commanded Azrael: "Go and appear before that madman, make his face turn pale, and take his life."

One day, as Wild Dumrul sat eating and drinking with his forty warriors, Azrael suddenly appeared. The doorkeepers did not see him, and Wild Dumrul's men did not see him. Wild Dumrul's eyes grew dark and his hands trembled. "Hey, what kind of white-bearded old man are you, that my doorkeepers didn't see you? My eyes are growing dark and my hands are trembling. Who are you?" Azrael answered: "You madman, you didn't like my eyes. I am Azrael with the red wings. I have come to take your life."

Wild Dumrul drew his sword and charged at Azrael. But Azrael turned into a dove and flew out of the window. Wild Dumrul laughed: "My warriors, I frightened Azrael so much that he left by the narrow window instead of the wide door. Let loose my falcons and catch him." He took his falcon on his wrist and went after Azrael. But on the way Azrael startled his horse, and Wild Dumrul fell off. Azrael sat on his chest: "You madman, how is it now? Shall I take your life?"

Wild Dumrul was frightened and began to beg: "Mercy, Azrael, mercy! There is no doubting God's oneness. I didn't know you were like this. Spare me, don't take my life." Azrael said: "You madman, why do you beg me? Beg God. He is the one who gives life and takes it." Then Wild Dumrul raised his hands and begged God: "You are the highest of the high, O God. No one knows how great You are. I did not know your oneness or your greatness. Forgive me. Or if you are going to take my life, take it yourself; don't let Azrael take it."

God was pleased with this plea and said to Azrael: "Wild Dumrul has come to know my oneness. Tell him to find a life in place of his own, and I will spare his." Azrael told this to Wild Dumrul. Wild Dumrul was glad: "I have an old father and an old mother. Let me go and ask one of them for their life."

Wild Dumrul went to his father and kissed his hand: "My honoured, white-bearded father, Azrael has come to take my life. God wants a life in place of a life. Will you give your life in exchange for mine?" His father wept: "My son, you are the very corner of my heart. I'll give you my camels like mountains and my sheep like rivers. But I can't give my life. The world is sweet, and life is precious. Go and ask your mother."

Wild Dumrul went to his mother: "My mother, whose white milk I drank, Azrael has come to take my life. My father would not give his life. Will you give your life in exchange for mine?" His mother wept too: "My son, I carried you nine months in my womb, rocked you in your cradle and fed you my white milk. I would give everything for you. But I can't give my life. The world is sweet, and life is precious." Wild Dumrul hung his head and went back to Azrael: "Azrael, take my life. Neither my father nor my mother would give theirs."

But Wild Dumrul had a wife and two sons. Before Azrael took his life, he wanted to say goodbye to his wife. He went to her and told her everything: "Azrael has come to take my life. Neither my father nor my mother would give theirs. I'm going. After I'm gone, whoever you love and whoever your heart chooses, marry him. And don't leave our sons without a father."

His wife wept and said: "What are you saying? You are the warrior I opened my eyes and saw, and gave my heart to and loved! After you, what would I do with the earth for a bed? What would I do with the sky for a quilt? Your father's life and your mother's life were sweet to them. Let my life be a sacrifice for yours. Take my life, Azrael, and spare his."

When Azrael came near to take his wife's life, Wild Dumrul would not allow it. He raised his hands to the sky and begged God: "O God, if you are going to take our lives, take both our lives together. If you are going to spare us, spare us both together. You are generous and merciful." God was very pleased with this loyalty and this love. He commanded Azrael: "Take the lives of Wild Dumrul's father and mother. I have given Wild Dumrul and his wife a hundred and forty years of life." And so Wild Dumrul and his wife lived a long and happy life.

From that day on Wild Dumrul had his bridge torn down and no longer took tolls from anyone. He helped the poor and the orphans and spoke everywhere of God's greatness. Dede Korkut came, played his kopuz and said: "True heroism is not pride but humility. A heart that sacrifices itself for the one it loves is stronger even than death."

This story tells us: trusting too much in one's own strength and growing proud leads a person into great error. And true love is being ready to give everything for the one you love.