Parables about Heroes

Mother's Milk

It was a long time ago, during the time of the Kyrgyz war with the Dzungars.

One day, one of the Kyrgyz heroes was captured. For the Dzungars, the main goal was to find out how to penetrate the fortress and destroy the Kyrgyz army. Unable to withstand the torture, the hero revealed the secret. After that, the Dzungars managed to capture the fortress, and the Kyrgyz troops were forced to temporarily retreat. The Kyrgyz elders were puzzled as to why the best and bravest warrior had betrayed his friends.

Suddenly, an old elder said the following words: "Yes, he is indeed a glorious hero, but he could not keep the secret simply because he was not fed with his mother's milk in infancy. And he who does not know the taste of mother's milk will never know the sanctity of his native land."

The Will of the Hero is Stronger than the Fortress
(A parable according to J. Bokonbaev)

It was a very long time ago. One Kyrgyz tribe was frequently raided; their livestock was taken, and their homes were destroyed.

Eventually, they decided to build a fortress. But on the second day, the enemies destroyed the fortress. And then, on the third day, the wise elders gathered and asked the question: "What shall we do next?"

After consulting, they asked the young warriors who among them was willing to be alive entombed in the wall of the new fortress. After a long pause, unexpectedly one of the young men exclaimed: "I agree!" And then the inspired elders said that from now on, they were not afraid of any enemy, as long as there were such heroes among the young warriors.