The Tragic Journey of the Third Dervish

In the narrative presented by Sarazad, the Third Dervish recounts a life defined by royal privilege, catastrophic misfortune, and the consequences of human curiosity. His story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of ignoring divine warnings and succumbing to forbidden impulses.

The Magnet Mountain and the Price of Faith

The Dervish, born a king, finds his life shattered during a maritime expedition. His crew encounters a "black mountain of metal" that possesses the "great power to attract metal," causing their ship to disintegrate as every nail is pulled toward the peak. The Dervish survives only to face the "brass horseman," a guardian of the mountain. Guided by a dream, he is instructed to topple the horseman into the sea to ensure his salvation. Crucially, the dream warns him: "you must not call out the name of God." However, when he succeeds and sees land, his joy overcomes his discipline; he cries out, "There is none greater than God," causing his rescue boat to sink immediately. This moment highlights the Dervish’s struggle between his religious devotion and the strict, supernatural conditions imposed upon his survival.

The Palace of Forty Daughters and the Forbidden Room

After surviving the sea, the Dervish discovers a "great palace covered with red gold," inhabited by forty princesses. He enjoys a year of luxury, yet this comfort is conditional. The princesses warn him that they must depart for forty days and strictly forbid him from opening a specific room, warning that doing so "will cause our separation." The Dervish manages to resist for thirty-nine days, surrounded by "fabulous delights" and "gardens of fragrant flowers," but his insatiable curiosity eventually triumphs.

Upon entering the chamber, he discovers a "horse, as black as the deepest night." His hubris leads him to attempt to ride the creature, which turns out to be a magical beast. The horse, offended by the Dervish’s attempt to assert control, flies into the sky and eventually drops him in a "lonely desert," blinding him in one eye with its tail. This loss of sight and his subsequent act of shaving his beard symbolize his transition from a powerful king to a wandering dervish, marked by his own inability to follow simple instructions.

Resolution and Divine Intervention

The narrative concludes with the Dervishes seeking mercy from a mysterious woman, who ultimately grants them their lives. The reveal that the Caliph has been observing them shifts the tone from one of individual suffering to state-sanctioned protection. The Dervishes find "safety and refuge" in the Caliph’s palace, finally ending their cycle of misery. Through this tale, the Dervish reflects on his own agency, admitting, "I brought my misery upon myself," thereby acknowledging that his transformation from king to beggar was the direct result of his disobedience and lack of self-control.