☰ Contents · Literature

The dastan “Sab’ai sayyor”

Lessons 27 · 1 lessons · Q. Yo‘ldoshev, B. Qosimov, V. Qodirov, J. Yo‘ldoshbekov. Literature, Grade 7. “Sharq” publishing house, Tashkent, 2017 (revised 4th edition)
27

The dastan “Sab’ai sayyor” (The Seven Wanderers)

Textbook: pp. 173–219
GoalUnderstand the plot and characters of the excerpt from the dastan “Sab’ai sayyor”.
New words
couplet (two lines) · baytpirate, robber · qaroqchicaptive · tutquntraveller, stranger · musofir
Explanation

“Sab’ai sayyor” is the fourth dastan of Navoiy’s “Khamsa”. The excerpt is titled “Beshinchi iqlim yo‘lidan kelgan musofirning dostonorolig‘i” and is written in couplets. The cruel pirate Jobir of Aden robs at sea and on islands and keeps his treasure on an island. A storm carries Mehr, the beautiful daughter of Navdar, king of Bihishtsaro, and throws her into Jobir’s hands; Mehr mourns in Jobir’s garden in water-lily-coloured clothes. Suhayl, son of Nu’mon king of Yaman and Mehr’s fiancé, sets out for the wedding, but a storm brings him to Jobir, who tricks him by holing his ship, ties him up and throws him into a well. Navdar and Nu’mon too fall, one after the other, into Jobir’s hands. At the end Mehr secretly frees Suhayl, who fights Jobir and throws him into the well; the captives are freed and Mehr and Suhayl are united.

Worked examples
Example: the saying about digging a well for another and falling into it suits Jobir, who ends in the well he used.
Example: Mehr’s water-lily-coloured clothes signal her purity and sad beauty.
Class activity

Divide the excerpt into four sections (Jobir – Mehr – Suhayl – freedom) and write one sentence for each.

Practice
1
Who is Jobir and where from?
2
Whose daughter is Mehr, and to whom is she engaged?
3
Where does Jobir throw Suhayl?
4
How does Mehr rescue Suhayl, and what becomes of Jobir at the end?