The story of “Kuntug‘mish”: love, desert and betrayal
Lessons 3–4 · 2 lessons · S. Olim, S. Ahmedov, R. Qo‘chqorov. Literature, Grade 8: textbook-collection, Parts 1 and 2. G‘afur G‘ulom publishing-printing creative house, Tashkent, 2014 (revised third edition)
4
“Kuntug‘mish”: Azbarxo‘ja’s betrayal and the lost sons
Textbook: Part 1, pp. 24–31
GoalTell exactly what happens from the mountain of Mug‘ol to the mother’s reunion with her sons: Azbarxo‘ja’s betrayal and the children’s fate.
On Mug‘ol, Xolbeka bore twin sons. Kuntug‘mish climbed a peak and saw a caravan; its leader Azbarxo‘ja demanded, in return for a bowl of water and bread, that he kill the dragon blocking a spring; Kuntug‘mish did so and they swore friendship on the Qur’an. When Azbarxo‘ja saw Xolbeka he lost his honour: he made Kuntug‘mish drunk, wrapped him in felt, left him and the two babies in the desert and took Xolbeka to Zangar; the honest young Qosim of the caravan left water and food along the way. At a river Kuntug‘mish tried to swim the children across: a wolf carried one off, the other fell into the water and a fish swallowed him. The fisherman Olim found the boy in the fish, and herders saved the other from the wolf, hence the names Mohiboy and Gurkiboy. The boys later served in Xolmo‘min’s house in Zangar; after Buvraxon died the bird of fortune landed on Kuntug‘mish three times and he was made king; when Gurkiboy told his brother the secret, Xolbeka overheard it and was reunited with her sons.
Worked examples
Example: in “Mohiboy” the word mohi means fish because the child was found in a fish; in “Gurkiboy”, gurk means wolf because a wolf had carried him off. The names recall the events.
Example: compare Azbarxo‘ja and Qosim. The first broke his oath of friendship and betrayed for his own gain; the second left water and bread for a stranger following the caravan and showed humanity.
Class activity
Make a two-column table: write Azbarxo‘ja’s deeds in the left column and Qosim’s deeds in the right.
Practice
1
What condition did Azbarxo‘ja set Kuntug‘mish?
To kill the dragon blocking the spring, in return for a bowl of water and bread.
2
In what state did Azbarxo‘ja leave Kuntug‘mish in the desert?
He made him drunk at a feast, wrapped him in felt and left him with the two babies.
3
Who found the boys and how were they named?
Fisherman Olim found the one from the fish and named him Mohiboy; herders found the one saved from the wolf and named him Gurkiboy.
4
What custom with the bird of fortune is shown, and why did Kuntug‘mish become king?
The bird chose the new king: because it landed on Kuntug‘mish’s head three times, they seated him on the throne.