Download the audio to your computer (right click, save as)
This traditional story from Turkey is not quite as scary as its title, but it is certainly a little darker than some of our tales. It is a powerful fable about a man who boasted too much, and was cured of his pride by a brush with death.
Bertie would like to than Adem from Turkey for suggesting this story. Adem works in a primary school in a small village, and he and the students in his class are Storynory listeners.
Read by Natasha. Adapted by Bertie. Duration 11.10
There was once a great warrior called Dede Korkut. He and his men swept across the earth conquering lands far and wide, and as his power and wealth grew, so did his pride. He began to believe that he was invincible, and perhaps even immortal. After one particularly great victory in battle, he held a feast in his palace for seven days and seven nights on end. And on the seventh night he called for the music and dancing to cease, and he made the following speech.
“Men. We have conquered all before us. There is no force on earth that can hold us back. We are the greatest army that has ever lived and fought. I challenge all creation to stand and fight us, and still we shall prevail, so long as I, Dede Korkut, am your leader. ”
And when the leader had finished speaking, there was cheering and uproar throughout the palace and the celebrations continued among great merriment and rejoicing.
But God was also listening to the proud speech of Dede Korkut. And He was displeased at his arrogance and boasting. And so God ordered Az’rail, his Angel of Death, to visit Dede Korkut and to take his soul.
Az’rail flew into the palace and stood on the table in front of where Dede Korkut was feasting. The leader looked up at the intruder and said:
“Dark Warrior, who are you to stand before me so insolently?”
And Az’rail replied: “I am not one to answer questions from the likes of you, for I am here to punish your arrogance and boasting”.
Dede Korkut was far from used to hearing such defiance and rude words directed at him. He was filled with rage and jumped up onto the table meaning to cut off the head of the dark stranger. But before he could do so, Az’rail changed into the from of a bird and flew out of the window.
Dede Korkut rushed to the stables and ordered his horse to be saddled immediately. Soon he was charging out of the palace in pursuit of the angel. First he saw him in the moonlight standing on the highest tower of the palace, then he too saw him take off with a wing span far greater than any bird he had seen before. He charged after him, firing arrows and hurling javelins into the sky, but none came near the dark bird. He pursued him out of the city and into the forest. Deeper and deeper into the forest he went, following the terrible screeches and cries of the bird, when suddenly the angle appeared before him.
“At last you’re mine ” Dede Korkut, meaning to run him through with his lance. ”
“No, you are mine,” said the figure before him. “For I am Azra’il the Angel of Death and I have come for your soul. You boasted that you were immortal and invincible. Now the moment of your death has come, oh arrogant one.”
At these words, Dede Korkut he threw himself on the ground before the angel and said.
“Now that I look death in the face, I understand the arrogance of my life. But I beseech you, kind Angel, spare me. Give back to me the remaining years of my youth and strength, and I swear that through my words and my deeds I will prove that I have learned my lesson. ”
And the Angel replied: “I do not decide such things. I am but a messenger from the Almighty. ”
And Dede Korkut cried out: “Then get out of my way and stop wasting my time. ” And he fell on the ground and began to pray to God”
“Forgive my boasting oh Lord of All Creation and give me another chance”.
And God heard his words and was pleased, and He ordered the Angel to spare Dede Korkut his life, on condition that he could find another who was ready of his own free will to give up his own life for that of Dede Korkut’s.
Dede Korkut rode back to the palace a changed man. He felt sure that all he had to do was to ask his father to take his place in death, for he was an old man, and had never refused his son anything. But when he came before his father and gave him his request, his father replied.
“My son. I have struggled all my life so that I can enjoy my old age. I am sorry, but I am not ready to die in your place.”
And Dede Kokut was surprised and disappointed, but he thought that surely his mother would not refuse him anything. But when he asked her she said”
“Oh my son ! I have already given my life to you many times, when I gave birth to you, when I fed you with my own milk, when I took care of you. Now the rest of my life belongs at your father’s side, as company for his old age”.
And the young warrior was disappointed and distraught. He returned to his chamber and prepared to die. But when his young and beautiful wife saw him, she asked what troubled him and he said:
“Beloved. The Angel of Death is about to take my life unless I can find someone willing to die in my place. And yet it seems that even my parents, who previously have never refused me anything are not willing to do this for me. And so I have no escape. I must bid you farewell for I am about to die.”
And when she heard these words his wife replied.
“Look no further. Why did you not ask me? I love you so much that I will gladly give what even your own father and mother have refused. Take my life so that yours can be spared.”
And when the warrior heard those of true and unblenching love, tears came to his eyes. He fell on his knees and prayed to God again saying”
“Great Lord. Forgive me. Take my life and spare that of my wife, for she has faced death more calmly and bravely than I.”
And God was again pleased to hear those words, and he decided to spare both Dede Korkut and his wife, and they lived a long and blessed life and there was peace and prosperity throughout his lands.
And God wrote on the palms of the Angel of Death, in letters of light.
“In the Name of god, Most Merciful and Beneficent” and he ordered the angel that when ever he must take the soul of one of the faithful, he must show to him those letters so that his soul might come out of his body and return to its maker.
51 Comments
many many thanks. I hope all the listeners like it…
Adem, Thanks again for the story !
this is a good story
Hi Bertie
This is a great story
is this a myth ?
thanks,
Alysha
Hi Alysha,
I suppose it is a myth – anyway it’s an old story with lots of deep meaning in it.
really very good story.Thanks a lot.
Hi Bertie
It was a great story.Is it a true one.
Bye
Good.
Thanks,
this is a good story! but in the beggining that man was very creul
P.S. is this story in the bible?
Julian, it’s not a bible story… it has an Islamic background
This is an awsome story!
Wonderful story.Thanks
i liked everything
nICE
good
good
This story is kind of sad in the end, but I still like it!
Dena!!!!!!!
Well. its a good story. but, i got a task from my teacher and she said i should listen to this story. but, WTH? i am way more skilled in this lang. so i didnt expect to listen to a story xD.
but its a great story anyway, and i think it does help others thats not so good at this lang.
(im from denmark)
BYE BYE
hi bertie
i liked the story i wish with all my heart that you turn back into a prince……<3
haha,havnt heard it yet,lol,natasha,u rok!
Its really worth listening and reading.Apart from learning the usual things like pronunciation,spelling,new vocabulary one can learn even more – it’s more reasonable to be humble than to be proud. Thanks to this story one can become a better person regardless of the age,religion,nationality.Thank you for the story.I am glad there are such great people like you who wish to make this world a better place(not only a better place for children but for everybody).
Thanks bertie and natasha it was a great story!
then are very good
Very goooood i love then….<3
omfg this is a crasy story, dede korkuk is a real maniac. if this is a real story i hope that there is not ganna be a secong one
(im from denmark)
I think that this is the greatest strory I’ve heard.this is a good convincing book to those who don’t know the Lord!
The angel was mean wasn’t it? GOD was mean in this story, why would he want to kill somebody? It`s unfair!
A nice story. GOD STOPed waNTING To kiLL
Dear Pokemon, you are asking some very good questions; I’m not sure that I know the answers, but I will try. I don’t think you need to take this story too literally about God and the Angel of Death. It’s just a way of explaining things. The story can mean that life and death have surprises in store for all of us. Often when people become very boastful and arrogant, they cannot see that disaster will soon strike them low. The big words for this are hubris (pride) – nemesis (destruction) – and this is the theme of many stories. It seems often to happen in life that the proud and arrogant are struck down… but it doesn’t always happen that way.
Bertie can you tell me the truth that you are frog or a prince because belive you!!!!!!!!
Dena – You must believe what you believe !
i love this story beacause it talks about god and its a nice story
It is a good story. It would be great with Christians heard this.
I am disappointed that the story is not told in its original form.Why do you use “God” instead of “Allah”?
Sulaiman, You make a good point. We thought “God” was more universal – for all religions, and we certainly don’t mean to play down its origins.
This is one of the Dede Korkut stories…
Why dont you put the others as well.
These are old turkish folk tales and every single is a gem of a story.
Bertie,thank you anyway.whoever you are.
Kind regards to all,
Aydin/london.
it’s great, I wish I could read many story like that,
thanks anyway !!!
its kind of good
i really likem this story
Cool i am going to tell my little cousins they will love it because they like scary stories like this one.
this story is great! Allah just means God in arabic, coptics use the same name too. I think its a great story about justice and pride. Love to hear more turkish stories!
it’s a great story!
it’s a GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT story!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
this story rocks
That was sort of soppy. But I enjoyed it, never the less.
I enjoyed the story, though it was a bit short and it could be improved
this book is a good book an it fun to list i like it because it good to study
it was a good story
nitasha are you a muslim or krischun caus iam a krischun
Dear Linzy, we are Christian but we want everyone to enjoy our stories. This story has an Islamic background.