King Kisra Anushirwan once chased a deer and in his pursuit, got separated from his suite. He noticed a hamlet nearby and stopped by a door for water. A damsel opened the door and went back inside to get a sugarcane juice for the King, with some scented dust sprinkled on it. The King felt […]
As per Duryodhan’s plan, it was a win-win situation for him. Either the Pandavas would be eliminated for good or his dearest friend, Karna, would take charge of the Kaurava army. No one knew about Bhishma’s vow except Lord Krishna. He explained everything to Pandavas’ wife, Draupadi, and worked out a plan with her. Krishna
Banu Ozrah was a handsome, accomplished man, who never lacked love interest amongst ladies. Once he got mesmerized by the beauty of his own tribe but who refused to reciprocate similar feelings for him. Ozrah continued to adore her until one day when he severely fell ill and made for a fatal sleep. Then both
Once in Basrah, a man had a slave-girl whom he loved very much. He looked after her very well and educated her as well. He spent all his time in merry making that all his wealth depleted and he became penniless one day. The slave-girl who also loved the man very much could not see
Lord Krishna is considered one of the chief master minds of the great Kurukshetra or Mahabharata war. After He had manipulated Bhishma to insult Karna, Karna vowed not to enter the war till Bhishma died. Thus, Krishna made sure that the Pandavas were free of the terror of Karna for the first few days of
Wardan, a butcher who lived in Cairo, was intrigued by a woman who bought a lamb every day. When he asked her servant about this, he said that she took it along with fresh and dried fruits to some place near the Wazir’s garden every day with the servant blindfolded. Wardan decided to follow her.
Of 4,000 concubines, 2,000 Greeks and 2,000 slave-born Arabians and Abyssinians were in the palace of Caliph Al-Mutawakkil, whereby Obaid bin Tahir had given him 200 whites and 200 Abyssinian and native-girls. Amongst the slave-borns, Mahbubah was extremely beautiful and played upon the flute well with an art of making verses. The Caliph fell for
Lord Krishna heard Duryodhan and Arjun’s plea for His help for Mahabharata war. He proposed, “I will not fight in this war but I am willing to give my mighty army, Narayani Sena. You both will have to choose between me and my army.” Duryodhan chose Lord Krishna’s army and Arjun chose Lord Krishna. When
Once a rich man became destitute and approached his friend for assistance. His friend lent him five hundred dinars to start a trading business. With a prior experience as a jeweller, the man bought gold with the money to sell them off at the jewel-market. While he was sitting, three men came and asked him
Lord Krishna was fully aware of the capabilities of His army, Narayani Sena. He thought, ‘If the great Balarama enters the battlefield on Duryodhan’s side, the game will be over for the Pandavas.’ Lord Krishna convinced Balarama, “This Mahabharata war would be filled with unfair and unjust ways. A man of your accomplishments should not
Abu Hasan Al-Ziyadi was so hugely indebted that he was shunned by everybody. One day, Khorasan met him and gave him ten thousand dirhams for safekeeping as he was going on a pilgrimage. He also told Hasan if he did not return along with the group, he could keep the money, otherwise should return it
Once there was a devout Israelite who earned his living through selling cotton yarn. With the margins, he brought in daily bread for his family. One morning, he met one of his brethren who asked for his help, and he gave him the price of the yarn. He then took a cracked, wooden trencher and
Lord Krishna knew that peace negotiations with the Kauravas would fail, in spite of Yudhishthira’s wish. However, by going for the peace talks, Krishna cleverly put the ball in the Kauravas’ court. If the peace talks failed, Duryodhan would be blamed for it. If they succeeded, the Pandavas would get the credit for it. With
Once a King proclaimed that the people of his kingdom would never offer alms to the poor. If any of them did so, he would lose his life. One day, a beggar begged for alms to a woman. As she showed her fear of losing her hands to the King, he conjured her by the
Duryodhan was upset that Krishna had refused the Kauravas’ hospitality. He insisted that the Pandavas should return to another exile when Krishna asked to return the Pandavas’ kingdom. “All right! Let five villages be given to the five Pandava brothers because they are peace-loving and want to avoid a war,” said Krishna. Duryodhan did not