The Clever Trick of Khosa Musha

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 The Poor Man and His Son

Once upon a time, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a poor man with his wife and only son. They lived a simple life, but the son had big dreams. One day, he said to his father, “Father, I want to marry the princess. Please go to the palace and take my proposal.”

The Father’s Fear

The poor man was shocked. “My son, how can we even think of such a thing? We are poor, and the king would never accept.” But the son kept insisting until his father, though frightened, set off toward the palace.

The First Excuse

On his way, the poor man came across muddy marshes, slipped, and covered himself in dirt. Ashamed and nervous, he returned home and said, “My son, the king’s guards threw me into the marshes and beat me badly. Look at my condition!”

The Son’s Doubt

But the son was clever and replied, “Father, I know you didn’t go to the palace. You are making excuses. Please, try again.”

The Second Excuse

Reluctantly, the poor man set out once more. This time, he forced himself through thorny bushes, tearing his clothes. When he returned, he told his son, “See what the king’s guards did to me again!”

The Truth Comes Out

Again, the son refused to believe him. “No, Father. I know you are lying again. You must go properly.” At last, the poor man gathered courage and truly went to the king’s palace with the proposal.

The King’s Conditions

The king listened and then said, “I will accept your son’s proposal only if three conditions are fulfilled: first, no man with bushy eyebrows and a blond beard should be in the wedding procession. Second, one hundred people from your side must each eat one whole sheep and one packet of butter. And third, the wedding party must enter the palace not through the regular gates, but through another way.”



The Clever Khosa Musha

Among their relatives, however, was a man with bushy eyebrows and a blond beard. To hide his features, they darkened his brows with surma (eyeliner) and fixed an artificial beard. In those times, people believed that a man without a beard and with brown eyes was very clever and wise. This man was known as Khosa Musha.

Entering the Palace

When the procession set out, Khosa Musha guided them. “The king means we must enter through the roof ventilator,” he explained wisely. So all one hundred guests jumped down into the palace through the ventilator, shouting joyfully, “Ummahaaa! Ummahaaa!” The first condition was fulfilled.

The Great Feast

Next came the feast. Each of the one hundred guests ate a full sheep and a pack of butter. Amazingly, they all managed it, and the second condition was fulfilled.

The King’s Suspicion

Now the king grew suspicious. “How could they succeed? Maybe they brought a Khosa Musha with them!” To test them, he stood at the door, pulling each man’s beard as he said goodbye, to check if it was real.

Khosa Musha’s Trick

When it was Khosa Musha’s turn, the king reached for his beard. But Khosa Musha quickly stopped him, saying, “Go away, King! You are not marrying your daughter to all of us—only to the groom. I will not allow you to pull my beard like that!” And with that, he walked out boldly.

A Happy Ending

The king realized the conditions had been fulfilled. He kept his word, and the poor man’s son married the princess. From then on, they lived happily ever after.

Moral of the Story

This tale teaches us that courage and persistence can turn even the most impossible dreams into reality. It also shows that wisdom and cleverness are often more powerful than strength. Finally, it reminds us never to underestimate the poor—determination and intelligence can help anyone achieve greatness.

If you liked this, don’t miss these other tales…

1. Khacharo the Stubborn Boy – Part 3: The Uncle, Aunt, and the Pumpkin Disaster

2.The Angel of Death and the Test of True Love | Folktale from Gilgit-Baltistan

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