One nomad had three daughters and no sons, but he secretly always wanted to have a son. The nomad grew old, his eyes hurt and he became blind. He could no longer see his beloved daughters and friends, and from this grief he began to fade.
One day, a traveler stopped by the nomad camp and told the old man about a Healer from distant lands who had a herb in his garden that could cure any illness. The old man sighed and said, “If I had a son, he would certainly bring me this medicine.” His youngest daughter, Sarva, overheard their conversation, gathered some food, changed her clothes and set off at dawn.
A few days later, Sarva reached an old ger, a nomadic tent. She knocked on the door. “Come in, I don’t have the strength to get up,” the voice called. Sarva came in and saw an old woman covered in blankets. She fed the old woman who then came to her senses and asked the girl where she was headed. Sarva explained her quest.
“Oh, the path to the Healer’s garden is very treacherous,” the old woman told her, “You can’t get there easily from here.” The old woman continued, “ The garden is located high on a mountain covered in clouds. My magic foal that soars high above the clouds will help you. He stands not far, under a lone tree. He will take you to the garden. But on the way, Shulmas, the evil Steppe Spirits, will meet you and grab you by the legs and try to drag you underground. Take this mirror and throw it over your shoulder when you see them. At the foot of the mountain lives a terrible Giant. Give him cake and he will become kind. When you get to the Healer, he will give you the medicinal herbs if he knows that you have come with good intentions.”
“Thank you,” said Sarva, and she bowed and went to a lone tree. There the girl bowed to the magic foal and asked for help reaching the top of the mountain. The foal nodded its noble head and allowed Sarva to saddle it. They rode for three days and three nights. Suddenly, cold enveloped the girl as if someone was whispering in her ear. She galloped faster, but then something grabbed her legs and began pulling her underground. Sarva remembered the mirror, pulled it out of her pocket and threw it over her shoulder. The Shulmas were trapped within the mirror, and the foal galloped on.
They arrived at the foot of the mountain and decided to rest for a spell. Sarva opened the knapsack with food. There was one cake and an apple. She remembered the words of the old woman and set aside the cake for the Giant. She fed the foal an apple and went to sleep.
In the morning Sarva woke up to the sound of a loud roar and felt the trembling of the earth. She opened her eyes and saw that a Giant was moving towards them bellowing loudly. Sarva was speechless for a moment, but then she remembered the cake. She quickly jumped up and bowed as she held out the cake. “Please take this cake. It is very tasty; my older sister baked it,” Sarva said, and continued, “Please let us go up the mountain to the Healer.” The Giant tried the cake, and immediately his features softened and he became kind. He bowed and let the travelers through unharmed.
Sarva and her foal soared up the mountain to the marvellous garden of the Healer. They found themselves among outlandish flowers and trees with wonderful aromas. Sarva had never seen anything more beautiful and closed her eyes. Suddenly she heard a voice, “What are you doing here?” She turned and saw a gray-haired Healer in the garden. Sarva bowed and told her story. “I see you are a kind girl,” he said, “I will give you herbs and seeds and tell you how to grow them yourself so that you can heal others.” And the Healer told Sarva all about the medicinal herbs and how to treat people with them.
Sarva returned home and cured her father and all their neighbors. She planted the herbs and became a young Healer herself. People from all over the Steppe came to Sarva whenever they needed a remedy.
