One Khan had a daughter. When she was born, her cheeks looked like peaches, and the Khan named her Shavdal. Everyone thought the Princess would grow up to be a glorious, beautiful girl and said prayers for this to the Great Blue Sky.
The days flew by, and the Princess grew, but she had no interest in beautiful outfits, dolls and needlework. Instead, she spent the whole day running around the Steppe with the boys. She learned how to make a fire, chase frogs, shoot a bow, and grew to be very brave and lively. Khan sighed and complained that no young man would want to marry Shavdal. “Daughter, learn to embroider instead of shooting arrows,” the Khan said, “It’s not for a girl to run across the Steppe.” But Shavdal only laughed loudly and ran off to see the sunset on the Steppe.
One day, a khan from a neighboring camp came to the Khan and told him that robbers were approaching. They had already robbed many on the Steppe. “We decided to unite with other khans and send our sons to defend the lands. Are you with us?” he asked. “But I only have a daughter,” Shavdal’s father sighed, “I’ll go fight myself.”
The Khan did not know that Shavdal overheard the conversation from outside the ger. In the evening, he took out his armor and ordered Shavdal to collect food and feed the horse. He sat down to sharpen his sword, which had been dulled by many previous battles. Shavdal looked at her father and was sad because he was old and no longer strong and agile. She went to the Steppe to collect her thoughts.
“I am the only daughter of the Khan, and I must protect my people,” Shavdal decided. Suddenly, she saw a frog that was looking at her closely. “Why do you stare at me, frog? If only you knew the trouble I am in…” she said. The frog croaked in response, “I am not just a frog, I am a warrior. The wicked Witch has bewitched me. She travels with the robbers and does magic. She wants to become a great Khansha of the Steppe and therefore turns strong warriors into frogs, and she will turn you into a frog as well.” “I cannot let that happen!” said Shavdal.
And so, she and the frog warrior decided to come up with a plan. In the morning, Shavdal made her way to her father’s ger, put on his armor and took a sword and her bow. Then the frog warrior summoned the enchanted frogs and the Khan’s warriors, and told them the battle plan. When the robbers approach, the frogs will throw mud at them and blind their eyes, and the warriors of the Khan will attack and tie them up, then catch the evil Witch and throw her in the swamp. So it was decided.
The frogs hid among the tall grass and waited for the robbers. Shouts were heard in the distance, and the earth trembled from the hooves of the horses. The frogs waited until the robbers came close and threw mud at their faces, which covered their eyes. Khan’s soldiers attacked the blinded robbers and tied them with strong knots. Shavdal fought bravely alongside the Khan’s warriors and made her way to the chariot with the evil Witch. She grabbed the Witch by her hair, dragged her to the camp and placed her before her father.
Khan, awakened by the screams, saw Shavdal and his soldiers with their prisoners. The Khan asked the evil Witch why she destroyed other people’s settlements and deprived them of shelter. The Witch replied that she was angry because no one would ever invite her into their tent, and she felt lonely without friends. The good Khan answered her, “You can find food and shelter with us, but in return, I must ask that you become kind.” The Witch burst into tears. The Khan’s kindness warmed her heart, and her face immediately softened. Then the father hugged his Princess Shavdal and said that he was proud of such a brave daughter. He did not even scold her for taking his armor and sword.
Since then, when Kalmyks see an old woman, they always help her so that her face lights up with a smile and her heart is warmed by love.
