The Tale of Dobrynya Nikitich. Epics and heroic tales. How Ilya from Murom became a hero

Once upon a time there lived a widow, Mamelfa Timofeevna, near Kiev. She had a beloved son - the hero Dobrynyushka. Throughout Kyiv, fame spread about Dobrynya: he was stately, and tall, and learned to read and write, and was brave in battle, and cheerful at the feast. He will compose a song, and play the harp, and smart word will say. And Dobrynya’s disposition is calm, affectionate, he will never say a rude word, he will never offend anyone in vain. No wonder they nicknamed him “quiet Dobrynyushka.”
Once on a hot summer day, Dobrynya wanted to swim in the river. He went to his mother Mamelfa Timofeevna:
“Let me go, mother, to go to the Puchai River and swim in the cold water,” the summer heat has exhausted me.

Mamelfa Timofeevna got excited and began to dissuade Dobrynya:
- My dear son Dobrynyushka, don’t go to the Puchai River. The river is furious and angry. From the first stream fire shoots out, from the second stream sparks fly, from the third stream smoke pours out in a column.
- Okay, mother, at least let me go along the shore, fresh air breathe.
Mamelfa Timofeevna released Dobrynya.
Dobrynya put on a traveling dress, covered himself with a tall Greek hat, took with him a spear and a bow with arrows, a sharp saber and a whip.
He mounted a good horse, called a young servant with him, and set off. Dobrynya drives for an hour or two, the summer sun is scorching hot, burning Dobrynya’s head. Dobrynya forgot what his mother was punishing him and turned his horse towards the Puchai River.
The Puchai River brings coolness.
Dobrynya jumped off his horse and threw the reins to the young servant.
- You stay here, watch the horse.
He took off the Greek hat from his head, took off his traveling clothes, put all his weapons on his horse and rushed into the river.
Dobrynya floats along the Puchai River and is surprised:
- What did my mother tell me about the Puchai River? The Pooh-river is not fierce, The Pooh-river is quiet, like a rain puddle.
Before Dobrynya had time to speak, the sky suddenly darkened, but there were no clouds in the sky, and there was no rain, but thunder rumbled, and there was no thunderstorm, but the fire was shining...
Dobrynya raised his head and saw that the Serpent Gorynych was flying towards him, a terrible serpent with three heads and seven tails, flames blazing from his nostrils, smoke pouring out of his ears, copper claws on his paws glistening.
The Serpent saw Dobrynya and thundered:
- Eh, the old people prophesied that Dobrynya Nikitich would kill me, but Dobrynya himself came into my clutches. Now if I want, I’ll eat him alive; if I want, I’ll take him to my lair and take him prisoner. I have a lot of Russian people in captivity, only Dobrynya was missing.
And Dobrynya says in a quiet voice:
- Oh, you damned snake, first take Dobrynya, and then show off, but for now Dobrynya is not in your hands.
Dobrynya knew how to swim well, he dived to the bottom, swam under the water, surfaced at the steep shore, jumped out onto the shore, and rushed to his horse. And there was no trace of the horse: the young servant was frightened by the snake’s roar, jumped on the horse and was off. And he took away all Dobrynino’s weapons.
Dobrynya has nothing to fight with the Serpent Gorynych.
And the snake flies again to Dobrynya, showers with flammable sparks, and burns Dobrynya’s white body.
The heroic heart trembled.
Dobrynya looked at the shore - there was nothing to take into his hands: there was no club, no pebble, only yellow sand on the steep bank and his Greek hat lying around.
Dobrynya grabbed a Greek hat, poured not a lot of yellow sand into it, not a little - five pounds, and when he hit the Snake Gorynych with his hat, he knocked off his head.
He threw the Snake down to the ground, pressed his chest with his knees, and wanted to knock off two more heads...
How the Serpent Gorynych prayed here:
- Oh, Dobrynyushka, oh, hero, don’t kill me, let me fly around the world, I will always obey you. I will give you a great vow: not to fly to you in wide Rus', not to take Russian people prisoner. Just have mercy on me, Dobrynyushka, and don’t touch my little snakes.
Dobrynya succumbed to the crafty speech, believed the Serpent Gorynych, and let him go, damned.
As soon as the Serpent rose under the clouds, it immediately turned towards Kyiv and flew to the garden of Prince Vladimir. And at that time, young Zabava Putyatishna, Prince Vladimir’s niece, was walking in the garden.
The Serpent saw the princess, was delighted, rushed at her from under the cloud, grabbed her in his copper claws and carried her to the Sorochinsky mountains.
At this time, Dobrynya found a servant and began to put on his traveling dress - suddenly the sky darkened and thunder roared. Dobrynya raised his head and saw: the Serpent Gorynych was flying from Kyiv, carrying Zabava Putyatishna in his claws.
Then Dobrynya became sad - he became sad, he became depressed, he came home unhappy, sat down on a bench, and didn’t say a word.
His mother began to ask:
- Why are you sitting sadly, Dobrynyushka? What are you, my light, sad about?
“I’m not worried about anything, I’m not sad about anything, but it’s not fun for me to sit at home.” I’ll go to Kyiv to see Prince Vladimir, he’s having a merry feast today.
- Don’t go, Dobrynyushka, to the prince, my heart senses evil. We'll have a feast at home too.
Dobrynya did not listen to his mother and went to Kyiv to see Prince Vladimir.
Dobrynya arrived in Kyiv and went to the prince’s upper room. At the feast, the tables are full of food, there are barrels of sweet honey, but the guests do not eat or drink, they sit with their heads down.
The prince walks around the upper room and does not treat guests. The princess covered herself with a veil and did not look at the guests.
Here Vladimir the Prince says:
- Eh, my beloved guests, we are having a sad feast. And the princess is bitter, and I am sad. The damned Serpent Gorynych took away our beloved niece, young Zabava Putyatishna. Which of you will go to Mount Sorochinskaya, find the princess, and free her?
Where there! The guests hide behind each other, the big ones behind the middle ones, the middle ones behind the smaller ones, and the smaller ones cover their mouths.
Suddenly the young hero Alyosha Popovich comes out from behind the table:
- That's what, Prince Red Sun, yesterday I was in an open field, I saw Dobrynyushka by the Puchai River. He fraternized with Zmey Gorynych and called him a smaller brother. You went to the Dobrynyushka the Serpent. He will ask your beloved niece from your sworn brother without a fight.
Prince Vladimir got angry:
- If so, get on your horse, Dobrynya, go to Mount Sorochinskaya, get me my beloved niece. If you don’t get Putyatishna’s Fun, I’ll order you to cut off your head.
Dobrynya lowered his violent head, did not answer a word, got up from the table, mounted his horse and rode home.

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Russian epic: About Dobrynya Nikitich and Zmey Gorynych

There lived a widow, Mamelfa Timofeevna, near Kiev. She had a beloved son - the hero Dobrynyushka. Throughout Kyiv, fame spread about Dobrynya: he was stately, and tall, and learned to read and write, and was brave in battle, and cheerful at the feast. He will compose a song, play the harp, and say a clever word. And Dobrynya’s disposition is calm and affectionate. He will not scold anyone, he will not offend anyone in vain. No wonder they nicknamed him “quiet Dobrynyushka.” Once on a hot summer day, Dobrynya wanted to swim in the river. He went to his mother Mamelfa Timofeevna: “Let me go, mother, to go to the Puchai River and swim in the chilly water,” the summer heat has exhausted me. Mamelfa Timofeevna got excited and began to dissuade Dobrynya: “My dear son Dobrynushka, don’t go to the Puchai River.” Puchai is a fierce, angry river. From the first stream the fire shoots out, from the second stream sparks fall, from the third stream smoke pours out in a column. “Okay, mother, at least let me go along the shore and get some fresh air.” Mamelfa Timofeevna released Dobrynya. Dobrynya put on a traveling dress, covered himself with a tall Greek hat, took with him a spear and a bow with arrows, a sharp saber and a whip. He mounted a good horse, called a young servant with him and set off. Dobrynya drives for an hour or two; The summer sun is scorching hot, burning Dobrynya’s head. Dobrynya forgot what his mother was punishing him and turned his horse towards the Puchai River. The Puchai River brings coolness. Dobrynya jumped off his horse and threw the reins to the young servant: “You stay here, guard the horse.” He took off the Greek hat from his head, took off his traveling clothes, put all his weapons on his horse and rushed into the river. Dobrynya floats along the Puchai River and is surprised: “What did my mother tell me about the Puchai River?” Puchai the river is not fierce, Puchai the river is quiet, like a rain puddle. Before Dobrynya had time to say, suddenly the sky darkened, and there were no clouds in the sky, and there was no rain, but thunder rumbled, and there was no thunderstorm, but the fire was shining... Dobrynya raised his head and saw that the Serpent Gorynych was flying towards him, scary snake o three heads , about seven claws, flames are blazing from the nostrils, smoke is pouring from the ears, the copper claws on the paws are shining. The Serpent saw Dobrynya and thundered: “Oh, the old people prophesied that Dobrynya Nikitich would kill me, but Dobrynya himself came into my clutches.” Now if I want, I’ll eat you alive, if I want, I’ll take you to my lair, I’ll take you prisoner. I have a lot of Russian people in captivity, only Dobrynya was missing. And Dobrynya says in a quiet voice: “Oh, you damned snake, first take Dobrynya, then show off, but for now Dobrynya is not in your hands.” Dobrynya knew how to swim well; he dived to the bottom, swam under the water, surfaced near a steep shore, jumped out onto the shore and rushed to his horse. And there was no trace of the horse: the young servant was frightened by the snake’s roar, jumped on the horse and was off. And he took all the weapons to Dobrynina. Dobrynya has nothing to fight with the Serpent Gorynych. And the Serpent again flies to Dobrynya, showers with flammable sparks, and burns Dobrynya’s white body. The heroic heart trembled. Dobrynya looked at the shore - there was nothing to take into his hands: there was no club, no pebble, only yellow sand on the steep bank, and his Greek hat was lying around. Dobrynya grabbed a Greek hat, poured no more or less yellow sand into it - five pounds and how he would hit the Snake Gorynych with his hat - and knocked off his head. He threw the Snake down to the ground, crushed his chest with his knees, wanted to knock off two more heads... How the Snake Gorynych then begged: - Oh, Dobrynyushka, oh, hero, don’t kill me, let me fly around the world, I will always obey you ! I will give you a great vow: not to fly to you in wide Rus', not to take Russian people prisoner. Just have mercy on me, Dobrynyushka, and don’t touch my little snakes. Dobrynya succumbed to the crafty speech, believed the Serpent Gorynych, and let him go, damned. As soon as the Serpent rose under the clouds, it immediately turned towards Kyiv and flew to the garden of Prince Vladimir. And at that time, young Zabava Putyatishna, Prince Vladimir’s niece, was walking in the garden. The Serpent saw the princess, was delighted, rushed at her from under the cloud, grabbed her in his copper claws and carried her to the Sorochinsky mountains. At this time, Dobrynya found a servant and began to put on his traveling dress - suddenly the sky darkened and thunder roared. Dobrynya raised his head and saw: the Serpent Gorynych was flying from Kyiv, carrying Zzbava Putyatishna in his claws! Then Dobrynya became sad - he became sad, he became depressed, he came home unhappy, sat down on a bench, and didn’t say a word. His mother began to ask: “Why are you sitting sadly, Dobrynyushka?” What are you talking about, my light. Are you sad? “I’m not worried about anything, I’m not sad about anything, but it’s not fun for me to sit at home.” I’ll go to Kyiv to see Prince Vladimir, he’s having a fun feast today. - Don’t go, Dobrynyushka, to the prince, my heart senses evil. We'll have a feast at home too. Dobrynya did not listen to his mother and went to Kyiv to see Prince Vladimir. Dobrynya arrived in Kyiv and went to the prince’s upper room. At the feast, the tables are full of food, there are barrels of sweet honey, but the guests do not eat, do not drink, they sit with their heads down. The prince walks around the upper room and does not treat guests. The princess covered herself with a veil and did not look at the guests. So Prince Vladimir says: “Eh, my beloved guests, we are having a sad feast!” And the princess is bitter, and I am sad. The damned Serpent Gorynych took away our beloved niece, young Zabava Putyatishna. Which of you will go to Mount Sorochinskaya, find the princess, and free her? Where there! The guests hide behind each other: the big ones behind the middle ones, the middle ones behind the smaller ones, and the smaller ones cover their mouths. Suddenly the young hero Alyosha Popovich emerges from the table. - That's what, Prince Red Sun, yesterday I was in an open field, I saw Dobrynyushka by the Puchai River. He fraternized with the Serpent Gorynych, called him a smaller brother. You went to the Serpent Dobrynyushka. He will ask your beloved niece from your sworn brother without a fight. Vladimir the Prince got angry: “If that’s the case, get on your horse, Dobrynya, go to Mount Sorochinskaya, get me my beloved niece.” But not. If you get Putyatishna’s Fun, I’ll order you to cut off your head! Dobrynya lowered his violent head, did not answer a word, got up from the table, mounted his horse and rode home.

Nikitich

Once upon a time there lived in Kyiv the eminent boyar Nikita with his wife Mamelfa Timofeevna, and they had a little son Dobrynya. Dobrynyushka was orphaned early, having lost his kind father, but the honest widow Mamelfa Timofeevna managed to raise her handsome, smart son, taught him all the sciences and wisdom; Dobrynyushka was polite and affectionate, to the wonder of everyone, and once he started playing the harp, everyone couldn’t stop listening.
Dobrynyushka was still young, only twelve years old, - how his zealous and brave heart flared up; he wanted to go to an open field, to look for heroic deeds. His dear mother says to him:
“You are still too young, dear son, to go and play heroic deeds in an open field, but if you go, obey my parental commandment: do not swim in the Pochai River; that river is stormy, fierce, the middle wave hits it like an arrow; be careful that you do not die in vain.
Dobrynya did not listen to his dear mother; He goes to the stable, saddles his good horse with a Cherkassy saddle: he puts saddle pads on saddle pads, felt pads on felt pads, tightens the saddle with twelve silk girths, and also a thirteenth iron one, so that the saddle holds tightly so that the horse does not throw off the good fellow along the way.
And Dobrynyushka went to the high mountain, where the Serpent Gorynych was hiding; The villain guarded the Orthodox Christians, his captives. Dobrynyushka wants to rescue the captives from trouble, to trample the evil little snakes under the hooves of his heroic horse.
Dobrynya rode for a long time or a short time, and approached the Pochay River; and it was a summer, sunny day; The hero wanted to swim in the Pochay River.
Dobrynya got off his horse, took off his colored dress and swam down the river; floats slowly and thinks to himself:
“My dear mother told me that the Pochay River is angry and stormy, but she is quiet and meek - she doesn’t worry, she doesn’t move.”
Before Dobrynya had time to finish his thought, a black cloud suddenly appeared out of nowhere and lightning flashed.
Dobrynyushka looks: the terrible Serpent Gorynych with twelve trunks has flown in, shouts to the hero:
- You have now fallen into my hands, Dobrynya; I’ll do whatever I want to you: if I want, I’ll strangle you, I’ll carry you into a hole; If I want it, I’ll eat it on the spot.
Dobrynya dived under the water; swims underwater to the shore, comes ashore, there is neither a horse nor a weapon on the shore; one heroic cap lies under a bush; Dobrynya filled it to the top with sand, as soon as the gang attacked the Serpent Gorynych, he knocked off all twelve of his trunks; The snake fell backwards onto the grass. Here Dobrynya took out a damask dagger and wanted to cut off the snake’s head. The serpent prayed:
- Don't kill me, good fellow! Let’s make the following agreement with you: I will no longer fly to the Russian land, take Orthodox Christians captive, and you don’t go to my open field, don’t trample my little snakes with your horse.
Dobrynya agreed to this agreement and released the snake.
The serpent soared under the clouds and flew over Kiev-city; The serpent saw in the prince's mansion a beautiful maiden, the niece of Prince Vladimir, Zabava Putyatishna. The snake broke the agreement with Dobrynya: he grabbed the beauty and took her to his hole.
Prince Sunny was horrified and saddened; For three days he gathered all sorts of sorcerers and sorcerers, consulted with them on how to rescue his niece from the villain - no one volunteered to help the prince.
Alyosha Popovich says: “Let’s go, prince, to the rescue of my named brother, Dobrynyushka, to Zabava Putyatishna; He alone will help you in your misfortune, because they made an agreement with the serpent so that the serpent would not dare to take Orthodox Christians into captivity.
The prince sends Dobrynya to the serpent; Dobrynyushka does not refuse heroic service, but he returned home sadly, thinking deeply.
Mamelfa Timofeevna asks:
- What’s wrong with you, my dear child, that you returned sadly from the princely feast; Have you been offended by a place, have you been surrounded by a spell of green wine, have someone made fun of you?
- No, dear mother, the prince received me with honor, no one offended me, only Vladimir imposed on me great service, sends me to rescue Zabava Putyatishna from the snake.
Dobrynya's mother says:
- Lie down and rest now, Dobrynyushka, and then you will think about how to help your grief: the morning is wiser than the evening.
In the morning Dobrynya got up early; His mother equipped him for the journey - she gave him a silk whip with her.
- Dear child, when you arrive across an open field to the Sorochinsky Mountains, where the snake and its baby snakes live, hit your little one between the ears with a whip, and also hit his steep thighs. The little beetle will jump around, shake the baby snakes off their feet, and trample every one of them!
Dobrynya listened to the advice of his mother: when he began to ride a beetroot near Mount Sorochinskaya, beating baby snakes to death, the snake itself jumped out of the hole and said to Dobrynya:
- Why, Dobrynyushka, are you violating our agreement and beating my children? Dobrynya got angry with the snake:
- How dare you, villain, drag Prince’s niece into your hole! That's why I trampled your little snakes. Give me the Fun now without a fight, without a quarrel, otherwise, look, things will go badly for you!
He did not give the snake to the prince’s niece and started a great battle with Dobrynya: they fought for three whole days, Dobrynya already wants to give up the snake, but the hero hears a voice from above:
- You fought, Dobrynyushka, with the snake for three days, fight for another three hours - you will defeat the snake. Dobrynyushka listened good advice; three hours later he killed Zmey Gorynych; the serpent's blood gushed out from the wound in streams and flooded the open field; Dobrynya's horse walks knee-deep in blood. Dobrynyushka began to ask mother-damp earth so that she would part and take away the snake’s blood. The ground opened up. Then Dobrynyushka went down into the deep cellars, freed Zabava Putyatishna, and with her brought all the other captives of the serpent out of the cellars: forty king-princes, forty kings-princes.
Dobrynya says to Zabava:
- I have traveled a lot for you, beautiful maiden; Now we’ll go to Kyiv, I’ll take you to Prince Vladimir.
Dobrynya and Zabava went to Kyiv, and on the way they ran into a huge heroic trail; Dobrynya wanted to compete with someone else’s hero; and then, by the way, he meets Alyosha Popovich, his crusading brother.
Dobrynya says to Alyosha:
- Dear named brother, take Zabava Putyatishna to Prince Vladimir, and I will follow the heroic trail.
Dobrynya turned back his good horse, catching up in an open field with the mighty hero Nastasya Mikulichna, daughter of Mikula Selyaninovich; Dobrynyushka wanted to fight with her: he galloped up to Nastasya Mikulichna from the side, hit her on the head; The hero didn’t even feel Dobrynya’s blow, she drove on and didn’t look back.
Dobrynya was surprised: “Have I really lost all my former strength?” Here Dobrynya hit a strong oak: the oak split into splinters.
“No,” Dobrynya thinks to herself, “all my strength is still with me!” Dobrynya flew at Nastasya Mikulichna again and again, hitting her once and twice harder than before.
The hero looked back at him and said:
- I thought that mosquitoes were biting me, but this hero is fighting!
Nastasya took Dobrynya by her light brown curls, lifted her with one hand, and hid her in her pocket along with the horse. He moves on. Here Nastasya Mikulicna’s horse begged:
- Have pity on me, Nastasya Mikulichna, I can no longer carry you with a hero and even a heroic horse!
The hero Dobrynya took out of her pocket and said: “But I’ll look at the hero, how much I like him: if he’s old and bad, then I’ll cut off his head, and if he’s young and handsome, I’ll marry him.”
And Nastasya Mikulichna liked Dobrynya; They went together to Kyiv to see Prince Sunny; They played a cheerful wedding and started an honorable feast. Vladimir generously rewarded the glorious hero for his great service, for the fact that Dobrynya rescued the young Zabava Putyatishna from the evil snake.

Dobrynya Nikitich had considerable strength, but unlike the mighty Ilya Muromets and the resourceful Alyosha Popovich, he won military affairs achieved thanks to his dexterity and intelligence. He shot accurately with a bow, fought deftly with sabers, but he also masterfully played the harp and loved to play chess. He was a versatile person and aroused the interest of many people. Scientists believe that his image reflected the features of his uncle Prince of Kyiv Vladimir Dobrynya - brother of Prince Malusha's mother, a former slave who served Princess Olga. In the epic, Dobrynya bathes in Puchayrek - this is a symbol of baptism and kills the Snake - destroys the symbol of paganism.

A kind widow Amfela Timofeevna lived in Kyiv, and she had The only son Dobrynyushka, whom she doted on. As Dobrynya grew up, as he felt the heroic strength in himself, he so wanted to test himself, to accomplish a feat. He decided to leave the city, frolic in an open field and go to Mount Sorochinskaya, about which they said that Russians were being held captive there.

Amphela got scared, began to dissuade him, asked him not to go, not to tempt fate. Dobrynya did not agree with her and did not change his decision. Then mother asked him not to trample on the baby snakes born there on Mount Sorochinskaya, and not to swim in Puchayrek, since the water in it is cold and the current knocks him off his feet. Moreover, people said that a seven-headed Serpent flies there, breathes fire, grabs people with its trunks and strangles them...

Dobrynya listened to all the requests and orders of his mother and left for the open field. Soon he saw high mountain Sorochinskaya, dispersed his horse and took off on her, trampled all the little snakes that had crawled out and released all the Russian prisoners who were languishing on that Sorochinskaya mountain.

He was tired, sweaty, and wanted to freshen up. He descended the mountains and galloped up to Puchayreka. And the water in it seemed to him not cold, and the current was not very strong. He undressed, put his things on the bank and entered the river. And immediately the sky darkened, clouds flew in, thunder struck, lightning flashed in the sky, and the fire-breathing Serpent Gorynych with twelve trunk-arms appeared above the river.
He shouted so loudly that the waves rose on Puchayrek:

So I got you, Dobrynya. I'll drown you in cold water, now I’ll take your horse and your heroic dress. Your mother is about to cry.

The snake began to descend lower and lower. Now he is flying over the water itself. Then Dobrynyushka dived into the depths and disappeared. The kite flew over the water without touching him. He rose up, looked at the water, and blazed with fire. And Dobrynya jumped out onto the shore, filled his hat with sand and began to wait. The snake has descended again and is flying straight towards Dobrynya. Dobrynya was not taken aback and threw his hat with sand straight into the Snake’s eyes. The Serpent Gorynych became blind, flapped his wings in helplessness, could not fly further, howled in pain and fell to the ground. Then Dobrynya jumped up to him, pulled out his knife, and wanted to cut off the Snake’s fire-breathing head.
The Serpent Gorynych begged, began to ask to leave him alive, he promised Dobrynya to fly away beyond Mount Sorochinskaya, not to torture the Russian people anymore, not to take anyone prisoner. Dobrynya believed him, took pity on him and let him go.

Only the Serpent Gorynych did not keep his word. He was angry, treacherous, and thought about how to take revenge on the hero Dobrynya. He flew over Kiev, saw the beautiful niece of Prince Vladimir, young Zabava, the daughter of Putyatichna, went down to the ground, grabbed her in his paws and carried her off to his place behind Mount Sorochinskaya, where he hid the girl in a deep hole and blocked the entrance with a heavy stone.

Prince Vladimir learned about the kidnapping and was very saddened. He gathered local heroes, asked them to go beyond Mount Sorochinskaya, to find his beautiful niece, young Zabava, daughter Putyatichna. The heroes answered him that it was not them who should be invited to this matter, but Dobrynya Nikitich. He went to Mount Sorochinskaya, he trampled young snakes, he fought with the Serpent Gorynych and set him free. So let him look for the snake’s hole, let him free the prince’s beautiful niece, young Zabava, daughter Putyatichna.

The next morning, Dobrynya began to get ready for the journey. He cleaned and watered his horse, straightened his saddle, sharpened his saber, and his mother gave him a whip with her, so that he could use it to spur his horse and fight off the baby snakes.

Dobrynya galloped up Mount Sorochinskaya. Again he trampled the small snakes and began to release the Russians captured by the Serpent Gorynych from captivity. Before he had time to free them, the Serpent Gorynych himself crawled out of the lower hole and shouted:
- Why did you destroy my children, Dobrynya? Why did you release the prisoners?
And Dobrynya answers him:
- Because you, Serpent Gorynych, did not keep your word. Why did you steal Prince Vladimir's niece? Why did you fill the Russian people?

Serpent Gorynych got angry at these bold words and challenged Dobrynya Nikitich to a fight. They fought for three days and three nights, became exhausted, and neither could defeat the other. And then I heard Dobrynya’s voice from above: “Fight with the Serpent for another three hours and you will defeat him.”

Dobrynya gathered all his strength and continued to fight. The Serpent could not withstand such pressure, stumbled, and Dobrynya Nikitich cut off his head. And as soon as he cut it down, he went down the mountain, rolled away the stone from his snake hole and released the prince’s beautiful niece, young Zabava, the daughter of Putyatichna. They went free with her different people: both rich and poor. Everyone thanked Dobrynya Nikitich and promised to preserve his great memory.

Dobrynyushka was given birth to by her dear mother. She fed her white breasts and washed herself with spring water. Sometimes she would wash him, comb his hair, and cross him at night. Dobrynyushka grew by leaps and bounds. She sometimes sits and lulls him to sleep: “Sleep, my child, sleep, calm you down, when you grow up great, you will walk in gold.” So Dobrynyushka grew up.

He had already become a youth, got himself a heroic horse and heroic armor. It happened that he would get equipped and go to the wild steppe to wander. And Dobrynyushka’s mother ordered: “Don’t go, Dobrynyushka, far into the wild steppe, beyond the deep rivers, beyond the high, high Sorochinsky mountains.” But Dobrynyushka did not listen to his mother. He will take the Sorochinsky club and go to the wild steppe. Often he met enemies on the way, but they did not remain alive, they fell from his brave hand, from Sorochinsky’s baton. Once he was traveling across the steppe and the hero Franzil Venetian met him. And the other is a hero from rich India. He took them both in his hands, knocked them together and put them in a leather bag, tied them by a lasso, threw them on the saddle, sat on the good horse and rode off. He rode for a day, two, three, or maybe more. He sees another hero coming towards him and he hears a heroic voice:

What, Dobrynya Nikitich, will we fight or make peace?

And Dobrynya answers:

And he answers:

To fight is not to marry, to fight is to fight. Dobrynya Nikitich wrapped a long spear, raised it with the blunt end and hit the enemy in the chest. That hero fell from his horse. Dobrynya jumped up, took it and unfastened the armor on his chest, and saw women’s breasts. He then retreated. She says:

Well, Dobrynya Nikitich, you did what you weren’t supposed to do. Now you must marry me. If you say, I won’t take it, I’ll hit you with my palm and squeeze you into an oatmeal pancake.

He looked into her face. She seemed to him more than white light and clear sun.

May you be my wife forever, and I will be your faithful husband. What should I call you, dignify you?

I'm Vasilisa Savelyevna.

They gave each other their hands and the word that they would live inseparably for the rest of their lives and went to see Dobrynya Nikitich’s mother. We've arrived. Their dear mother accepted them as a dear son and a beloved daughter. And they lived for three years. And Dobrynya went again to shoot in the wild steppe. When he left, she went out into the wide yard to see him off. He gives her his hand, kisses it and says:

Well, my dear wife, I’m going to the wild steppe, and you wait for me faithfully, if there is no news for three years, then marry whoever you want, just don’t marry my sworn brother Alyosha Popovich.

She answers him:

Good time to you, good riddance to you. Go, honey, take a walk around wild steppe, and if I don’t receive news, I’ll wait six years and take over three years.
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When Dobrynya drove off, she watched until he disappeared from her eyes. She stood there for a long, long time. Well, then I kept waiting for news, but there was no news. Three years have passed and still no news. Many suitors were wooing and Vladimir Krasno-Solnyshko was the matchmaker, but she refused everyone, saying that she would not get married until she received news and heard that Dobrynya was no longer alive. Then Alyoshenka Popovich brings her a forged letter, as if he traveled through the wild steppe and saw the corpse of Dobrynya Nikitich, overgrown with grass and ants, and snakes made nests in his skull. And the horse walks through the steppe without an owner, and snakes bite his brushes. At this time, he proposed to her that he would marry her. She agreed, and they set up a proposal evening. And in two or three weeks there will be a wedding ceremony. They've had their first night out and are getting ready for the second.

And Dobrynya has laid out a linen tent, laid out a felt felt, has a Cherkassy saddle on his head and is sleeping in a heroic sleep. His good horse ran up to the tent, hit with his hoof, sparks fell from under the hoof and the whole earth trembled. Dobrynya woke up, left the room, and his good horse was snoring, moving his ears and eyes like a fierce beast.

Why are you, my beloved master, sleeping and not knowing or knowing anything? Your beloved wife, Vasilisa Savelyevna, is marrying your sworn brother, Alyosha Popovich. There was a proposal evening, and soon there will be a wedding party.

And Dobrynya Nikitich asks:

Good horse, will we be in time by this time?

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