As darkness swallowed the wilderness, King Bahram Gur found himself separated from his royal hunting party. Needing shelter for the night, he rode toward the dwelling of a notoriously miserly man named Baraham. The king knocked upon the gate, explaining that he was a rider lost in the dark who sought nothing more than a modest place to rest until dawn, promising to cause no harm or inconvenience.
When Baraham's servant conveyed the message, the miser responded with cold disdain, bidding the stranger to be turned away. Bahram sent word back, pleading for mere shelter and swearing that he would ask for nothing. Baraham then confronted the rider directly, portraying himself as a destitute man sleeping on the bare ground, and declared harsh conditions: if the stranger wished to enter, he must swear not to demand a single morsel of food, to compensate for any structural damage his mount might cause, and, most strictly, to personally sweep up and carry away any dung dropped by his horse come morning.
Bahram Gur, displaying magnificent forbearance and royal humility, accepted every condition and pledged his word. He dismounted, secured his horse, drew his sword, and laid his saddle-felt upon the dirt floor, using his hard saddle as a pillow. Meanwhile, Baraham locked the heavy door from within, brought out a lavish meal and goblet of wine, and proceeded to dine comfortably. As he drank, the miser taunted the hungry king outside, boasting that wealth brings light and protection like armor, whereas the poor are left parched and starving at midnight. Bahram answered with gentle, gracious wisdom, refusing to let the host's arrogance diminish his own inner nobility.
When dawn painted the mountain crests with golden sunlight, Bahram saddled his horse to depart. Baraham blocked his path, demanding that the rider honor his oath to clear the horse dung. Bahram offered gold so that a laborer might be hired to sweep the area, but Baraham refused, accusing him of deceit if he did not do the task himself. Bound by his supreme royal commitment to truth and honor, Bahram reached into his riding boot and withdrew a luxurious scarf of finest silk, heavily perfumed with musk and ambergris. With this precious royal cloth, he wiped the ground completely clean of dung and threw it into the pit. Fulfilling his pledge without a murmur of discontent, Bahram looked upon Baraham and remarked that should the King hear of such noble righteousness, he would surely grant the host untold riches.