## Sippurei Maasiyot Chapter 6

###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:1
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:1)

סיפורי מעשיות משנים קדמוניות-מעשה ו - ממלך עניו

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
**Tale 6: The Humble King**


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:2
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:2)

- מַעֲשֶׂה בְּמֶלֶךְ אֶחָד וְהָיָה לוֹ חָכָם אָמַר הַמֶּלֶךְ לְהֶחָכָם. בַּאֲשֶׁר שֶׁיֵּשׁ מֶלֶךְ שֶׁחוֹתֵם עַצְמוֹ שֶׁהוּא גִּבּוֹר גָּדוֹל וְאִישׁ אֱמֶת וְעָנָו וְהִנֵּה גִּבּוֹר אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא גִּבּוֹר מֵחֲמַת שֶׁסְּבִיב מְדִינָתוֹ הוֹלֵךְ הַיָּם וְעַל הַיָּם עוֹמְדִים חַיִל עַל סְפִינוֹת עִם תותחים, וְאֵינָם מַנִּיחִים לְהִתְקָרֵב וְלִפְנִים מִן הַיָּם יֵשׁ מָקוֹם שֶׁטּוֹבְעִין בּוֹ שֶׁקּוֹרִין ביצה טובענית, גָּדוֹל סְבִיב הַמְּדִינָה שֶׁאֵין שָׁם כִּי אִם שְׁבִיל קָטָן שֶׁאֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לֵילֵךְ שָׁם כִּי אִם אָדָם אֶחָד וְגַם שָׁם עוֹמְדִים תותחים וּכְשֶׁיָּבוֹא אֶחָד לְהִלָּחֵם מוֹרִים עִם הַתותחים וְאִי אֶפְשָׁר לְהִתְקָרֵב לְשָׁם.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
A tale. There was once a king who had a wise man. The king spoke up to the wise man, "Inasmuch as there is a king whose signature declares that he is a great man of might, and a man of truth, and humble (in other words, a truthful person who does not focus on himself [lit. "hold of himself"]): mighty — I know that he is a great man of might, for the sea flows around his country, and on the sea is stationed a navy on warships with cannons and they do not allow anyone to approach, and inwards from the sea there is a great swamp (a place where one drowns) surrounding the country, through which there is only one narrow path wide enough for only one person to pass; there too cannons are positioned, so that if someone comes to attack, the cannons are fired, so it is impossible to set foot there.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:3
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:3)

אַךְ מַה שֶּׁחוֹתֵם עַצְמוֹ אִישׁ אֱמֶת וְעָנָו זֶה אֵינִי יוֹדֵעַ וַאֲנִי רוֹצֶה שֶׁתָּבִיא אֵלַי הַתמונת דיוקן שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַמֶּלֶךְ כִּי יֵשׁ לְהַמֶּלֶךְ כָּל הַתמונות דיוקן שֶׁל כָּל הַמְּלָכִים וְהַתמונת דיוקן שֶׁלּוֹ לא נִמְצָא אֵצֶל שׁוּם מֶלֶךְ כִּי הוּא נִסְתָּר מִבְּנֵי אָדָם כִּי הוּא יוֹשֵׁב תַּחַת כִּלָּה [וילון], וְהוּא רָחוֹק מִבְּנֵי מְדִינָתוֹ.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
"But his signing himself as being a man of truth and humble — this I do not know, and I want you to bring me this king's portrait." For the king had all the portraits of all the kings, but the portrait of that king (who signs himself in such fashion as mentioned) was not found by any king, for he is concealed from people, since he sits under a veil [Yid. *forhang*, Heb. *killah*], and he is far from his countrymen.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:4
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:4)

הָלַךְ הֶחָכָם אֶל הַמְּדִינָה אָמַר הֶחָכָם בְּדַעְתּוֹ, שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לוֹ לֵידַע מַהוּת הַמְּדִינָה וְעַל יְדֵי מַה יֵּדַע הַמַּהוּת שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה ? עַל יְדֵי הַעִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה כִּי כְּשֶׁצְּרִיכִים לֵידַע דָּבָר, צְרִיכִים לֵידַע הַעִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק שֶׁל אוֹתוֹ הַדָּבָר כִּי יֵשׁ כַּמָּה מִינֵי עִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק. יֵשׁ אֶחָד שֶׁמְּכַוֵּן בֶּאֱמֶת לְהַזִּיק לַחֲבֵרוֹ בִּדְבָרָיו וּכְשֶׁחֲבֵרוֹ מַקְפִּיד עָלָיו, אוֹמֵר לוֹ: אֲנִי מְצַחֵק כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: "כְּמִתְלַהְלֵהַּ" וְכוּ' וְאָמַר: הֲלא מְצַחֵק אָנִי! וְכֵן, יֵשׁ אֶחָד שֶׁמִּתְכַּוֵּן בְּדֶרֶךְ צְחוֹק, וְאַף עַל פִּי כֵן חֲבֵרוֹ נִזּוֹק עַל יְדֵי דְּבָרָיו וְכֵן יֵשׁ כַּמָּה מִינֵי עִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
The wise man went to that country. He came to the realization that he must come to know the essence of the country (in other words, the "thing" of the country; how the country works). And how can he find out the country's essence? — by way of the country's jests [Yid. *katoves* Slav. *katavasnik* prankster Gr. *katavasis* descent]. Because when one needs to know [the essence of] something, one must know its jesting. For there are many types of jesting: there is one who really wants to smite the other with his words, and when the other takes notice [lit. "looks around"] he says to him, "I am joshing! (*Ikh treyb katoves*, lit. 'I drive a jest')" as in the verse, "Like one who wearies himself shooting firebrands... and says, 'Am I not joking?'" [Prov. 26:18-19], and so there is someone who really means a jest but still harms the other with his words. Thus there are several kinds of jesting.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:5
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:5)

וְיֵשׁ בְּכָל הַמְּדִינוֹת מְדִינָה שֶׁכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הַמְּדִינוֹת וּבְאוֹתָהּ הַמְּדִינָה יֵשׁ עִיר אַחַת שֶׁכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הָעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁל כָּל הַמְּדִינָה שֶׁכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הַמְּדִינוֹת וּבְאוֹתָהּ הָעִיר יֵשׁ בַּיִת אֶחָד שֶׁכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הַבָּתִּים שֶׁל כָּל הָעִיר שֶׁכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הָעֲיָרוֹת שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה שֶׁכּוֹלֶלֶת כָּל הַמְּדִינוֹת וְשָׁם יֵשׁ אָדָם שֶׁכָּלוּל מִכָּל הַבַּיִת וְכוּ' וְשָׁם יֵשׁ אֶחָד שֶׁעוֹשֶׂה כָּל הַלֵּיצָנוּת וְהַעִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
Now, among all the countries, there is a country that includes all countries (that is, the country is the principle and rule for all countries), and in that country there is a city that includes all cities of that whole country that includes all the countries. And in the city is a house that includes all the houses of the entire city that embodies all cities of the country that includes all countries. And there in the house is a person who includes the entire house which includes etc. And there, there is someone who makes all the wisecracks and jesting of the entire country.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:6
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:6)

וְלָקַח הֶחָכָם עִמּוֹ מָמוֹן רַב, וְהָלַךְ לְשָׁם וְרָאָה שֶׁעוֹשִׂים כַּמָּה מִינֵי לֵיצָנוּת וּצְחוֹק וְהֵבִין בְּהַעִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק שֶׁהַמְּדִינָה כֻּלָּהּ מְלֵאָה שְׁקָרִים מִתְּחִלָּה וְעַד סוֹף כִּי רָאָה שֶׁעוֹשִׂין צְחוֹק אֵיךְ מְאַנִּים וּמַטְעִים בְּנֵי אָדָם בְּמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן וְאֵיךְ הוּא בָּא לָדוּן בְּהַמַּאנִיסְטְרַאט [ערכאה נמוכה] וְשָׁם כֻּלּוֹ שֶׁקֶר וּמְקַבְּלִין שׁחַד וְהוֹלֵךְ לְהַסָּאנְד [ערכאה גבוהה יותר] הַגָּבוֹהַּ יוֹתֵר וְגַם שָׁם כֻּלּוֹ שֶׁקֶר וְהָיוּ עוֹשִׂים בְּדֶרֶךְ צְחוֹק אָן שְׁטֶעלִין [כעין הצגה] מִכָּל הַדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
So the wise man took a large amount of money with him and went there. He saw them making all types of fun and joking. He understood from the jests that the country is full of falsehood through and through. For he saw them making fun of how people are cheated in business, and how he goes to the *manistrat* (lower court) and there it is utter lies and they take bribery there; and he goes to the *sand* [higher court], *Gesandte*, emissary]; and there as well it is utter lies. And they were all making fun and jest, enacting all these things.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:7
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:7)

וְהֵבִין הֶחָכָם בְּאוֹתוֹ הַצְּחוֹק שֶׁהַמְּדִינָה כֻּלָּהּ מְלֵאָה שְׁקָרִים וְרַמָּאוּת, וְאֵין בָּהּ שׁוּם אֱמֶת וְהָלַךְ וְנָשָׂא וְנָתַן בְּהַמְּדִינָה וְהִנִּיחַ עַצְמוֹ לְהוֹנוֹת אוֹתוֹ בְּהַמַּשָּׂא וּמַתָּן וְהָלַךְ לָדוּן לִפְנֵי הָעַרְכָּאוֹת וְהֵם כֻּלָּם מְלֵאִים שֶׁקֶר וּשְׁחָדִים וּבְיוֹם זֶה נָתַן לָהֶם שׁחַד, לְמָחָר לא הִכִּירוּהוּ.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
The wise man understood from this jesting that the country is full of lies and deceit, lacking any truth in the land whatsoever. So he went and did some commerce in the country and allowed himself to be cheated in the exchange, and went and brought suit before the *sands* [Yid. *sandes*, Heb. *`arkhaoth* registrar, archivers' office Gr. *arkhi, arkhion*], they being all full of falsehood and bribes. On this day he gave them bribery; the next day they didn't recognize him.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:8
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:8)

וְהָלַךְ לְעַרְכָּאוֹת גָּבוֹהַּ יוֹתֵר, וְגַם שָׁם כֻּלּוֹ שֶׁקֶר עַד שֶׁבָּא לִפְנֵי הַסֶּאנַאט [ערכאה עליונה יותר] וְגַם הֵם מְלֵאִים שֶׁקֶר וּשְׁחָדִים, עַד שֶׁבָּא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ בְּעַצְמוֹ.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
So he went to a higher *sand* and there too it was full of falsehood. Until he came before the *senat* (highest court) and there too it is falsehood and bribery throughout. Until he came to the king himself.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:9
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:9)

וּכְשֶׁבָּא אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ עָנָה וְאָמַר: עַל מִי אַתָּה מֶלֶךְ ? שֶׁהַמְּדִינָה מְלֵאָה שְׁקָרִים כֻּלָּהּ, מִתְּחִלָּה וְעַד סוֹף, וְאֵין בָּהּ שׁוּם אֱמֶת וְהִתְחִיל לְסַפֵּר כָּל הַשְּׁקָרִים שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
When he came to the king he spoke up and said, "Over whom are you king? The entire country is full of falsehood throughout, from beginning to end, and there is no truth in it here whatsoever." And he began to tell over all the falsehood of the country.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:10
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:10)

וּכְשֶׁהַמֶּלֶךְ שָׁמַע דְּבָרָיו הִרְכִּין אָזְנָיו אֵצֶל הַוִּילוֹן לִשְׁמעַ דְּבָרָיו כִּי הָיָה תָּמוּהַּ לְהַמֶּלֶךְ שֶׁיֻּמְצָא אִישׁ שֶׁיּוֹדֵעַ מִכָּל הַשְּׁקָרִים שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה וְהַשָּׂרֵי מְלוּכָה שֶׁשָּׁמְעוּ דְּבָרָיו הָיוּ כּוֹעֲסִים עָלָיו מְאד וְהוּא הָיָה מְסַפֵּר וְהוֹלֵךְ הַשְּׁקָרִים שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
When the king heard his words he bent his ear to the veil to listen to hear his words for it was a great wonder to the king that there should exist a man who would know all the falsehood of the country. And the royal ministers who heard the wise man's words grew very angry at him but he still continues reporting all the country's falsehood.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:11
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:11)

עָנָה וְאָמַר [הֶחָכָם הַנַּ"ל] וְהָיָה רָאוּי לוֹמַר שֶׁגַּם הַמֶּלֶךְ כְּמוֹתָם, שֶׁהוּא אוֹהֵב שֶׁקֶר כְּמוֹ הַמְּדִינָה אַךְ מִזֶּה אֲנִי רוֹאֶה אֵיךְ אַתָּה אִישׁ אֱמֶת וּבִשְׁבִיל זֶה אַתָּה רָחוֹק מֵהֶם מֵחֲמַת שֶׁאֵין אַתָּה יָכוֹל לִסְבּל הַשֶּׁקֶר שֶׁל הַמְּדִינָה וְהִתְחִיל לְשַׁבֵּחַ הַמֶּלֶךְ מְאד מְאד.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
The wise man spoke up, "One could say that the king is also like them; that he likes falsehood as the country does. But on the contrary one sees what a man of truth you are, and because of this you keep your distance from them: on account that you cannot bear the falsehood of the country." And he began to praise the king very very much.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:12
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:12)

וְהַמֶּלֶךְ, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁהָיָה עָנָו מְאד, וּבִמְקוֹם גְּדֻלָּתוֹ שָׁם עַנְוְתָנוּתוֹ כֵּי כֵן דֶּרֶךְ הֶעָנָו, שֶׁבְּכָל מַה שֶּׁמְּשַׁבְּחִין וּמְגַדְּלִין אוֹתוֹ יוֹתֵר נַעֲשֶׂה קָטָן וְעָנָו יוֹתֵר וּמֵחֲמַת גּדֶל הַשֶּׁבַח שֶׁל הֶחָכָם, שֶׁשִּׁבַּח וְגִדֵּל אֶת הַמֶּלֶךְ בָּא הַמֶּלֶךְ בַּעֲנִיווּת וְקַטְנוּת מְאד, עַד שֶׁנַּעֲשָׂה אַיִן מַמָּשׁ וְלא הָיָה יָכוֹל לְהִתְאַפֵּק וְהִשְׁלִיךְ אֶת הַוִּילוֹן לִרְאוֹת אֶת אוֹתוֹ הֶחָכָם מִי הוּא זֶה שֶׁהוּא יוֹדֵעַ וּמֵבִין כָּל זאת?

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
And the king, because he was very humble — and "in the place of his greatness, there is his humility," for that is the way of a humble man, that the more he is praised and extolled, the smaller to himself and the humbler he becomes — so on account of the wise man's great praise and exaltation of the king, the king entered into great humility and extreme tininess, until he became absolutely nothing; and he could no longer withhold himself and he threw aside the veil to see the wise man: who is it that knows and understands all this?


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:13
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:13)

וְנִתְגַּלָּה פָּנָיו וְרָאָה אוֹתוֹ הֶחָכָם וְהֵבִיא הַתמונת דיוקן שֶׁלּוֹ אֶל הַמֶּלֶךְ.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
The king's face was revealed, and the wise man saw him, depicted his portrait and brought it back to the king.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:14
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:14)

דַּרְכֵי צִיּוֹן אֲבֵלוֹת צִיּוֹן הִיא בְּחִינַת הַצִּיּוּנִים שֶׁל כָּל הַמְּדִינוֹת, שֶׁכֻּלָּם נִתְוַעֲדִים לְשָׁם כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב: וְרָאָה אָדָם וּבָנָה אֶצְלוֹ צִיּוּן וְזֶהוּ: "חֲזֵה" צִיּוֹן "קִרְיַת" מוֹעֲדֵינוּ רָאשֵׁי תֵּבוֹת מְ"צַ"חֵ"ק, שֶׁשָּׁם הָיוּ נִתְוַעֲדִים כָּל הַצִּיּוּנִים, וּמִי שֶׁהָיָה צָרִיךְ לֵידַע אִם לַעֲשׂוֹת הַדָּבָר אוֹ הַמַשָּׂא וּמַתָּן, הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שָׁם יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁיִבָּנֶה בִּמְהֵרָה בְּיָמֵינוּ אָמֵן.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
**[Notes Following the Story]**
 *"Darkei Tziyon aveloth*/ The paths of Tziyon are mournful" [Lam. 1:4; since the Temple has been destroyed, one is obligated to remember and mourn it, and unbridled joking and laughter are forbidden; v. S"A O"C 560. Also, there are no festivals or times when God can be "seen:" Ex. 23:15 etc.].
 Tziyon is the aspect of the *tziyunim* [markers; placemarks] of all the countries, for they all gather there, as it is written, "*wera'ah `etzem*¹ was omitted here. *adam uvanah etzlo tziyun*/ and see the bone of¹ was omitted here. man, then shall he set up a sign by it." [Eze. 39:15].
 This is [the meaning of], "*Chazeih Tziyon Qiryath Mo`adeinu*/ Look upon Tziyon, the city of our assemblies" [Isa. 33:20], the acronym of which is *MeTzaCheiQ* (jesting), for that is where all the *tziyunim* [signs] gathered, and whoever needed to know whether to do something or some business transaction would know it there. May it be His will that it be rebuilt speedily in our days, Amen.

footnotes:
¹ The word `etzem
¹ The word `etzem


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:15
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:15)

רְאֵה וְהָבֵן וְהַבֵּט אַתָּה, הַמְעַיֵּן, עַד הֵיכָן הַדְּבָרִים מַגִּיעִים אַשְׁרֵי הַמְחַכֶּה וְיַגִּיעַ לֵידַע וּלְהַשִּׂיג מְעַט מִסּוֹדוֹת הַמַּעֲשִׂיּוֹת הַלָּלוּ, אֲשֶׁר לא נִשְׁמְעוּ כָּאֵלֶּה מִיָּמִים קַדְמוֹנִים.

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
Look, discern and gaze, reader, how far these matters reach. Fortunate is he who attends to and will attain knowing and grasping a little of the secrets of these stories, the likes of which have not been heard since ancient times.


###### Sippurei Maasiyot 6:16
[Sippurei Maasiyot 6:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sippurei%20Maasiyot/r/6:16)

וְדַע שֶׁכָּל אֵלּוּ הַפְּסוּקִים וְהָרְמָזִים הַמּוּבָאִים אַחַר קְצָת הַמַּעֲשִׂיּוֹת הֵם רַק רְמָזִים וְגִלּוּי מִלְּתָא בְּעָלְמָא, לְמַעַן יֵדְעוּ כִּי לא דָּבָר רֵיק הוּא, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם וְכַאֲשֶׁר נִשְׁמַע מִפִּיו הַקָּדוֹשׁ בְּפֵרוּשׁ שֶׁאָמַר שֶׁהוּא מְגַלֶּה אֵיזֶה רְמָזִים בְּעָלְמָא בְּאֵיזֶה פְּסוּקִים הַמְרַמְּזִים לְסוֹד הַמַּעֲשִׂיוֹת, לְמַעַן דַּעַת שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְדַבֵּר חַס וְשָׁלוֹם דְּבָרִים בְּטֵלִים, אֲבָל סוֹד הַמַּעֲשִׂיּוֹת בְּעֶצֶם רָחוֹק מִדַּעְתֵּנוּ וְעָמק עָמק, מִי יִמְצָאֶנּוּ

**Tales of Rabbi Nachman -- Wikisource:**
And know, that all these verses and allusions that are brought after some of the stories are only hints and a scant disclosure of the subject matter, so that they might know "*ki lo-davar reiq hu*/ it is no empty thing," God forbid. As was heard from his holy mouth, saying that he is revealing a few mere hints from a few verses that hint to the secret of the stories, so as to know that he is not saying, God forbid, prattle. But the essential secret of the stories is far from our knowing; "*`Amoq `amoq, mi yimtzaenu*/ Deep-deep; who can find it out?" [Eccl. 7:24]