Once upon a time, a great king became blind. No skill could cure him until an old woman revealed that only the song of a magical bird named Grip could restore his sight. The bird was kept in a distant castle.
The king's eldest son eagerly set out to fetch it. However, on his journey, he stopped at a lively inn and became so engrossed in drinking and gambling that he forgot his mission. When he did not return, the second son went to find him and the bird. He, too, fell into the same trap of pleasure at the inn, abandoning his duty.
Heartbroken and desperate, the king reluctantly allowed his youngest son to go. Unlike his brothers, the youngest prince resisted the inn's temptations. He continued his journey and encountered a dangerous inn run by a murderous host. With the help of a captive maid, he escaped and later rescued her.
In a forest, he met a wise fox who offered guidance. The fox gave him three golden grains to put the guards and the bird Grip to sleep, warning him not to touch the bird. The prince succeeded in entering the castle but could not resist stroking the beautiful bird, which awoke and caused his capture.
Imprisoned, he was visited by the fox, who advised him to confess to everything at his trial. The prince did so, admitting he was a master thief. The local king offered a pardon if the prince could steal the world's most beautiful princess. With the fox's help and three more golden grains, the prince entered the princess's castle but forgot the warning not to kiss her, leading to another capture.
Again, the fox helped him. Following the same strategy of confession, the prince was given a final task: to steal a horse with four golden shoes. This time, the fox gave a strict warning not to touch a magnificent golden saddle hanging above the stall. The prince successfully took the horse but was tempted by the saddle. As he reached for it, an invisible force struck his arm, reminding him of his promise. He left the saddle and escaped with the horse.
The fox then helped the prince retrieve the princess and finally, the bird Grip. With all three treasures, the prince and princess began their journey home. The fox bid them farewell, giving a final warning: do not ransom anyone's life with money.
On their way, they passed the inn where the two elder brothers were about to be hanged for debt. Ignoring the fox's warning, the kind-hearted prince paid their debts and saved them. Jealous of his success, the treacherous brothers later threw him into a lions' den and took the treasures to their father, claiming credit.
At the palace, the bird would not sing, the princess wept, and the horse allowed no one near. The king grieved, believing his youngest son was dead.
In the lions' den, the prince found the fox waiting. The lions were friendly. The fox explained that the ungrateful brothers' betrayal was predictable. He then asked the prince to cut off his head as a final service. After much hesitation, the prince did so, breaking a spell and transforming the fox into a youth—the spirit of a dead man the prince had ransomed and buried earlier. The youth vanished after thanking him.
Disguised as a horseshoer, the prince returned to his father's palace. He alone could handle the golden-shod horse and made the bird Grip sing. His song restored the king's sight, revealing the horseshoer as his lost son. The princess revealed the truth. The wicked brothers were banished, and the youngest prince married the princess, inheriting half the kingdom and keeping the magical treasures.