My khan, among the Oghuz people there was a man by the name of Delu Dumrul, the son of Duha Khoja. He had a bridge built across a dry river bed. He collected thirty-three akchas from anyone who passed over it, and those who refused to pass over it he beat and charged forty akchas anyway. He did this to challenge anyone who thought he was braver than Delu Dumrul to fight, with the purpose of making his own bravery, heroism and gallantry known even in places as far distant as Anatolia and Syria.
One day it happened that a troop of nomads camped along his bridge. A fine, handsome youth in the nomad troop fell sick and died at the command of Allah. Some cried saying "Son", some cried saying "Brother", and there was great mourning for him.
Delu Dumrul, enhancing to come along, asked: "Why are you crying, cuckolds? What is this noise by my bridge? Why are you mourning?"
They said: "My khan, we lost a fine young man. That is why we are crying."
Delu Dumrul asked: "Who killed your bey?"
They said: "Oh, bey, it was by the order of Almighty Allah. The red-winged Azrail took his life."
"What sort of fellow is this Azrail who takes people's lives? For the sake of your unity and existence, O Almighty Allah, let me see Azrail. Let me fight and scuffle with him to save the life of such a fine youth, so that he never takes a life again", said Delu Dumrul. He then turned away and went home.
Now, Almighty Allah was not pleased with Dumrul's words. He said: "Look at that madman. He does not understand my oneness. He does not express his gratitude to me and dares to behave arrogantly in my mighty presence." He ordered Azrail: "Go and appear before the eyes of that madman. Make his face pale and strangle the life out of him."
While Delu Dumrul was sitting and drinking with his forty companions, Azrail suddenly arrived. Neither the chamberlains nor the wardens had seen Azrail pass. Delu Dumrul's eyes were blinded, his hands paralyzed. The entire world was darkened to his eyes. He began to speak. Let us see what he said, my khan.
"What a mighty, big old man you are! The wardens did not see you come; The chamberlains did not hear. My eyes, which could see, now cannot; My hands, which could grip, now cannot. My soul trembled and was terrified; My golden cup fell from my hand. My mouth is cold as ice; My bones are turned to dust. Ho! white-bearded old man, Cold-eyed old man! What mighty old man are you? Go away, or I may hurt you."
Azrail was angry at these remarks. He said:
"Oh, madman, Do you dislike the cold expression in my eyes? I have taken the lives of many lovely eyed girls and brides. Why is it you dislike my white beard? I have taken the lives of both white-bearded and black-bearded men. That is why my own beard is white."
He then continued in this way: "Oh, madman! You were boasting and saying that you would kill the red-winged Azrail if you caught him to save the life of the fine young lad. Oh, fool, now I have come to take your life. Will you give it, or will you fight with me?"
Delu Dumrul asked: "Are you the red-winged Azrail?"
"Yes, I am", replied Azrail.
"Are you the one who takes the lives of these fine boys?", asked Dumrul.
"That is so", said Azrail.
Delu Dumrul said, "Ho, wardens, shut the doors." He then turned to Azrail and said: "O Azrail, I was expecting to catch you in a wide open place, but I caught you in a narrow one, did I not? Let me kill you and save the life of that fine young man." He drew his big black sword, held it in his hand and tried to strike Azrail with it, but Azrail became a pigeon and flew out of the window. Delu Dumrul, a monster of a man, clapped his hands and burst out in laughter. He said: "My friends, I frightened Azrail so much that he ran out, not through the wide open door, but through the chimney. To save himself from my hand, he just became a pigeon and flew away. I shall have him caught by my falcon."
He mounted his horse, took his falcon on his wrist and started pursuing Azrail. He killed a few pigeons. On the way home, however, Azrail appeared to the eyes of his horse. The horse was frightened and threw Delu Dumrul off its back to the ground. His poor head grew dizzy, and he became powerless. Azrail came and pressed down upon his white chest. He had been murmuring a short while ago, but now he gasped out through the rattle in his throat: