Ossetian parable There lived a cunning old man in the village of Syrdon. Nobody loved him, but he was wise and old, and therefore they took him into account. One day he came to Bali's neighbor.
- Dear Bali, guests come to me from afar, would you lend me your big cauldron to cook a lot of food and treat my dear guests?
- Of course, Syrdon, take it, just handle it carefully and return it tomorrow morning.
In the morning, Syrdon dragged a large cauldron to Bali’s house.
- Here, Bali, is your cauldron. Thank you. And here's another thing. In the morning I found another small pot. Apparently, it was your boiler that gave birth to him while I had it. And that means he is yours. Take that too.
Bali was delighted at the old man’s stupidity and happily accepted the small pot.
Summer passed, and again Syrdon came to Bali for a cauldron.
- Of course, Syrdon, take him, and if he suddenly gives birth again, then bring the offspring too.
In the evening of the next day, Bali said that he was about to wait for the fool Syrdon and, perhaps, with another offspring.
— Hello Syrdon. Nice to see you. By the way, is my boiler not empty?
Syrdon cried bitterly:
- Great grief, Bali, your cauldron died, and I buried it.
“Are you talking nonsense, Sirdon?” How can a boiler die?
- What did you think, Bali? Those who can be born can die sooner or later.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru