Due to a number of circumstances, Nasreddin once found himself in the audience hall of the ruler of Persia. Shahinshah was surrounded by his selfish nobility, provincial governors, courtiers and all kinds of hangers-on. Everyone tried to push forward to be appointed head of the embassy, which was soon leaving for India.
The ruler was already beginning to lose patience, he looked at this entire annoying crowd from above, and silently cried out to heaven for help from above to come to him in resolving this problem: who to choose. His gaze fell on Mulla Nasreddin.
“That’s who will be the ambassador,” he announced. “Now leave me alone.”
Nasreddin was given rich clothes, a huge chest with rubies, diamonds, emeralds, and priceless works of art: all this was a gift from Shahin Shah to the Great Mogul. However, the courtiers could not leave it like that. Having united for such a cause, they decided to do everything to destroy Nasreddin. First, they broke into Nasreddin's home and stole the jewelry, which they divided among themselves, and instead put it in a chest of earth to make up for the weight of the jewelry. They then came to Nasreddin, determined to destroy the embassy's mission, drag him into trouble, and in the process discredit its head as well.
“We congratulate you, O great Nasreddin,” they said. “What the Fountain of Wisdom, the Peacock of Peace, commanded must be the essence of all wisdom.” Therefore we welcome you. But we could give you some advice, since we have had to carry out diplomatic missions more than once.
“I would be grateful if you would tell me them,” Nasreddin replied.
“Okay,” said the leader of the intriguers. - The first thing that is required of you is to be humble, in order to show how humble you are. Therefore, you should not even show that you are an important person. When you reach India, visit as many mosques as possible and make money collections for yourself. Second: you must observe the court etiquette of the country to which you are sent. This means that you must call the Great Mogul "Full Moon."
- But this is the title of the ruler of Persia?
- Not in India.
So, Nasreddin set off. The ruler of Persia said to him goodbye:
- Be careful, Nasreddin. Adhere to etiquette, for the Mughal is a powerful ruler, and we must impress him and at the same time not offend him in any way.
“I am well prepared, Your Majesty,” Nasreddin said.
As soon as he set foot on Indian territory, he immediately entered the mosque and ascended to the pulpit.
- Oh people! - he shouted. - Look at me as a representative of the Shadow of Allah on earth, which is the axis of the earth! Get your money out because I'll collect it.
This he repeated in every mosque he could find on the way from Balochistan to the majestic Delhi. He collected a large amount of money. His advisors told him:
- Do whatever you want with them. For this is the result of intuitive growth and gift, and if so, then the use of them will create its own demand.
“All they wanted to achieve was for the Mulla to make himself look ridiculous by collecting money in such a shameless manner.”
“Saints should live only by the fruits of their holiness,” Nasreddin cried, moving from mosque to mosque. “I don’t attach any importance to money and don’t expect anything from it.” For you, money is something that should be saved after you have found it. You can exchange them for material things. For me they represent part of the mechanism. I am a representative of intuitive growth, rewarded and paid.
So, as we all know, good often comes from outright evil, and vice versa. Those who thought that Nasreddin was lining his own pockets did not give money. For some reason, things weren't going well for them. Those who were considered gullible and gullible, and who gave him money, became enriched in an extraordinary way. But let's return to our story.
Sitting on a majestic throne in Delhi, the Ruler listened to the reports that the courtiers brought him daily about the progress of the Persian ambassador. At first he couldn't figure them out. Then he called a council.
“Dear ones,” he said, “this Nasreddin must really be a saint, or he is guided by Divine power.” Have you ever heard of anyone else who adheres to the principle that a person should not strive for money without a plausible reason, lest his motives be misinterpreted?
“May your shadow never diminish, O Infinite Extent of Wisdom,” answered the dignitaries. - We agree with you. Since there are such people in Persia, we must be on our guard, because their moral power over our materialistic worldview is obvious.
Then a messenger arrived from Persia with a secret letter in which Mughal's spies reported the following: “Mulla Nasreddin is a man who does not occupy any position in Persia. He was elected ambassador completely at random. We cannot understand why Shaheenshah was not more selective."
The Mogul convened a council:
- Incomparable birds of paradise! - he told them. - This is the thought that manifested itself in me. The Persian ruler randomly chose a person who should represent the entire nation. This may mean that he is so confident in the qualities of his people that for him any man is good enough to perform the delicate task of ambassador to the majestic court of Delhi. This indicates the degree of perfection achieved, the amazing infallibility of the intuitive power that is developed among them. We must reconsider our desires to invade Persia, for such a people will easily swallow up our armies. Their society is organized on a completely different basis than ours.
“You’re right, Greatest Guardian of the Borders!” - the Indian nobles shouted.
Finally Nasrudin arrived in Delhi. He rode on his old donkey, surrounded by an escort laden with bags of money he had collected from mosques. The chest of jewelry was towering on the elephant, so great were its size and weight.
At the gates of Delhi, Nasreddin was met by the master of ceremonies. The ruler and his nobles were waiting for him in the hall for receiving ambassadors. The hall was arranged in such a way that the entrance to it was low. As a result, the ambassadors always had to dismount from their horses and enter the hall on their own feet, giving the impression of a petitioner. Only an equal could appear in the presence of the Ruler on horseback. No ambassador had ever arrived on a donkey, and so there was no one or nothing that could stop Nasrudin as he rode at a fast trot through the door straight to the Supreme Exaltation.
The Great Mogul and his court nobles exchanged glances full of meaning.
Nasreddin cheerfully got off the donkey, turned to the Ruler, called him Full Moon and ordered him to bring a chest of jewelry. When it was opened and the ground was discovered, everyone was stunned for a moment. “It’s better not to say anything,” Nasreddin thought, “because no matter what you say, it won’t make the situation any easier.”
And he didn't say a word. The Mogul whispered to his vizier:
- What does this mean? What is this, an insult to the Highest Majesty?
Unable to believe this, the vizier began to think feverishly. He then provided an explanation.
“This is a symbolic act, Your Presence,” he mumbled. — The Ambassador wants to say that
recognizes you as the owner of the earth. Didn't he call you Full Moon?
The mogul softened.
“We are satisfied with what Shahinshah offers us, because we do not need wealth; and we appreciated the metaphysical subtlety of the message.
“I was ordered to convey,” said Nasreddin, remembering the integral phrase when transferring the gift, which the intriguers of Persia told him, “that this is all we have for Your Majesty.”
“This means that Persia will not cede a single inch of its land to us,” the interpreter of omens whispered to the king.
“Tell your master that we understand,” Mogul smiled. - But there is one more question: if I am the Full Moon, then who is the ruler of Persia?
“New Moon,” Nasreddin answered automatically.
“The Full Moon is more mature and gives more light than the New Moon, which is younger,” the court astrologer whispered to Mogul.
“We are satisfied,” said the delighted Indian. “You can return to Persia and tell the New Moon that the Full Moon greets him.”
Persian spies at the court of Delhi immediately sent Shaheenshah a full report of this exchange of speeches. They added that the Great Mogul was greatly impressed by the visit and was afraid of planning a war against Persia because of Nasrudin's actions.
When Mullah returned home, Shahinshah received him in full assembly:
“I am more than pleased, friend Nasreddin,” he said, “with the results of your unusual methods.” Our country is saved, which means that we no longer have to account for jewelry or make collections in mosques, from now on everyone will know you under the special title of Sephira - Emissary.
“But, Your Majesty,” whispered the vizier, “this man is guilty of treason, if not more!” We have clear evidence that he applied one of your titles to the Emperor of India, in violation of loyalty, and brought one of your attributes into disrepute.
“Yes,” thundered the Shahinshah, “the sages say the truth, that in every perfection there is imperfection.” Nasreddin, why did you call me New Moon?
“I did not know the rules of diplomatic etiquette,” said Nasreddin, “but I know well that when the full moon begins to wane, the new moon continues to grow, and its greatest victories are still ahead of it.”
The Ruler's mood changed.
“Seize Anwar, the Grand Vizier,” he yelled. - Mullah! I suggest you take the post of Grand Vizier!
- What?! - Nasreddin exclaimed. “How can I accept your offer after I saw with my own eyes what happened to my predecessor?”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru