Summoned by the padishah, Nasreddin rode up to the palace, as always, riding a donkey. Having tied the donkey, he sat down on the terrace opposite the padishah and nodded at the tray covered with a tablecloth:
“Isn’t that why you called me to offer me a taste of what’s on this tray?”
“Yes,” said the padishah, “just answer a few questions first.” If you can answer correctly, the treat is yours; If you fail, everything on the tray will fly in your face.
Nasreddin, willy-nilly, agreed. The padishah asked:
-Where is the middle of the earth?
Nasreddin stood up, walked up to the donkey and, pointing his cane at the donkey’s right hind leg, said:
“Here is where my donkey’s foot stands!”
- How can you prove it? - asked the padishah.
- If you don’t believe me, have the land measured in all directions from this point.
“So,” said the padishah, “how many stars are there in the sky?”
- As many as the hairs on my donkey! - Nasreddin answered.
- How can you prove this?
“O great padishah, believe me without proof, otherwise order me to count the stars in the sky and the hairs on my donkey.” If I'm wrong by even one hair, I admit defeat!
The padishah clutched his beard in his palm and thoughtfully bit its tip.
- OK then. Now tell me, how many hairs are there in my beard?
Nasreddin answered without hesitation:
- As many as the hairs in the tail of my donkey!
- Proof?
“About the padishas of the universe,” said Nasreddin, “no proof is needed here: pluck one hair from your beard and from the tail of my donkey and put them aside.” If the hair of the donkey's tail does not end along with the hair of your Majesty's beard, then order me to be executed!
Realizing that Nasreddin could not be caught, the padishah wanted to take revenge on him somehow:
- Answer me one last time, and I will pour everything that is on this tray into the hem of your robe!
- Ask! - Nasreddin said confidently.
- What is on this tray?
- Name the signs!
— Objects of a round shape.
- I guessed it! These are walnuts!
The padishah threw back the tablecloth. There was a mountain of figs on the tray. The padishah began to throw it at Nasreddin's face. Wiping his face from the juice and wet fig seeds, Nasreddin said:
- It's good that I didn't guess! Walnuts would split my head!..
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru