The fair was in full swing, and Nasrudin's senior disciples asked if they and their companions would be allowed to attend it.
“Of course,” said Nasreddin, “this is an ideal opportunity to continue practical training.”
The mullah headed straight to the shooting range, one of the most attractive places on the market: here a big prize was given out for even one hit on the target. When the Mullah and his flock appeared, the city residents crowded around them. When Nasreddin himself took a bow and three arrows, the tension of the crowd increased. Now they will probably see Nasreddin outsmart himself...
- Watch me carefully.
The mullah bent his bow, pushed his hat back to the back of his head, as soldiers do, took careful aim and fired. The arrow flew very far from the target. The crowd showered him with a hail of ridicule, and Nasreddin's students awkwardly shifted from foot to foot and whispered among themselves. Mulla turned to them.
- Quiet! It was a demonstration of how a soldier shoots. He often misses his target. That's why he loses wars. The moment I shot, I identified with the soldier. I said to myself: “I am a soldier shooting at the enemy.”
He picked up the second arrow, placed it in the bow and quickly released the string. The arrow fell close, missing the target halfway. There was dead silence.
“Now,” Nasreddin said to the crowd, “you have seen the shot of a man who is full of desire to shoot and who, nevertheless, having missed the first shot, is too nervous for him to concentrate.” The arrow didn't reach.
Even the owner of the shooting range was fascinated by this explanation. The mullah turned to the target with an indifferent look, took aim and fired an arrow. She hit the bull's eye. After carefully examining the available prizes, he chose the one that he liked best and prepared to leave. The crowd erupted into shouts of protest.
- Quiet! - Nasreddin said. “Let someone alone ask me what you all seem to want to know.”
For a moment no one said anything. Then one village simpleton clumsily squeezed forward.
“We want to know which one of you fired the third shot?”
- This? Oh, it was me.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru