Once, Mulla Nasruddin’s friend, Akber, advised him to get married. After a long time, Mulla met Akber. Akber asked, “Mulla, how is your married life going on?” “It’s all right!” said Mulla. “Except that my wife is a big spender.” Akber could not believe that Gulzan, a potter’s daughter, would indulge in luxuries. “She demands […]
One day, Mulla Nasruddin was sitting with many people at a rich Amir’s house. Someone asked, “If God was pleased with you what would you ask him–wealth, brains, beautiful wife, children, good health….” The Amir asked Mulla, “Well, will you ask for wealth or brains?” “Wealth!” Mulla answered without hesitation. “I thought you were a
Every morning, Mulla Nasruddin stood before a mirror and adored his beard. However, one night, he saw a mouse near his beard. So, he bought a cat. Then, he bought a potter’s goat for milk. But the goat wouldn’t let anyone milk her except the potter’s daughter, Gulzan. So, she came every day to Mulla’s
Once, Mulla Nasruddin turned his home into a school and started teaching children. But his students often complained, ‘If I read books, people call me a bookworm.’ ‘If I eat less, they say I am sick.’ ‘If I eat well, they say I am a glutton.’ Mulla decided to teach them through an example. So,
One Friday at the mosque, a man said to Mulla, “I am the commander of the soldiers of Bukhara. The captain says you proved lucky to him.” The commander continued, “I am going on a hunting expedition tomorrow. I want to see how lucky you prove to me.” So, the next day, Mulla went with
Once, Mulla employed a servant named Abdul, to do his household chores. He gave Abdul an earthen pot and said, “You will bring water every day from the pond.” As Abdul turned to go, Mulla called him, “Listen! Be very careful with this pot. Don’t break it.” When Abdul turned around, Mulla said, “If you
Three rouges had moved into Mulla’s neighbourhood. They saw his lamb and wanted to eat its meat. One day, they said to Mulla, “Great tragedy! Have you heard that the world is coming to an end tonight?” “It’s dreadful!” said Mulla. “Yes! Let’s make these final moments memorable. We can roast your lamb and make
Mulla wore a special dress and set out to go to his friends in order to offer Eid greetings. Just then, his friend Badruddin came by. “Will you come with me?” asked Mulla. “I would look like your servant in these old clothes!” cried Badruddin. “You can wear my brocade coat, then,” said Mulla. So,
Once, Mulla was suffering from stomach upset. The hakim had advised him to take long walks in mornings and evenings. One late evening, Mulla had walked far away from the city. When he saw three men pointing at him, he turned around and walked briskly. Those men were criminals and they wanted to rob Mulla.
Mulla had bought a cock and a lamb as he loved pets. The cock was very healthy and beautiful. So, people often stopped to admire him. One day, a stranger was passing by Mulla’s house and remarked, “What a magnificent bird!” Mulla heard him and said, “Yes, he is useful, too. Once he pulled my
Mulla spent all his earnings in buying a house and a dress. By evening, his clothes were dirty as he had cleaned his house. Then, he remembered that his rich neighbour had invited him to a grand feast. When he went there, a guard stopped him. So, Mulla took a bath at a nearby well,
At night, Mulla went to meet his uncle and aunt. “I am your nephew, Mulla Nasruddin!” he said to an old couple. “Let Dobo sniff him,” said the old woman. “But Dobo is foolish. It tried to wet the hind legs of my donkey and got kicked out of senses,” Mulla said. “I remember his
Mulla came to the spot where his house used to be in Bukhara. It was only a heap of stones and rubble as the Sultan’s men had pulled it down. But a fine Arabian horse was tied to a wooden pole, which still stood there. He sat down on a stone near the pole and
Long, long ago, a thirsty pigeon flew to a river to drink water. While drinking water the pigeon saw an ant floating in the river. The pigeon thought of saving the ant. The pigeon plucked a leaf from a tree and flew back to the river. After reaching near the ant, the pigeon dropped the
The people of Bukhara were very sad. Mulla thought, ‘I’ll make them laugh so loudly that its roar must shake the foundations of the corrupt Sultan’s palace.’ A crow cawed as if it had been applauding Mulla’s thoughts. This made him laugh loudly. “Are you all right? Laughing is a sign of madness here,” said