Nasreddin Hodja - The Invisible Tax

Read Nasreddin Hodja Joke (English)

One summer day, the Hodja's path led him through the marketplace of a neighboring village. As he and his donkey passed through the center of the market, a recently appointed tax collector, notorious for taxing everything, blocked the Hodja's way.

The collector frowned and asked: "Stop right there, Hodja! You are passing through this market. Furthermore, with your donkey, you are casting a shadow on the market, causing unfair competition. You must pay the Shadow Tax!"

The Hodja was surprised, then looked down at the shadow beneath his donkey: "Good sir, has even the shadow been taxed? Since when do we trade in shadows?"

The collector raised his nose in the air: "The regulation is new! A tax must be collected from the shadow of every object, every creature that occupies space in the marketplace. Come on, pay up quickly!"

The Hodja took out a few coins from his pocket, but instead of handing them over, he began to rattle them in his cupped hands.

The collector grew impatient: "What are you doing, Hodja? Why aren't you giving me the money? Are you trying to count it?"

The Hodja, very calmly, rattling the coins in his hand, replied:

"No, my good man, you demand money for the shadow, so I am paying you with the shadow of the money. There you go, that is the right to the rattle of the coins!"

The collector, unable to take the actual money, was defeated by the Hodja's wit and shamefully had to let him pass.