Being once in need of a cauldron the khoja went to one of his neighbours and borrowed a large copper cauldron which answered his requirements so well that he had no wish to part with it. Instead of returning the borrowed utensil on the promised day, he went to his neighbour and handed him in a somewhat dejected manner a much smaller cauldron resembling in shape the one which he had borrowed.

The owner looked at it suspiciously, and asked, "What is this?" whereunto the khoja answered, "Your cauldron has given birth to a little one and is far too unwell for me to return it today. Take its offspring instead, I beseech you."

The owner of the cauldron was much surprised, but he was at the same time not a little gratified at this unexpected fertility, and when his wife soundly abused him for having thus allowed himself to be "put upon," he testily advised the good dame to have patience and not to ask any questions for a day or two.

The khoja's need of the cauldron having come to an end, he brought it back and said, "Here, take your cauldron back again, for now it is quite well."

The neighbour and his family rejoiced, and the fame of the khoja was much increased.

Some days later the khoja again required the cauldron, and this time his neighbour was so pleased to lend it to him that he even helped to carry it to the khoja's house. After a considerable time had elapsed without any baby cauldron appearing on the scene, the neighbour called on Khoja Nasr-ud-Dín to inquire when he might expect his cauldron to return. He was polite and profusely apologetic, but he said that his wife wanted it.

The khoja seemed very much surprised that his neighbour had not heard the news – the sad news that the cauldron had died. The manner and tone of the obliging neighbour now underwent an instant change, and he remonstrated loudly. Indeed, he created such an uproar that a crowd speedily assembled round the house; but, so far as the khoja was concerned, the large cauldron was dead for all time, and he advised his neighbour to return home quietly, and break the news to the baby cauldron which he had claimed as his. "For it stands to reason," quoth Khoja Nasr-ud-Dín, "that anything or anyone that can give birth to young, can also die."

The crowd agreed, and said that verily he spake well and truly. It was hak (just).