Nasruddin's Aim: NCERT Class 4 English Story (Marigold Unit 3)

etmantra13 Jun 20207 min read

Nasruddin loves to boast, and in this story his friends put him to the test. What he says each time he misses is very funny. Children enjoy his quick thinking, and it starts a good talk about boasting and honesty.

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From the NCERT English book Marigold for Class 4, unit 3. NCERT’s newer Class 4 book is Santoor, but many schools still teach Marigold.

Watch: Nasruddin's Aim

Play the video three or four times. The first time, just listen. Then point at the pictures, and from the third time, say the lines along with the video. Short, repeated listening is how CALP builds a child’s English.

What your child learns

Words about archery: bow, arrow, aim, target
Words ending in -ly that tell how: quietly, triumphantly, immediately
Reading dialogue with expression
Thinking about boasting, excuses and honesty

What the story is about

One day Nasruddin tells his friends that no one can match his skill in archery. He says his arrow always hits the target. One friend brings a bow and some arrows and asks him to show them.

Nasruddin shoots, but the arrow falls short of the target. His friends laugh. Nasruddin says that was not his aim; he was only showing how someone else shoots. He tries again, and the arrow lands a little further, but it still misses. Again he says it was not his own aim but another person's, and his friends laugh even more.

Nasruddin quietly shoots a third arrow, and this time, by luck, it hits right on the target. Everyone stares in amazement. Before anyone can speak, Nasruddin proudly says that this one was his aim.

New words, with Hindi meanings

boast: talk too proudly about yourself (हिंदी: डींग मारना)
archery: the sport of shooting arrows with a bow (हिंदी: तीरंदाज़ी)
skill: the ability to do something well (हिंदी: हुनर / कौशल)
target: the thing you try to hit (हिंदी: लक्ष्य)
aim: pointing at something before you shoot or throw (हिंदी: निशाना)
defending: trying to protect yourself from blame (हिंदी: अपना बचाव करना)
amazement: great surprise (हिंदी: हैरानी)
triumphantly: in a proud way, like a winner (हिंदी: विजयी भाव से)

Talk about it

Ask these aloud after reading or watching. Let your child answer in English if they can, or mix in their home language. Both help.

What did Nasruddin boast about to his friends?
What excuse did Nasruddin give when his arrow missed the target?
Did the third arrow hit the target because of skill or luck? What does the story say?
Is it a good idea to boast? Why or why not?

Answers for parents

He boasted that no one could match his skill in archery and that his arrow always hit the target.
He said it was not his aim; he was only showing how someone else shoots.
The story says he was really lucky, so it was luck.
For example: No, because if we boast and then fail, people laugh at us. It is better to show what we can do.

Grammar corner: Words ending in -ly (how something is done)

Some words tell us how someone does an action. Many of them end in -ly, like quietly and triumphantly. They usually come near the action word.

Nasruddin picked up the arrow quietly.
His friends laughed loudly at the first shot.
He smiled proudly when the arrow hit the target.

Practice at home

Fill in the blank: The friend ___ brought a bow and arrows. (immediate / immediately)
Match the word to its meaning: boast, target, amazement → great surprise, talk too proudly, the thing you try to hit
Make a sentence using 'quietly'.

Answers: 1. immediately · 2. boast – talk too proudly, target – the thing you try to hit, amazement – great surprise · 3. For example: My grandfather reads the newspaper quietly.

Try this

Make a simple target on paper and stick it on a wall. Take turns throwing a paper ball at it. Each time someone misses, they must think of a funny excuse like Nasruddin. Afterwards, talk about the difference between a joke and telling the truth.

Tip for parents

Many families know Mulla Nasruddin stories in Hindi or Urdu, so start by telling this one in your own words at home. Then read the English and ask, 'Nasruddin ने क्या बहाना बनाया?' Let your child answer in Hindi first, then help them say one English sentence, and praise both.

Questions parents ask

What is the moral of Nasruddin's Aim?

Boasting can make you look silly. Nasruddin bragged about his skill, missed twice and made excuses, and his third shot hit the target only by luck.

Who are the characters in Nasruddin's Aim?

Nasruddin and his friends, one of whom brings him the bow and arrows.

Which book is Nasruddin's Aim from?

It is from NCERT's older Marigold book for Class 4 (Unit 3). The newer NCERT books are Mridang for Class 1–2 and Santoor for Class 3–5.

Learn every Class 4 chapter with CALP

Every chapter of Santoor, NCERT’s new book, with notes in English and Hindi, say-it-aloud practice with a score, grammar, speaking and writing practice. ₹1,299 for the whole year.

See the free lessons and enrol →