After Birbal had made Akbar realize what an offence he was about to commit by being apathetic towards his own people, Akbar thanked his favourite minister. Out of respect, Birbal bowed before the Emperor, when suddenly a copper coin fell from his waist pouch and he started looking for it on the floor.
At the same moment, a jealous courtier got up and said to Akbar, “Your Majesty, look what a hoarder your favourite minister is. You give him so much. In fact, you shower all the best gifts on him, yet he is so worried to lose a copper coin.”
Akbar threw an angry glance at Birbal. He stood up and said, “Your Majesty, the copper coin is the currency of your kingdom and it has got your face imprinted on it. If I don’t find it, anyone may accidentally step on it. And being loyal to you, I cannot let that happen”
After listening to Birbal’s explanation, Akbar felt happy and thought that he had rightly given him the stature of his favourite minister. So, he took out a diamond ring from his finger and gave it to Birbal. This angered the jealous courtier even more. He said to the Emperor, “I don’t understand what you see in this pathetic man, Your Majesty. You are always unjust to us and generous towards this man.”
Akbar᾿s anger knew no bounds and he declared that the courtier should be beheaded. Then, the courtier realized what a foolish mistake he had made. He got so scared that he ran to Birbal for help. Birbal living up to his reputation, stepped ahead to help the jealous courtier.
As per the plan, the courtier sneaked out to the marketplace. On being caught by a guard, he requested him to take him to the Emperor. But the guard refused, so the courtier pleaded and begged not to kill him right away but to let him appear first before Akbar. Finally, the guard agreed and took him to the court.
When Akbar saw the jealous courtier alive, he got very angry with the guard for not carrying out his order. Akbar said to the guard angrily, “Aren’t you aware of my order? I wanted his head. How dare you bring this man before me alive?”
The courtier interrupted, “Your Majesty, I beg your pardon for upsetting you. You wanted my head, but I couldn’t let anybody else do the job. So, I myself took this important task and brought my head to you.” Akbar smiled and said, “Well, you have done a good job. So, I forgive you and order you to keep the head.”
