Once, some of Akbar’s courtiers who were jealous of Birbal told Akbar, “Your Majesty, if Birbal can do anything and everything, he can also bring you the milk of an ox.” Akbar asked Birbal to do so. Birbal went home and told his plan to his daughter. At night, Birbal’s daughter went to the royal well and began washing clothes noisily. When the royal guards asked her what she was doing, she kept quiet. So they took her to Akbar. Akbar asked her, “Why are you washing clothes at night?” Birbal’s daughter said, “Your Majesty, my father gave birth to a baby. I’m washing these clothes for the baby to wear.” Akbar asked, “How can Birbal give birth?” The child replied, “If an ox can give milk, why can’t a man give birth?” Akbar knew she was Birbal’s daughter. He sent her home and said, “Tell Birbal I don’t need the ox’s milk.”
A Strange Task
