Akbar would ask Birbal the trickiest of questions to test his intelligence. One day, he said to Birbal, “I have a simple question for you, Birbal. How many bangles does your wife wear?” Birbal said, “Your Majesty, I do not know.” Akbar said, “She serves you food every day. Yet, you don’t know.” Birbal replied, […]
One day, Akbar said to Birbal, “You can solve any problem in a jiffy. You must be good at painting too.” Birbal said, “No, Your Majesty! I can’t even hold a painting brush.” Akbar angrily said, “I am an art‑lover. You cannot say ‘no’ to me. I want you to imagine and create a painting.
There are people who think wealth is necessary to earn respect. Akbar thought so, too. He asked Birbal, “Is it possible for a man to be poor and yet earn respect?” “Yes, Your Majesty,” replied Birbal. Akbar said, “If this is possible, find such a person and bring him to me.” Birbal went out on
One day, Akbar wanted to know how many blind people lived in his kingdom. He asked Birbal about it and Birbal replied, “Your Majesty, please grant me a week’s holiday to find the answer to your question.” Akbar granted him leave. The next day onwards, Birbal stopped going to the royal court. Instead, he began
There was a wealthy man in Akbar’s kingdom. He bought a handsome horse. But within a few months the horse started limping. The man called many veterinarians to examine his horse but they could not cure it since there was no sprain, fracture or wound. The man thought, ‘Only Birbal can cure my horse.’ After
Birbal and his daughter were in the spice market, when a man came to him and said, “Are you the famous Birbal from Akbar’s court?” Birbal said, “Yes, I am.” The man said, “I have heard great tales about your generosity. I have come all the way from a distant city just to meet you.
One day, two men entered the royal courtroom. One of them said, “Birbal, please help me. My name is Aamir. I am a tradesman. I had gone abroad after entrusting my servant with my property. But when I returned, I saw that my servant has stolen all my money and is using my name. He
Birbal was not just blessed with a clever mind. He also had a different way of looking at every situation. He had a positive attitude. One morning, Akbar was upset with a dream he had. He sent for many renowned astrologers. When they all reached his palace, he asked them to interpret the dream he
Once, a Brahmin named Sevaram came to visit Birbal. He did not have much wealth and lived a simple life. He was sad. He said to Birbal, “I come from a family of scholars. I do not want wealth. Everyone addressed my ancestors as ‘Panditji’. I want everyone to address me the same way.” Birbal
One day, Akbar wanted to test Birbal’s wit. When Birbal entered court, Akbar said, “I have a few questions for you.” Birbal settled into his seat and said, “I’m ready, Your Majesty. Let’s begin.” Akbar said, “The sun and the moon are high up in the sky. Is there anything they cannot see?” Birbal said,
Akbar woke up in a foul mood one day. Nothing anyone said or did seemed to please him. To top it all, Birbal also played a prank on him. Akbar was furious and he ordered Birbal to leave the city at once. Birbal was very sad. He packed his bags and left. Akbar started missing
Akbar held Birbal’s opinion above everyone else’s. When in a leisurely mood, he would chat with Birbal. Once, he asked Birbal, “If you had to choose between justice and money, which would you prefer?” Birbal replied, “Your Majesty, without a thought, I would go for the money.” Akbar was taken aback. He said, “Take your
Akbar loved to play pranks on his courtiers. One day, it was Birbal’s turn. Before Birbal reached the court, Akbar gave an egg to each courtier and said, “Hide it in the royal courtyard until I ask you for it.” When Birbal arrived, Akbar told him, “Those who bring me eggs from the royal courtyard
Some courtiers, who were jealous of Birbal, decided to get rid of him with the royal barber’s help. They promised the barber a lot of money. The wicked barber agreed. He told Akbar, “Your Majesty, a magician is in town. He can perform a ritual to help you know about the well-being of your ancestors.”
Birbal was the favourite not only of Akbar, but also of his subjects, because he would solve their problems quickly. Once, a merchant came to him. A theft had taken place and he thought one of his five servants must be the thief. “Let’s go to your house,” said Birbal. On the way, he broke