One day, the royal guards brought a bird catcher into Akbar’s court. The man said, “Your Majesty, I have a beautiful gift for you. I hope you will accept it.” Akbar said, “Certainly. What is it?” The man brought in a cage, with a golden peacock in it. All the courtiers gasped in wonder. None of them had seen a golden peacock. Akbar said, “I am very happy, young man! You shall be rewarded tomorrow.” But Birbal was suspicious. He wanted to find out where the golden peacock had come from. Next day, when Akbar was rewarding the bird catcher, Birbal said, “Your Majesty, please wait. I know a man who is better than this bird catcher.” Akbar was surprised. Birbal brought in a poor man and said, “Your Majesty, this is the artist who paints ordinary birds into wonderful creatures. Akbar rewarded the artist and punished the bird catcher.
The Golden Peacock
