Once, there lived a sage in Akbar’s kingdom. An old lady came to him and said, “Please keep my life’s savings with you until I return.” The sage said, “I stay away from wealth. Bury them in a corner of my hut.” The old lady did so and left. She came back after many months. Then she dug in the place where she had buried the coins, but they had gone. She asked Birbal for help. Birbal whispered a plan. Next day, Birbal went to the sage and said, “Please keep these jewels until I return from my cousin’s house.” Just then, the old lady entered. The sage wanted to impress Birbal and steal the jewels. So, he said, “Your savings are in the northern corner, lady. Take them.” After the old lady had dug out her coins, a servant told Birbal that his cousin had come to visit him. Birbal took the jewels and left.
The Greedy Man
