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 also refuses to recognise me.” The second man said, “No, Your Majesty! I am Aamir. But this man insists that I am his servant.” Birbal said, “I can read your minds.” Birbal stood there, looking at the men for a while. Then he ordered the guard, “Off with the thief’s head!” The guard did not know who the servant was, but he walked towards the men. Just when he neared them, the thief ran to Akbar and begged for mercy. Birbal said, “The thief got scared when I lied that I could read minds.” Akbar smiled.
The Tradesman and his Servant
