10. Akbar and Birbal


Birbal, the witty and intelligent minister of Emperor Akbar, was known for his sharp mind and humour. Their stories are famous for their cleverness and entertainment value. Here are some lesser-known tales that showcase Birbal’s brilliance.

1. Turning a Donkey into a Horse

One day, Emperor Akbar said to Birbal, “Bring before me a Muslim man who has converted to Hinduism.” Birbal requested a week’s time. On the seventh day, Birbal went to the river and began bathing a donkey with oil and soap. By chance, Emperor Akbar arrived and asked, “What are you doing, Birbal? Why are you bathing this donkey?”

Birbal replied, “My lord, I’m trying to see if bathing this donkey can turn it into a horse.”

Akbar laughed and said, “You fool! No matter how much you bathe a donkey, it will never become a horse.”

Birbal smiled and said, “If a Muslim can become a Hindu, then perhaps this should also be possible.”

Akbar understood Birbal’s point and praised his cleverness.

2. Making the Line Shorter

Once, Akbar drew a line on the ground and challenged his courtiers: “Who can make this line shorter without touching it?” One by one, the courtiers admitted defeat. Finally, it was Birbal’s turn. He picked up a piece of chalk and drew a longer line parallel to Akbar’s. “Now, my lord, your line is shorter,” he said.
Impressed by Birbal’s ingenuity, Akbar applauded his intelligence.

3. Akbar and Birbal’s Father

Akbar knew that Birbal’s father was uneducated and wanted to mock him. He asked Birbal to bring his father to court. Sensing a trap, Birbal instructed his father not to respond to any of Akbar’s questions.

In the court, Akbar asked several questions, but Birbal’s father remained silent. Finally, Akbar said, “Birbal, your father appears to be a complete fool. Is that true?”
Birbal replied, “No, sire. He is merely stubborn and refuses to answer foolish questions.”
Once again, Birbal’s quick wit saved the day.

4. Akbar and the Sanyasi

A Sanyasi once came to Akbar’s palace to seek financial help for a special puja. When he arrived, he saw Akbar praying to God for wealth and power. The Sanyasi quietly turned to leave. Akbar noticed and called him back. “Why are you leaving?” Akbar asked.

The Sanyasi replied, “Mighty Emperor, I came to ask you for help, but when I saw you begging God for wealth, I thought it inappropriate to ask you for anything.”
Hearing this, Akbar felt ashamed of his greed.

5. Birbal Should Become a Muslim

One day, Akbar told Birbal, “You should convert to Islam.” Birbal asked for a day’s time. That evening, he gathered all the city’s scavengers and told them that Akbar’s concubine wanted them to convert to Islam.
The next day, the scavengers arrived at the palace, crying and pleading. “Your Majesty, we have heard you wish to convert us to Islam. Please let us stay in our current faith,” they begged.
Seeing the commotion, Akbar realized this was another of Birbal’s clever strategies. He called Birbal and said, “Forget about converting to Islam.”

6. Hijras (Transgenders) and Birbal

The palace had a group of hijras (transgenders) who advised Akbar. Their leader was jealous of Birbal and suggested testing his intelligence. The leader proposed three difficult questions:

1.    Where is the centre of the Earth?

2.    How many stars are in the sky?

3.    How many men and women exist on Earth?

The next day, Akbar posed these questions to Birbal, who asked for a day to respond.
The following morning, Birbal came to the palace with a hammer, a nail, and a goat. For the first question, he hammered the nail into the palace floor and said, “This is the centre of the Earth. If you doubt me, measure it yourself.”
For the second question, he pointed to the goat and said, “The number of stars in the sky equals the number of hairs on this goat’s body. If you doubt me, count them.”
For the third question, he said, “The population of Earth includes men, women, and transgenders. To get the exact count, you must first eliminate all the transgenders.”
Impressed by Birbal’s witty and practical answers, Akbar rewarded him with special gifts.

 


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