On a cold winter day Emperor Akbar and Birbal took a walk along the lake. A thought came to Birbal that a man would do anything for money. He expressed his feelings to Emperor Akbar. Emperor Akbar then put his finger into the lake and immediately removed it because he shivered with cold.
Emperor Akbar said, "I don't think a man would spend an entire night in the cold water of this lake for money."
Birbal replied, "I am sure I can find such a person."
Emperor Akbar then challenged Birbal into finding such a person and said that he would reward the person with a thousand gold coins.
Birbal searched far and wide until he found a poor man who was desperate enough to accept the challenge. The poor man entered the lake and Emperor Akbar had guards posted near him to make sure that he really does as promised.
The next morning the guards took the poor man to Emperor Akbar. Emperor Akbar asked the poor man if he had indeed spent the night in the lake. The poor man replied that he had. Emperor Akbar then asked the poor man how he managed to spend the night in the lake. The poor man replied that there was a street lamp near by and he kept his attention affixed on the lamp and away from the cold. Emperor Akbar then said that there would be no reward as the poor man had survived the night in the lake by the warmth of the street lamp. The poor man went to Birbal for help.
The next day, Birbal did not go to darbar/court. The Emperor wondered why he did not show up. Send a messenger to his home to find out? The messenger came back saying that Birbal would come once his Khichdi was cooked. The Emperor waited hours but Birbal did not come. Finally the Emperor decided to go to Birbal's house and see what he was up to.
Emperor Akbar found Birbal sitting on the floor near some burning twigs and a bowl filled with Khichdi hanging five feet above the fire. Emperor Akbar and his attendants couldn't help but laugh.
Emperor Akbar then said to Birbal, "How can the Khichdi be cooked if it so far away from the fire?"
Birbal answered, "The same way the poor man received heat from a street lamp that was more than a furlong away."
Emperor Akbar understood his mistake and gave the poor man his reward.
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NajimudeeN M
NajimudeeN M
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