Birbal and Tansen were put in a tiny cell, dark and musty, in the dungeons of the royal palace. It was a truly terrifying place. Tansen was the first to speak when they had been left alone. ``you know friend, Birbal that I have never questioned the superiority of your intelligence. As far as I am concerned, I was happy to know that the emperor had you as a friend. I am a musician and as long as I can sing, I am quite happy. I am sorry if I ever had anything of do with the nobles at the court. Now that we are here, we must try to escape death. I am willing to try anything you may suggest’’ Birbal was cheered by these words. He knew that Tansen was not really his rival. He thought for a long time. Every day the minister would come to them and ask them if they were ready to confess and they would both reply that they had nothing to confess. But this gave Birbal an idea.

The morning of the ninth day was when they were to be executed. Outside the prison, a large space had been cleared where a block of stones had been placed. The executioner was busy sharpening his sward. The king arrived, accompanied by his master. Then the two prisoners were brought out. But as they approached the executioner, they began to quarrel as to who should be executed first. The quarrel was so harsh that if the guards had not separated them, they would have come to blows. The king could not understand their behavior. ``Why are you arguing as to who should be killed first?’’ he asked. ``eventually you are both going to die. You still have time to confess your crimes, of course, if you wish to’’.

Birbal now assumed a rather haughty air, and replied, ``my Lord, the emperor Akbar had very special reasons for having us killed. He would not go to the extent of sending us all the way here if it were otherwise. But I am afraid we cannot tell you anything more.’’ Ten the king said, ``Listen, you obstinate ones. I am a Buddhist. For me, it would be a great crime to put two innocent people to death. That is why I am so anxious to know the nature of your crime so that I can satisfy my conscience. Of course, if you do not confess, then, I shall have to carry out the orders of my friend, the emperor of India.’’

Birbal felt it was time now to try his trick, so he replied, ``since you have been so kind to us, your majesty, I shall tell you the reason for our emperor wishing to have us killed. As you know, he is the emperor of India. As you know, when an emperor has such a large empire, he is greedy for more territory. Thus the emperor has for many years had his eye on Burma. He has been consulting priests, magicians and astrologers in an effort to discover how best he can conquer Burma. Some days ago, one of his astrologers advised him to send my friend, Tansen, and myself here, with letters such as those which we brought.’’ ``Yes ‘’ said the king impatiently. ``But it is why?’’ ``Have patience, my lord,’’ replied Birbal gently. ``The reason is that the astrologer discovered that if we were killed, then immediately one of us would become the king of Burma in our next birth and the other would become minister conquer Burma at all. His friends would be king and minister and it would therefore be easy for him to include Burma in his empire. So, soon after we are both executed we will be reborn, one as king and one as minister. And the moment this happens, ou, O king, will die’’.

``Indeed,’’ replied the king, keep in thought. ``So that was the reason. But tell me why both of you were quarreling as to who should be killed first?’’ ``That is easy to explain, my lord,’’ said Birbal. ``Whichever one of us is killed first is destined to be the king. We were fighting because we both wish to be king.’’ the king laughed, and turning to the executioner, said, ``There will be no execution today’’. Then he addressed the two prisoners, ``I have two reasons for setting you free. Firstly, you are innocent of any crime; therefore I don’t wish to incur the sin of putting two innocent men to death. Secondly, I wish, to retain my kingdom longer that the emperor may think. I shall wait until you both die natural deaths!’’

So Birbal and Tansen were freed. Having saved his own life and that Tansen, Birbal now explained the truth to king. The king, who had anyway suspected that their earlier story had been invented, was most amused y what Birbal narrated. He invited them to stay as royal gusts for another week at the palace. Birbal entertained the king with his witty stories and Tansen enchanted the court with his music. The king of Burma was sorry to see them go. Birbal and Tansen after some weeks of traveling returned to the court of Akbar. The emperor was truly delighted to see them. The courtiers were amazed.