The stories of  Emperor Akbar and Raja Birbal are well-known and have gained immense popularity due to their wit and humour. They have been passed from generation to generation and have remained fresh through the ages. Here are a couple of them. 

The Short Stick

Once, Emperor Akbar and Birbal were taking a stroll in the royal garden when suddenly Akbar spotted a bamboo stick.

He took it, and in a teasing mood, turned to Birbal and asked, “Look here, Birbal. Can you make this stick shorter without chopping it or even touching it?” Birbal looked around him and said “Yes, Your Majesty, I can.” Telling thus, he took another stick lying nearby, which was longer, and placed it near the bamboo stick held by the emperor. “Now you see, Your Highness, I have made your stick shorter without touching it.”

Both Akbar and Birbal had a great laughter.

Moral: All problematic situations do have a solution.

The Reflection of Money

Once, a poor Brahmin was sleeping deeply in his hut. In his sleep, he dreamt that he took 10 gold coins from a money lender. He awoke to realise that it was a dream, but could not help sharing it with his neighbours. Now the same moneylender, who appeared in the Brahmin’s dream, was staying nearby and came to know of the dream. He decided to take advantage of the poor Brahmin’s innocence.

The next day, he went to the Brahmin’s house and told him “Look Brahmin, you have taken 10 gold coins from me yesterday. Please give it back to me. The Brahmin was taken back. How could he give the gold coins when he has not actually taken? He has only dreamt that he has taken. But, the money lender was adamant and threatened that he would present the matter before the emperor.

Hence, the next day both of them went to the palace and apprised the emperor of the situation. Akbar turned to Birbal who has already started pondering over the matter. Birbal, then, asked one of his assistants to get him a mirror and 10 gold coins.  After the mirror and the coins were brought, Birbal took the 10 gold coins and placed them in such a way that their reflection in the mirror was visible to the moneylender. Pointing at the reflection in the mirror, Birbal instructed the moneylender “Now you can take the money which you see in the mirror”. At this the money lender was surprised and said “ But this is just a reflection of the coins. How can I take them” Birbal immediately retorted, “If  you could give the Brahmin 10 gold coins in his dream without any physical contact, you can similarly take back the gold coins which cannot be seen physically. Correct?”

The moneylender got confused and admitted his guilt.

Moral: Do not take unjust advantage of others.