Hot Iron

One day, one rich man wanted to punish a man named Hasan. He blamed him that he had stolen necklace from his house, and reported to the Akbar. The case was brought in the court.

Akbar asked the man, “Why do you think that Hasan has stolen your necklace?”

The man replied, “Your Honor, I have seen him stealing the necklace.”

Hasan said, “No Huzoor I am innocent, I do not know anything about necklace.”

The rich man said, “Huzoor If he is innocent, let him prove his innocence. let me bring the hot iron, and if he can hold it in his bare hands, then I will agree that he has not stolen my necklace, and he is speaking truth.”

Hasan said, “If I am speaking the truth, then I will not burn my hands with that hot iron?”

“you are right. God will protect you.” said the rich man.

Now Hasan could not do anything but to hold hot iron in his hands to prove his innocence, and that he was speaking the truth. He asked Akbar to give him one day to look for that necklace again and He went home.

He took advice from Birbal . When he returned next day, he said, “I am ready for that. But the same thing should apply to him too. If he is speaking the truth, then the hot iron should not burn his hands also. So let him bring that hot iron holding in his both hands, then I will hold that iron in my bare hands.”

Now the rich man was speechless. He told the Akbar that he would go and search his necklace again in his house, maybe it was misplaced somewhere there.

Akbar ordered to give necklace to Hasan as a punishment to the Rich man.
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The Money Bag

Once an oil merchant and the villager came to Akbar with a quarrel about the money Bag.

Merchant said that When the villager came to buy oil from him he gave them the oil and collected money from them. But villager said he had never visited Oil shop. Each claimed that the bag belonged to him.

Everybody in the court were surprised and was waiting eagerly how Akbar would solve this problem.

Akbar asked Birbal to find the solution.

He asked for some water in a bowl. The servant brought the water. Birbal placed the bag in the bowl. After sometime everybody saw some oil float on water. Birbal told that the bag belonged to the oil merchant not to the villager. If villager didnt visit the oil shop then there would be no oil on coins or bag.

Everybody praised Birbal and the customer was punished.

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तेनाली राम और पारस पत्थर

तेनालीराम की बुद्धिमानी व चतुराई के कारण सभी उसे बहुत प्यार करते थे। परन्तु राजगुरु उससे ईर्ष्या करते थे। राजगुरु के साथ कुछ चापलूस दरबारी भी थे, जो उनके विचारों से सहमत थे। एक दिन सभी ने मिलकर तेनालीराम को अपमानित करने के लिए एक योजना बनाई।

अगले दिन दरबार में राजगुरु राजा कृष्णदेव राय से बोले, “महाराज, मैंने सुना है कि तेनालीराम ने पारस पत्थर बनाने की विद्या सीखी है। पारस पत्थर जादुई पत्थर होता है, जिससे लोहा भी सोना बन जाता है।”

“यदि ऐसा है, तो राजा होने के नाते वह पत्थर प्रजा की भलाई के लिए मेरे पास होना चाहिए। इस विषय में मैं तेनालीराम से बात करुँगा।”

“परन्तु महाराज! आप उससे यह मत कहना कि यह सूचना मैंने आपको दी है।” राजगुरु ने राजा से प्रार्थना करते हुए कहा।

उस दिन तेनालीराम के दरबार में आने पर राजा ने उससे कहा, “तेनाली, मैंने सुना है कि तुम्हारे पास पारस पत्थर है। तुमने लोहे को सोने में बदलकर बहुत धन इकट्ठा कर लिया है।”

तेनालीराम बुद्धिमान तो था ही सो वह तुरन्त समझ गया कि किसी ने राजा को उसके विरुद्ध झूठी कहानी सुनाकर उसे फंसाने की कोशिश की है।

इसलिए वह राजा को प्रसन्न करते हुए बोला, “जी महाराज, यह सत्य है। मैंने ऐसी कला सीख ली है और इससे काफी सोना भी बनाया है।”

“तब तुम अपनी कला का प्रदर्शन अभी इसी समय दरबार में करो।’ राजा ने कहा।

“महाराज! मैं अभी ऐसा नहीं कर सकता। इसके लिए मुझे कुछ समय लगेगा। कल सुबह मैं आपको लोहे को सोने में परिवर्तित करने की कला दिखाऊँगा।” तेनालीराम बोला।

राजगुरु व उसके साथी समझ गए कि तेनालीराम अब फँस गया है, लेकिन वे यह जानने को उत्सुक थे कि तेनाली राम इस मुसीबत से छुटकारा पाने के लिए क्या करता है? अगले दिन तेनालीराम गली के एक कुत्ते के साथ दरबार में आया। उस कुत्ते की पूँछ को उसने एक नली में डाला हुआ था। उसे इस प्रकार दरबार में आता देख हर व्यक्ति हँस रहा था, परन्तु यह देखकर राजा क्रोधित हो गए और बोले, “तेनाली, तुमने एक गली के कुत्ते को राजदरबार मे लाने की हिम्मत कैसे की?”

“महाराज, पहले आप मेरे प्रश्न का उत्तर दीजिए। क्या आप जानते हैं कि कुत्ते की पूँछ को कितने भी वर्षों तक एक सीधी नली में रखें, तब भी वह सीधी नही होती। वह अपनी कुटिल प्रकृति को कभी नहीं छोड सकती?” तेनालीराम ने कहा।

“हाँ! मैं इसके बारे मैं जानता हूँ।” राजा ने उत्तर दिया।

“महाराज, यहाँ मैं इसी बात को तो सिद्ध करना चाहता हूँ।” तेनाली राम बोला।

“अरे तेनाली, मूर्खों के समान बात मत करो। कुत्ते की पूँछ कभी सीधी हुई है जो तुम मुझसे पूछ रहे हो। बल्कि तुम जानते हो कि तुम इस कुत्ते की पूँछ को सीधा नहीं कर सकते हो, क्योंकि यह उसकी प्रकृति है।” राजा ने कहा।

“ठीक यही तो मैं आपको दिखाना चाहता हूँ और सिद्ध करना चाहता हूँ कि जब एक कुत्ते की पूँछ अपनी प्रकृति के विरुद्ध सीधी नहीं हो सकती, तो फिर लोहा अपनी प्रकृति को छोडकर सोना कैसे बन सकता है?” तेनालीराम ने जवाब दिया।

यह सुनते ही राजा कॄष्णदेव राय को तुरंत अपनी गलती का एहसास हो गया। 

वह समझ गए कि उन्होंने बिना कुछ सोचे-समझे राजगुरु की झुठी बातों पर आँख बंद करके विश्वास कर लिया। उन्होंने राजगुरु से तो कुछ नहीं कहा, परन्तु तेनालीराम को उसकी चतुराई के लिए पुरस्कृत किया।

यह देखकर राजगुरु व उनके साथी दरबारियों ने अपना सिर शर्म से झुका लिया क्योंकि उन लोगों के लिए यही अपमान व दण्ड था । इसके बाद तेनाली राम के खिलाफ कुछ भी कहने की उनकी हिम्मत नहीं होती थी ।

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The Golden Swan

One morning when King Krishna Deva Raya’s court was assembled, two men entered carrying a golden statue of a swan. All the courtiers were awestruck by the beauty of the statue.

The various diamonds and precious stones studded into the statue glittered in the day light. The richness of the statue was in stark contrast to the poor appearance of the two men.

“Who are you and what do you want in our court?” asked the King.

“Maharaj, my name is Ramu and this is my best friend Shamu. We have been best friends and neighbors since childhood. He grows vegetables and I am a rice farmer. In last month’s unexpected rains, most of his harvest was destroyed and his fields became waterlogged.” said Ramu.

The other man continued the story, “Like a good friend should do, Ramu helped me in time of my need. He offered me a section of his land where I could plant some fast growing vegetables. Yesterday while I was tilling the land, I found this golden swan.”

“Shamu immediately came to me with it. He insists that since it was found in my land, it belongs to me,” said Ramu.

“I think that is the right thing to do,” Shamu said.

“But he was the one who discovered the statue and I had already given the land to him. So I think it belongs to him. But he will not accept it.” complained Ramu.

“Very interesting,” Krishna Deva Raya was amused.

“Who can settle this dispute among these friends? Who does the swan belong to? It looks like neither will accept it” asked Krishna Deva Raya to his courtiers.

It was indeed a strange situation. Usually the disputes that came to the king’s court involved people fighting over possessions. This was exact opposite. Each friend wanted to gift the swan to the other.

Then Chatur Pandit spoke, “Dear King, this swan has been obtained from the earth of this kingdom. It is a sign from the Gods. I request you to grant me permission to take this swan home and inspect it. Then I can consult the religious texts and conduct the necessary rituals that such a find demands for the well being of the king and the kingdom.”

As soon as Chatur Pandit said this everyone realized that this was his cunning plan to steal some of the diamonds and gems from the statue. After his “inspection” is over, the swan would lose most of its valuable stones.

The king’s treasurer spoke next, “Your Majesty, I think the swan belongs to the royal treasury. We should take possession of it.”

Krishna Deva Raya shook his head in disagreement to these suggestions. Then he turned to his wise and witty minister Tenali Raman.

“Tenali, let me hear you suggestion” he said.

“Your Highness, I think we should auction this swan. The proceeds should then be used to build a beautiful garden in the main street of the kingdom. It should have a fresh water fountain and shady trees. Travelers from around the world should be able to rest there. We should have pillar in the garden on which the wonderful story of these selfless and generous friends is engraved. Thus their exemplary friendship will become famous and be remembered for generations to come.” said Tenali Raman.

Both the friends were very pleased to hear this suggestion. The King and the courtiers praised Tenali Raman’s focus on the greater common good.
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Tenali's Reward

One day the King and his Queen were about to view a special performance by a Krishnaleela troupe.

The King ordered his minister not to disturb him.

A special guard was posted at the main gate of the palace and another at the door to the hall.

Meanwhile Raman came to the palace and was prohibited entry by the kings guard. TenaliRaman thought that there is something special going on and I have not been invited. I must see what it is.

So he returned to the guards and said, “I must see the king, he has promised me a reward.”

The guard thought the reward must be a bag of gold as usual. So he demanded half of the reward the king gives to Tenali. Tenali agreed and rushed to the audience hall.

There another guard blocked his way and Tenali promised him half of the reward the king gives to him. Finally he reached the hall and saw the dance program going on.

He ran up to the artists and picking up a stick began to hit the chief actor.

On seeing this, the king got annoyed and ordered a hundred lashes to Tenali.

As an attendant raised the whip, Tenali pleaded, “Please wait, your majesty. I have two friends outside who want to share the lashes.”

The king was astonished. “Who are these fools? Have them brought in.” he said.

Raman whispered something into the attendant's ear. He returned with the two guards.

Raman proceeded, “I am honor bond to share with them what you wish to give me.”

And he told the king how he gained entry in to the hall.

The king was at once angry and amused. He ordered fifty lashes each to the attendants and dismissed them.

Then he turned to Raman and said, “I am grateful to you for exposing these rogues. you shall receive a bag of gold for your efforts.”

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तेनालीराम और कंजूस सेठ

राजा कृष्णदेवराय के राज्य में एक कंजूस सेठ रहता था। उसके पास धन की कोई कमी नही थी, पर वह बहुत ही कंजूस था।

एक बार उसके कुछ मित्रों ने हँसी-2 में उसे एक कलाकार से अपना चित्र बनवाने के लिए तैयार कर लिया, उनके सामने तो वह मान गया, पर जब चित्रकार उसका चित्र बनाकर लाया, तो चित्र के मूल्य के रूप में चित्रकार को सौ स्वर्णमुद्राएँ दे देने की सेठ की नीयत नही हुई।

सेठ को एक तरकीब सूझी। चित्रकार को आया हुआ देखकर सेठ अपने घर के अंदर गया और कुछ ही क्षणों में अपना चेहरा बदलकर बाहर आया।

उसने चित्रकार से कहा, ‘तुम्हारा चित्र जरा भी ठीक नहीं बना है। तुम्हीं बताओ, क्या यह चेहरा मेरे चेहरे से जरा भी मिलता है?’ चित्रकार ने देखा, सचमुच में चित्र सेठ के चेहरे से नहीं मिल रहा था।

तभी सेठ बोला, ‘जब तुम ऐसा चित्र बनाकर लाओगे, जो बिल्कुल मेरी शक्ल से मिलेगा, तभी मैं उसे खरीदूँगा।’

दूसरे दिन चित्रकार एक और चित्र बनाकर लाया, जो हूबहू सेठ के उस चेहरे से मिलता था, जो सेठ ने पहले दिन बना रखा था। इस बार फिर से सेठ ने अपने चेहरे के हाव-भाव बदल लिए और चित्रकार के बनाए हुए चित्र में कमी निकालने लगा। वह चित्रकार बड़ा ही लज्जित हुआ। उसकी समझ में नहीं आ रहा था कि इस तरह की गलती उसके चित्र में क्यों हो रही थी?

अगले दिन वह फिर एक नया चित्र बनाकर ले गया, पर उसके साथ फिर वही हुआ। अब उसकी समझ में सेठ की चाल आ चुकी थी। वह जानता था कि यह मक्खीचूस सेठ असल में चित्र के पैसे नहीं देना चाहता, पर चित्रकार अपनी कई दिनों की मेहनत भी बेकार नहीं जाने देना चाहता था।

बहुत सोच-विचार करके वह चित्रकार तेनालीराम के पास पहुँचा और अपनी समस्या उनसे कह सुनाई।

कुछ समय सोचने के बाद तेनालीराम ने चित्रकार से कहा, ‘कल तुम उस सेठ के पास एक शीशा लेकर जाओ और कहो कि इस बार मैं आपकी बिलकुल असली तस्वीर लेकर आया हूँ। अच्छी तरह मिलाकर देख लीजिए। आपको कहीं कोई अंतर नहीं मिलेगा। बस, फिर अपना काम हुआ ही समझो।’

अगले दिन चित्रकार ने ऐसा ही किया।

वह चित्रकार एक शीशा लेकर सेठ के यहाँ पहुँचा और उसके सामने रख दिया।

‘लीजिए, सेठ जी, आपका बिलकुल सही चित्र। इसमें गलती की जरा भी गुंजाइश नहीं है।’ चित्रकार ने अपनी हँसी पर काबू पाते हुए कहा।

‘लेकिन यह तो शीशा है।’ सेठ ने झुँझलाते हुए कहा।

‘आपकी असली सूरत शीशे के अलावा बना भी कौन सकता है? जल्दी से मेरे चित्रों का मूल्य एक हजार स्वर्णमुद्राएँ निकालिए।’ चित्रकार बोला।

सेठ समझ गया कि यह सब तेनालीराम की सूझबूझ का परिणाम है। उसने तुरंत एक हजार स्वर्णमुद्राएँ चित्रकार को दे दीं।

तेनालीराम ने जब यह घटना महाराज कृष्णदेव राय को बताई तो वह खूब हँसे।

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What The Drop Taketh!

The anecdotes of Emperor Akbar and his trusted aide Birbal are entertaining as well as enlightening.

Once, the Emperor received the gift of a rare perfume. As he opened the bottle, a drop of perfume fell to the floor. Akbar instinctively moved to retrieve it by wiping the floor with his finger.

As he looked up he noticed a bemused look on Birbal’s face… his eyes seemed to mock the Emperor for being scrounging.

To change Birbal’s perception, Akbar summoned him the next morning to his bath.

He asked his attendants to fill up the bathtub with the best of perfumes.

Akbar sought to show Birbal that as Emperor he could afford to waste as much perfume, as he wanted.

Birbal when asked to react said the immortal lines, “Boond se jati, woh haudh se nahi aati” (An entire tub full cannot retrieve what the drop took away!)

Birbal sought to tell the Emperor that his earlier instinctive action (that exhibited miserliness) could not be undone by an intentional action (aimed at bigheartedness).

Our character is determined by our reactions, not by forced posturing. It is better to be transparent then wear favourable masks.

In fact every little action and reaction, every spoken word and emerging thought reflects our true self!

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Limping Horse

A nobleman’s prized racehorse began to limp for no apparent reason.

Veterinarians who were called found nothing wrong with the leg no fracture, no sprain and no soreness and they were baffled.

The nobleman finally consulted a sage, a man known for his wisdom.

“Has anything changed for the horse in the last few months?” he asked.

“I changed his trainer a few weeks ago,” said the nobleman.

“Does the horse get on well with his new trainer?” the sage asked.

“Very well! In fact, he’s devoted to him.” said the nobleman.

“Does the trainer limp?” the sage asked.

“Uh… yes, he does.” said the nobleman.

“The reason for the horse’s limp is clear,” said the sage. “He’s imitating his handler. We all tend to imitate those whom we admire. The company we keep has a great influence on us.”

The nobleman put the horse in the charge of another trainer and the horse soon stopped limping.

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The Wolf and The Goat

Once a wolf saw a goat atop a hill and said, “Come down here, Miss Goat! The grass here is greener and longer.”

“Thank You,” answered the goat, “The grass down there may be much better. But, if I come down you will get a good meal.

So, I prefer to stay here - where you can't reach. At least I am quite safe.”

Moral : Let not others exploit your gentleness.

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The Villager And The Spectacles

There was a villager. He was illiterate. He did not know how to read and write. He often saw people wearing spectacles for reading books or papers.

He thought, “If I have spectacles, I can also read like these people. I must go to town and buy a pair of spectacles for myself.”

So one day he went to a town. He entered a spectacles shop.

He asked the shopkeeper for a pair of spectacles for reading. The shopkeeper gave him various pairs of spectacles and a book.

The villager tried all the spectacles one by one. But he could not read anything. He told the shopkeeper that all those spectacles were useless for him.

The shopkeeper gave him a doubtful look. Then he looked at the book. It was upside down! The shopkeeper said, “Perhaps you don’t know how to read.”

The villager said, “No, I don’t. I want to buy spectacles so that I can read like others. But I can’t read with any of these spectacles.”

The shopkeeper controlled his laughter with great difficulty when he learnt the real problem of his illiterate customer.

He explained to the villager, “My dear friend, you are very ignorant. Spectacles don’t help to read or write. They only help you to see better. First of all you must learn to read and write.”

Moral: Ignorance is blindness.                                                          
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Identify The Guest

Birbal had been invited to lunch by a rich man. Birbal went to the man's house and found him in a hall full of people. His host greeted him warmly.

“I did not know there would be so many guests,” said Birbal who hated large gatherings.

“They are not guests,” said the man. “They are my employees, all except one man. He is the only other guest here beside you.”

Then a crafty look came on the man's face.

“Can you tell me which of them is the guest?” he asked.

“Maybe I could,” said Birbal. “Talk to them as I observe them. Tell them a joke or something.”

The man told a joke that Birbal thought was perhaps the worst he had heard in a long time. When he finished everyone laughed uproariously.

“Well,” said the rich man. “I've told my joke. Now tell me who my other guest is.”

Birbal pointed out the man to him.

“How did you know?” asked his host, amazed.

“Employees tend to laugh at any joke told by their employers,” explained Birbal. “When I saw that this man was the only one not laughing at your joke, and in fact, looked positively bored, I at once knew he was your other guest.”
                                                                                   
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बादशाह ने बदला हुलिया

एक बार बादशाह ने बीरबल को ड़राने के लिए अपना बेहद ख़तरनाक रूप बनाया और सुनसान ज़गह में बीरबल के सामने अचानक ही आ गए।

बीरबल ने उनकी ख़तरनाक पोषाक और उनका हुलिया देखकर जिसमें कहीं सिर और सिर्फ़ 2 हाथ देखकर पहले तो खुश होकर उन्हे बैठाया, फिर कुछ इस तरह मुंह लटका कर बैठ गए जैसे गहरी सोच में डूबे हुए हो।

जब बादशाह अकबर ने बीरबल को इस तरह बैठे देखा तो उन्हे बेहद हैरानी हुई और उन्होनें दिल में सोचा की बीरबल को तो ड़रना चाहिए पर वो ड़रने की बज़ाए हैरान हो रहा था।

अब हारकर बादशाह ने उनसे उनके खुश होने और बाद में हैरान होने की वज़ह पूछी।

इस पर बीरबल ने नरम लहज़े में ज़वाब दिया, “आपको देखकर मैं बेहद खुश हुआ लेकिन आपको बहरूपिए के रूप में देखकर हैरानी हुई की आपको आखिर किसके ड़र से यह हुलिया बनाने की ज़रूरत पड़ गई।”

बादशाह बीरबल का जवाब सुनकर बेहद शर्मिंदा हुए और इस राज़ को राज़ ही बनाए रखने के लिए कहा।                                                                                   
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तेनालीराम की बुद्धिमानी

महाराज कृष्णदेव कई बार अपने दरबारियों की बुद्धि का परीक्षण किया करते थे।

ऐसे ही उन्होंने एक दिन भरे दरबार में सभी छोटे-बड़े दरबारियों को हजार-हजार सोने की मुद्राएं दीं और फिर बोले, “आप सबको एक सप्ताह का समय दिया जाता है। सप्ताह भर के अंदर आपको यह धन अपने ऊपर खर्च करना है, लेकिन शर्त यह है कि आप लोग मुद्राएं खर्च करते समय हमारा मुंह जरूर देखें।”

सभी दरबारियों ने हंसी खुशी वह मुद्राएं ले लीं और बाजार की ओर चल दिए। खरीददारी तो वे करते, मगर राजा की शर्त याद आते ही परेशान हो उठते। कारण यह था कि मुद्राएं खर्च करते समय राजा का मुंह कैसे देखें।

इसी परेशानी में एक सप्ताह का समय गुज़र गया। राजा की आज्ञा को नज़रअंदाज भी नहीं किया जा सकता था। यदि महाराज ने पूछ लिया कि खर्च करने से पहले मेरा मुंह कैसे देखा तो क्या जवाब देंगे।

एक सप्ताह के बाद जब दरबार लगा तो सबसे पहले दरबारियों से महाराज ने यही पूछा, “हमें बताइए, आप लोगों ने क्या-क्या खरीदारी की?”

सभी दरबारियों की तरफ से राजपुरोहित बोले, “हम कुछ कैसे खरीद सकते थे महाराज, आपकी शर्त ही ऐसी थी। बाजार में आपका चेहरा हम कैसे और कहां देखते? इसलिए ना आपके दर्शन हुए और ना हम मुद्राएं खर्च कर सके।”

अब महाराज ने तेनालीराम से पूछा, “और तेनालीराम तुम। क्या तुम भी मुद्राएं खर्च नहीं कर पाए?”

तेनालीराम ने कहा, “महाराज! मैंने सारी मुद्राएं खर्च कर दी हैं।”

राजा ने कहा, “इसका मतलब तुम ने हमारी आज्ञा का पालन नहीं किया?”

इस पर तेनालीराम ने कहा, “हरगिज नहीं महाराज! मैं आपकी आज्ञा का अनादर कभी नहीं कर सकता। मैंने आपका चेहरा देखकर ही मुद्राएं खर्च की हैं।”

महाराज ने पूछा, “अच्छा! वह कैसे?”

तेनालीराम ने जवाब दिया, “महाराज हर एक मुद्रा पर आपका चित्र अंकित है।”

यह सुनते ही महाराज मुस्कुराने लगे और सभी दरबारी तेनालीराम का चेहरा देखते रह गए।

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Birbal Shortens Road

The Emperor Akbar was traveling to a distant place along with some of his courtiers.

It was a hot day and the emperor was tiring of the journey.

“Can’t anybody shorten this road for me?” he asked, querulously.

“I can,” said Birbal.

The other courtiers looked at one another, perplexed. All of them knew there was no other path through the hilly terrain.

The road they were traveling on was the only one that could take them to their destination.

“You can shorten the road?” said the emperor. “Well, do it.”

“I will,” said Birbal. “Listen first to this story I have to tell.”

And riding beside the emperor’s palanquin, he launched upon a long and intriguing tale that held Akbar and all those listening, spellbound. Before they knew it, they had reached the end of their journey.

“We’ve reached?” exclaimed Akbar. “So soon!”

“Well,” grinned Birbal, “you did say you wanted the road to be shortened.”
                                                                                     
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Birbal Denies Rumor

One day a man stopped Birbal in the street and began narrating his woes to him.

“I've walked twenty miles to see you,” he told Birbal finally, “and all along the way people kept saying you were the most generous man in the country.”

Birbal knew the man was going to ask him for money. “Are you going back the same way?” he asked.

“Yes,” said the man.

“Will you do me a favor?” Birbal asked.

“Certainly,” said the man. “What do you want me to do?”

“Please deny the rumor of my generosity,” said Birbal, walking away.
                                                                                     
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Tenali Raman And The Thieves

On one night, some thieves entered Tenali Raman's house and were hiding in the  back yard of his house. They were only waiting for the right time, to get  in and rob. Raman came to know that and so collected all the money.

Then, he called his wife and said in a  voice loud enough for the thieves to hear, “There are more incidence of  robbery taking place in this city. So, we must keep all gold inside the well in our garden.”

Then he filled up a big box with some heavy unwanted things.

They dropped  the box to the well in the garden.

The thieves, who were carefully obserbing all this, heard this.

So, they decided not to enter inside the house, one of  them got into the well, and found that the water was very deep.

They realised  that, the box can be easily taken out, only after taking out the water.  So, the thieves spent the entire night to draw water from the well. 

Since, all the water drawn from the well was poured into the garden, all the  plants in the garden got irrigated. The water level in  the well never went down to the extent they expected.

When the day was about to  dawn, Raman said loudly, “The whole garden has been well irrigated and you  may stop now, drawing further water.”

On hearing these words, the thieves ran  away.

                                                                                                                                        ******  

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The Ruby Thief

In the palace of Rubyland there was a ruby thief. 

No one knew who it was, and the thief had everyone so fooled that the only thing known about him was that he lived in the palace, and that when you were in the palace you should always hide your jewels.

The King decided to find out who it was, and he asked for help from a wise dwarf who was famed for his intelligence. 

The dwarf spent some days there, watching and listening, until their was another theft.

The following morning the wise dwarf made all the palace inhabitants meet up together in the same room. 

After inspecting them for the whole morning, and during lunch, without saying a word, the dwarf started asking them all, one by one, what they knew about the stolen jewels.

Once again, it seemed that no one had been the thief. 

But then, suddenly, one of the gardeners began coughing, writhing and moaning, and finally he fell to the floor.

The dwarf, with a cheeky smile, explained that the food they had just eaten was poisoned, and the only antidote for this poison was hidden inside the ruby that had been stolen the previous night. 

And he explained how, some days earlier, he himself had swapped some false rubies for the genuine ones, and that he expected that only the thief would be able to save his life, since the poison was particularly quick working…

The coughs and groans spread around the room, and terror took hold of all present. 

All except one person. 

A footman didn’t take long to run over to where he had hidden the jewels, from where he took the final ruby. 

Fortunately he would be able to open it and drink the strange liquid inside, thus saving his life.

Or so he believed, because the gardener was, in fact, one of the dwarf’s assistants, and the poison was nothing more than a potion prepared by the little investigator to cause a few strong pains for a short while, but nothing more than that. 

And the footman, now found out, was arrested by the guards and taken immediately to court.

The King, grateful, generously rewarded his wise adviser, and when he asked the dwarf what his secret was, the dwarf smiled and said: “I only try to get the person knowing the truth to reveal that truth.”

The King again asked, “And who knew it? If the thief had deceived everyone… ”

Dwarf said, “No, your majesty, not everyone. 

Anyone can deceive everyone, but no one can deceive themselves.”

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तिनके का सहारा

बादशाह अकबर अपने कुछ दरबारियों के साथ नौका विहार के लिये गये। जब नौका नदी के बीचों-बीच पहुंची तो बादशाह को मजाक सुझा।

अकबर ने बीरबल सहित अपने दरबारियों को एक तिनका दिखाया और बोले, “जो इस तिनके के सहारेे नदी पार कर लेगा, उसे मैं एक दिन के लिए बादशाह बना दूंगा।”

बीरबल बोला, “यह काम मैं काम कर सकता हूं मगर बादशाह बनने के बाद।”

बादशाह अकबर बोले, “ठीक है! आज के दिन के लिए मैं तुम्हे बादशाह बनाता हूं।”

बीरबल तिनका लेकर नदी में कुदने को तैयार हुए। कुदने से पहले उन्होनें अंगरक्षकों से कहा, “इस समय मेैं बादशाह हूँ, तुम अपने कर्तव्य का पालन करो।”

यह सुनते ही अंगरक्षकों ने बीरबल को पकड लिया और बोले, “आप बादशाह हेै इसलिए हम आपको आपकी जान-जोखिम में ड़ालने वाला काम नहीं करने देंगे।”

बीरबल ने काफी जद्दोजहद की मगर अंगरक्षकों ने उन्हें नहीं छोडा, इतने में नौका दूसरे किनारे पर जा लगी।

बादशाह अकबर बोले, “बीरबल! तुम हार गये।”

“हार कहां गया जहांपनाह, इस तिनके के सहारे ही तो मेैंने नदी पार की, यह अगर मेरे पास नहीं होता तो मैं बादशाह नही होता और अंगरक्षक मुझे नदी में कुदने से भला क्यों रोकते?”, बीरबल ने कहा।

बादशाह अकबर हंसकर बोले, “बीरबल तुमसे जीतना सचमुच बहुत मुश्किल काम है।”   

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A Jest Recoils Upon The Jester

Once the Badshah said to Birbal, “I had a wonderful dream last night. I dreamt that I slipped into a tank of scented oils, and can you imagine where you fell?”

“No, Jahanpanah!" replied Birbal.

“It was a sewage tank into which you fell,” said the Badshah.

“I had also a similar dream,” said Birbal, “but there was something more in it.”

“What was it?” asked Akbar.

“In the dream, I saw that I was licking Jahanpanah's body and Jahanpanah was licking mine.”

Thus the jest recoiled upon the Badshah who deemed it wise to keep silent.
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Who Will Conquer?

Once Akbar was about to go to the battle front.

“Shall I win or lose the battle?”, Akbar asked to Birbal.

“Jahanpanah!”, replied Birbal, “I will answer that question on the battle field.”

On reaching the battle field, Birbal told the Badshah that he would be victorious in the battle.

“How could you know that?”, asked Akbar.

“Listen to me, Jahanpanah! The enemy King is riding on an elephant. Now the elephant is an inauspicious animal, because he throws dust over his head. On the other hand, you are sitting on a horse who is very auspicious. These facts lead me to the conclusion that your victory is a past doubt.”

Akbar was pleased with this answer and when Birbal's forecast came true, he rewarded him with a priceless gift.

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I Shall Do All Talking

One day Birbal entered the retiring chamber of Akbar, as he had some urgent work.

The Badshah who did not like anybody to encroach on his privacy, angrily said, “Why have you come here at this odd hour?”

“Your Majesty”, replied Birbal, “ I have to ask something about an important matter.”

“Birbal! I have no time to talk to you at present. Put it off till tomorrow”, said the Emperor impatiently.

“It does not matter”, said Birbal, “Your Majesty need not worry about it. I shall do all talking myself. You have simply to listen to my talk.”

The Badshah laughed at this witty answer and was pleased to give him audience.

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Half The Reward

Mahesh Das was a citizen in the kingdom of Akbar. He was an intelligent young man.

Once when Akbar went hunting in the jungle, he lost his way.

Mahesh Das who lived in the outskirts helped the king reach the palace. The emperor rewarded him with his ring.

The Emperor also promised to give him a responsible posting at his court. After a few days Mahesh Das went to the court. The guard did not allow him to enter.

Mahesh Das showed the guard the ring which the king had given him. Now the guard thought that the young man was sure to get more rewards by the king. The greedy guard agreed to allow him inside the court on one condition.

It was that Mahesh Das had to pay him half the reward he would get from the Emperor. Mahesh Das accepted the condition.

He then entered the court and showed the ring to the King.

The King who recognized Mahesh asked him, “Oh young man! What do you expect as a reward from the King of Hindustan?”

“Majesty! I expect 50 lashes from you as a reward.", replied Mahesh Das.

The courtiers were stunned. They thought that he was mad. Akbar pondered over his request and asked him the reason.

Mahesh Das said he would tell him the reason after receiving his reward. Then the king’s men whipped him as per his wish. After the 25th lash Mahesh Das requested the King to call the guard who was at the gate.

The guard appeared before the King.

He was happy at the thought that he was called to be rewarded.

But to his surprise, Mahesh Das told the King, “Jahanpanah! This greedy guard let me inside on condition that I pay him half the reward I receive from you. I wanted to teach him a lesson. Please give the remaining 25 lashes to this guard so that I can keep my promise to him.”

The King then ordered that the guard be given 25 lashes along with 5 years of imprisonment. The King was very happy with Mahesh Das. He called him Raja Birbal and made him his chief minister.

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मुर्ख और ज्ञानी

एक दिन बादशाह अकबर ने बीरबल से कहा, “बीरबल, क्या तुम जानते हो कि एक मुर्ख और ज्ञानी व्यक्ति में क्या अंतर है ?”

“जी महाराज मैं जानता हुं।”, बीरबल ने कहा।

“क्या तुम विस्तार से बता सकते हो?”, अकबर ने कहा।

“महाराज, वह व्यक्ति जो अपनी बुद्धि का प्रयोग मुश्किल, चुनौतिपूर्ण तथा प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों का सामना, अपना नियन्त्रण खोए बिना करता है वह ज्ञानी होता है।”, बीरबल ने कहा। “परन्तु वह व्यक्ति जो प्रतिकूल परिस्थितियों को इस प्रकार सुलझाता है कि वे और प्रतिकूल हो जाती है, मुर्ख कहलाता है।”

बादशाह अकबर एक बार फिर बीरबल की चतुर हाजिरजवाबी से चकित रह गए।

बीरबल के चतुर जवाब से बादशाह के ह्रदय में उसका स्थान और पक्का हो गया।

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