THE Major Graf1 von Farlsberg, the Prussian commandant, was reading his newspaper, lying back in a great armchair, with his booted feet on the beautiful marble fireplace, where his spurs had made two holes, which grew deeper every day, during the three months that he had been in the château of Urville. [1] Count.
A cup of coffee was smoking on a small inlaid table, which was stained with liquors burnt by cigars, notched by the penknife of the victorious officer, who occasionally would stop while sharpening a pencil, to jot down figures, or to make a drawing on it, just as it took his fancy.
A cup of coffee was smoking on a small inlaid table, which was stained with liquors burnt by cigars, notched by the penknife of the victorious officer, who occasionally would stop while sharpening a pencil, to jot down figures, or to make a drawing on it, just as it took his fancy.
Akbarwasjovialbynature.Onedayhesaidtothemerchantsofthetown,“Fromtodayonwards
youwillserveasguards”.
Emperor’sstatementscaredthemerchantsandtheywenttoBirbalwiththeirproblem.
Birbalboostedtheirmoralbysaying,“Youallgoaroundthetownwithturbansonyourfeet
Emperor’sstatementscaredthemerchantsandtheywenttoBirbalwiththeirproblem.
Birbalboostedtheirmoralbysaying,“Youallgoaroundthetownwithturbansonyourfeet
andpyjamastiedontheheadcallingoutloudly,Nowdifficultshascomeonus!Thatshoulddothetrick.”
Emperorwasoutinthetownindisguise.Lookingattheplightofthemerchants
Emperorwasoutinthetownindisguise.Lookingattheplightofthemerchants
Emperorlaughedandsaid,“Whatisallthis?”
Onemerchantsaid,“YourHighness,frombirthwehavebeentrainedintheprofessionofselling.
Onemerchantsaid,“YourHighness,frombirthwehavebeentrainedintheprofessionofselling.
Howcanwebeguards?Howcanpyjamasserveasturbansandturbansasshoes?”
EmperorAkbarunderstandthetrickplayedbyBirbal.
EmperorAkbarunderstandthetrickplayedbyBirbal.
TherearoseanargumentbetweenBirbalandTansen.Bothwerefirmontheirstand.Whenthey
couldnotreachanyagreementtheywenttotheEmperor.EmperorAkbarwasfoundofbothofthem.
Hedidnotwishtotodispleaseany.Soheadvisedthemtoseeksomebodyelse’sinterventionindeciding
thecase.
“YourHighness,nowthatyouwantustogotosomeotherperson,wouldyoubegood
“YourHighness,nowthatyouwantustogotosomeotherperson,wouldyoubegood
enoughtostatethenameoftheperson?”askedBirbal.
“BothofyoumeetMaharanaPratap.Iamsurehewilldefinitelyhelpyouinthismatter”,replied
“BothofyoumeetMaharanaPratap.Iamsurehewilldefinitelyhelpyouinthismatter”,replied
EmperorAkbar.
OntheadviceofEmperorAkbartheymetMaharanaPratapandpresentedtheircase.Maharana
OntheadviceofEmperorAkbartheymetMaharanaPratapandpresentedtheircase.Maharana
Pratapwasponderedovertheissue.InthemeantimeTansenbegantosingamelodioustune.
MaharanaPratapgotinvolvedinmusic.WhenBirbalsawthatTansenwasenticingMaharanaPratap
withhismusic,hesaid,“Maharanaji,nowIamgoingtonarrateatruestorytoyou.Whenwewereonour
waytoyourpalaceIprayedatPushkarjithatifthecaseisdecidedinmyfavourIshalldonate
hundredcows.However,MiyanTansenprayedthatifheisprovedcorrecthewill
sacrificehundredcows.Maharanaji,nowthelifeofhundredcowsareinyourhands.”
Birbal’stalkalertedhim.HowcouldaHinduKingeventhinkofsacrificingcows?HeimmediatelydecidedinfavourofBirbal.
WhenEmperorAkbarheardabouttheincidenthelaughed.
Birbal’stalkalertedhim.HowcouldaHinduKingeventhinkofsacrificingcows?HeimmediatelydecidedinfavourofBirbal.
WhenEmperorAkbarheardabouttheincidenthelaughed.
EmperorAkbarwasmakingpreparationstogoforawar.Soldierswerefullyprepared.
Emperoralsomountedhishorseandwasready,BirbalwaswiththeEmperor.Emperor
directedthesoldierstomovetowardsthebattleground.
Emperorwasleadingthevastarmy.Ontheway,outofcuriosityEmperoraskedBirbal,“Canyou
Emperorwasleadingthevastarmy.Ontheway,outofcuriosityEmperoraskedBirbal,“Canyou
tellwhowillwinthebattle?”
“YourHighness,IshallreplytothisquestiononceIreachthebattlefield,”repliedBirbal.
Aftersometimethearmyreachedthebattlefield.OnreachingthereBirbalsaid,“YourHighness,
“YourHighness,IshallreplytothisquestiononceIreachthebattlefield,”repliedBirbal.
Aftersometimethearmyreachedthebattlefield.OnreachingthereBirbalsaid,“YourHighness,
Inowansweryourquestion,theansweristhatyouwillwinthebattle”.
“Howcanyoupredictthatatthisstagewhentheenemy’sarmyisalsohuge,”statedEmperordoubtfully.
“YourHighness,theenemyismountedonelephants.Theelephantpickupmudbythetrun
“Howcanyoupredictthatatthisstagewhentheenemy’sarmyisalsohuge,”statedEmperordoubtfully.
“YourHighness,theenemyismountedonelephants.Theelephantpickupmudbythetrun
kandthrowsitonitself.Itisonlyslaveofitsownmoodsandcanturnagainstitsmasterifinfoulmood.
Weallaremountedonhorses.Ahorsewillneverbetrayitsmaster,”saidBirbal.
InthatbattleAkbarwon.
InthatbattleAkbarwon.
EmperorAkbarandBirbalweretalkingtoeachother.Thetopicofdiscussionwastherelationship
betweenhusbandandwife.Birbalcommented,“Mostofthemalesarehenpeckedhusbands.They
arescaredoftheirwives.”
“Idisagree,”saidEmperor.
“YourHighness,Icanproveit,”saidBirbal.
“Proveit”.
”Alright.Issueanofficialstatementthatanyonefoundorprovedtobescaredofhiswifewill
“Idisagree,”saidEmperor.
“YourHighness,Icanproveit,”saidBirbal.
“Proveit”.
”Alright.Issueanofficialstatementthatanyonefoundorprovedtobescaredofhiswifewill
havetogiveacocktoBirbal.”
Emperorissuedtheorder.
WithinafewdaysBirbalwasinpossessionofmanycocks.ThenBirbalsaid,“YourHighness,with
Emperorissuedtheorder.
WithinafewdaysBirbalwasinpossessionofmanycocks.ThenBirbalsaid,“YourHighness,with
thesecocksIcanopenapoultryfarm.Canceltheorder”
EmperorrefusedtocomplytoBirbal’ssuggestion.Birbalreturnedirritated.Nextday,inthecourt
EmperorrefusedtocomplytoBirbal’ssuggestion.Birbalreturnedirritated.Nextday,inthecourt
BirbalsaidtoAkbar,“YourHighness,Ihavecometoknowthroughareliabklesourcethatthe
daughteroftheneighbouringkingisverybeautiful.IfyouwishIcansendyourmarriageproposaltoher”.
“Whatareyousaying?Thinkbeforeyouspeak.Therearealreadytwooftheminthepalace.Iftheyheardaboutthisthey
“Whatareyousaying?Thinkbeforeyouspeak.Therearealreadytwooftheminthepalace.Iftheyheardaboutthisthey
willnotspareme,”saidtheEmperor.
“YourHighness,youalsogivemetwococks,”saidBirbal.Birbal’sstatementembarrassedtheKing.
“YourHighness,youalsogivemetwococks,”saidBirbal.Birbal’sstatementembarrassedtheKing.
Hecancelledhisorder.
CourtiersoftenaccusedEmperorAkbarofcomplimentingBirbalforintelligenceandnotother
membersofthecourt.
Oneday,EmperorAkbarcalledhiscourtierstothecourtandpresentedtwoarmlengthwide
Oneday,EmperorAkbarcalledhiscourtierstothecourtandpresentedtwoarmlengthwide
andonearmlengthlongsheet.Thenhesaid,“Ifyouareabletocovermefromheadtotoebythis
sheetIwilldeclareyouasintelligentasBirbal.”
AllthecourtierstriedbutcouldnotfullycovertheEmperorwiththesheet.Iftheycoveredthehead,
AllthecourtierstriedbutcouldnotfullycovertheEmperorwiththesheet.Iftheycoveredthehead,
thefeetwerevisible.Iftheycoveredthefeet,headcouldbeseen.Theyreadjustedthesheetinlength,
breadthanddiagonalwaysbutwerenotsuccessful.
EmperorcalledBirbalandgavehimthesamesheettocoverhim.
Emperorlaidhimself.Birbalaskedhimtofoldhislegs.Emperordidashewastold.Birbalcovered
EmperorcalledBirbalandgavehimthesamesheettocoverhim.
Emperorlaidhimself.Birbalaskedhimtofoldhislegs.Emperordidashewastold.Birbalcovered
himfromheadtofootbythesheet.OthercourtierswerewatchingBirbalsheepishly.ThenBirbalsaid,
“Spreadyourfeetaccordingtothesizeofthesheet.
EmperorAkbarwasunhappywithhiswifeforsomereason.HeaskedtheQueentogooherparent’s
house.QueenthoughtthattheEmperorwasjusttemporarilyangryandshedecidednottogotoher
parent’shouse.WhenEmperorfoundtheQueenstillinthepalaceheretortedangrily,“youarestillhere!Leavebytomorrowmorningotherwisebepreparedfortheconsequences.Ifyoudesireyou
cantakethethingwhichyoulikethemost”.
Thequeensobbedandwentawaytothewomensectionofthepalace.ShecalledforBirbal.Birbal
Thequeensobbedandwentawaytothewomensectionofthepalace.ShecalledforBirbal.Birbal
arrivedinthepresenceoftheQueen.QueennarratedthedispleasureoftheEmperorandrepeated
theordergivenbyhim.Birbalsuggested,“RespectedQueen,ifKinghasgivenordersyouwillhave
tocomply.Asregardsthethingwhichyoulikethemostfollowmyadvice.TheKing’sdispleasurewill
betakencareof”
AspertheadvicegivenbyBirbal,theQueengavetheEmperorsleepingtabletsandcarriedhimin
AspertheadvicegivenbyBirbal,theQueengavetheEmperorsleepingtabletsandcarriedhimin
sleepingstatealongwithhereinherpalki.Onreachingherparent’shouseshesettledtheEmperorina
welldecoratedbedroom.
WhentheEmperorwokeuphefoundsurroundingsfoundhimselfinstrange.Itastonishedhim.He
WhentheEmperorwokeuphefoundsurroundingsfoundhimselfinstrange.Itastonishedhim.He
calledout, “Isanyonethere?”
TheQueenpresentedherself.SeeingtheQueenthereheunderstoodhewasinhisin-law’shouse.Heaskedwithanger,“Youhavebroughtmehere?Thatisablunder..”
“DearEmperor!YouallowedmetotakewithmewhatIlikedthemost.Remember?AndyouarewhatIlikemost”.
HearingherwordsEmperor’sangerevaporated.Hesmiledandsaid,“IamsureBirbalsuggested
TheQueenpresentedherself.SeeingtheQueenthereheunderstoodhewasinhisin-law’shouse.Heaskedwithanger,“Youhavebroughtmehere?Thatisablunder..”
“DearEmperor!YouallowedmetotakewithmewhatIlikedthemost.Remember?AndyouarewhatIlikemost”.
HearingherwordsEmperor’sangerevaporated.Hesmiledandsaid,“IamsureBirbalsuggested
thistoyou.”
EmperorAkbarandBirbalhadgoneforhunting.Somesoldiersandservantswerewiththem.While
returningtheywerepassingbyavillage.Emperorwaseagertoknowaboutthevillage.Heexpressed
hisdesiretoBirbal.Birbalreplied,“yourHighness,Iknownothingaboutthisvillage.HoweverI
cantalktosomepersonofthevillageandfinoutaboutit”.
Birbalcalledouttoamanandasked,“Ihopeeverthingisalrightinthisvillage?”.
ThatmanrecognizedtheEmperorandsaid,“yourhighness,howcanyouradministrationbelax?”.
“Whatisyourname?”askedEmperor.
“Ganga.”
Whatisyourfather’sName?”
“Jammunaandmymother’snameisSaraswati.”
“Whatisthenameofthisvillage?”
“Yourhighness,Narmada.”
OnhearingthisBirbalclickedhisfingersandsaid“YourHighness,stepaside.Moveforwardonlyif
Birbalcalledouttoamanandasked,“Ihopeeverthingisalrightinthisvillage?”.
ThatmanrecognizedtheEmperorandsaid,“yourhighness,howcanyouradministrationbelax?”.
“Whatisyourname?”askedEmperor.
“Ganga.”
Whatisyourfather’sName?”
“Jammunaandmymother’snameisSaraswati.”
“Whatisthenameofthisvillage?”
“Yourhighness,Narmada.”
OnhearingthisBirbalclickedhisfingersandsaid“YourHighness,stepaside.Moveforwardonlyif
youareinaboatotherwiseinthisvillageofriversthereisdangerofourdrowning.”
Emperorcouldnothelplaughing.
Emperorcouldnothelplaughing.
ThereweremanypeoplewhowerejealousofBirbal.EmperorAkbar’sbrother-in-lawoftentriedtooutwitBirbalbutlost.However,hewouldnotgiveup.BeingthebrotheroftheQueen,
theKingwasunderpressurefromheresideaswell.
Once,thebrother-in-lawassertinghimselftobeintelligentenoughdemandedthepostofDiwan.Birbalwasnotpresentinthe
Once,thebrother-in-lawassertinghimselftobeintelligentenoughdemandedthepostofDiwan.Birbalwasnotpresentinthe
court.EmperorAkbarsaidtohisbrother-in-law,“Inthemorning,fromthebackyardofthepalace,Iheardthewwhimperingofpups.Perhapsthe
bitchhasdeliveredpups.Goandseeifitistrueornot.”
Brother-in-lawwentawayandonreturnsaid,“yourHighness,youarecorrect,thebitchhasdeliveredpups.”
“Ok!Howmanypups?”askedtheEmperor.
“YourHighness,Ididnotcount.”
“GoandCount”
Brother-in-lawwentandonreturnsaid,“yourHighness-fivepups.”
“Howmanymalesandhowmanyfemales?”Emperorinquiredfurther.
“Ididnotbothertofindthat”
“Goandfindout”
OnceagainBrother-in-lawwentandrepliedonreturn,“threeMales,twofemales.”
“Whatisthecolorofmalepups?”
“YourHighness,they….Iwillgoandcheck.”
“Forgetitsitdown,”Emperorsaid.
Brother-in-lawsatdown.AlittlelaterBirbalarrivedinthecourt.Emperorsaid,“BirbaltodaymorningIheard
Brother-in-lawwentawayandonreturnsaid,“yourHighness,youarecorrect,thebitchhasdeliveredpups.”
“Ok!Howmanypups?”askedtheEmperor.
“YourHighness,Ididnotcount.”
“GoandCount”
Brother-in-lawwentandonreturnsaid,“yourHighness-fivepups.”
“Howmanymalesandhowmanyfemales?”Emperorinquiredfurther.
“Ididnotbothertofindthat”
“Goandfindout”
OnceagainBrother-in-lawwentandrepliedonreturn,“threeMales,twofemales.”
“Whatisthecolorofmalepups?”
“YourHighness,they….Iwillgoandcheck.”
“Forgetitsitdown,”Emperorsaid.
Brother-in-lawsatdown.AlittlelaterBirbalarrivedinthecourt.Emperorsaid,“BirbaltodaymorningIheard
thesoundsofpupscomingfromthebackyardofthepalace.Ithinkthebitchhasdeliveredpups.Goand
findoutaboutit.”
“Yes,YourHighness”
Birballeftandreturnafterawhile,“YourHighness,youarecorrect..bitchhasdeliveredpups.”
“Howmanypups?”
“YourHighness-fivepups.”
“Howmanymale..andhowmanyfemale.”
“WhatisthecoloroftheMales?”
“Twoblackandonebrown.”
“Alright,sitdown.”
EmperorAkbarlookedathisbrother-in-law.Hewassittingquietlywithbowedhead.
Emperorinquired,“whatyouhavetosaynow?”
Hewasspeechless.
“Yes,YourHighness”
Birballeftandreturnafterawhile,“YourHighness,youarecorrect..bitchhasdeliveredpups.”
“Howmanypups?”
“YourHighness-fivepups.”
“Howmanymale..andhowmanyfemale.”
“WhatisthecoloroftheMales?”
“Twoblackandonebrown.”
“Alright,sitdown.”
EmperorAkbarlookedathisbrother-in-law.Hewassittingquietlywithbowedhead.
Emperorinquired,“whatyouhavetosaynow?”
Hewasspeechless.
