One of the best Akbar Birbal stories is about the 'wise judgment'. A merchant and a poor man were arguing over a purse. Akbar asked Birbal to solve it. Birbal dipped his hand into the purse and said the merchant who claimed it was new must be lying as his hand got a coin with an old design. This shows Birbal's quick thinking.
In another story, Akbar once drew a line on the floor and asked his courtiers to shorten it without touching it. Everyone was puzzled but Birbal simply drew a longer line beside it. By comparison, the first line seemed shorter. This shows Birbal's out - of - the - box thinking.
One of the famous stories is about the wise Birbal's solution to measure the length of a large pond. Akbar asked his courtiers how to do it. While others were clueless, Birbal had a clever idea. He made the fish in the pond swim in a line from one end to the other, and then measured the length of the fish line which was equal to the length of the pond.
One famous story is when Akbar asked Birbal to build a palace in the air. Birbal didn't seem fazed. He told the king that it would be done but he needed some time. After a while, he told Akbar that the palace was ready but only people who had no greed in their hearts could see it. Akbar, realizing his own greed at times, understood Birbal's point.
Akbar regarded Birbal as an important part of his court. Birbal's role was not only to give advice but also to amuse Akbar with his clever stories and solutions. Their relationship was based on mutual respect, with Akbar relying on Birbal's wisdom to make better decisions in various matters.
One well - known story is when Akbar asked Birbal to measure the length of a river. Birbal took a stick and made a mark on it at the water level at one bank. Then he walked to the other bank and again made a mark on the stick where the water reached. He said the length between the two marks was the length of the river. Akbar was impressed by this simple yet smart solution.
The story of the ring is also well - known. Akbar lost his precious ring and suspected his servants. Birbal came up with a plan. He announced that the person who stole the ring would have a long nose. All the servants were made to pass in front of a mirror. The thief, fearing that his nose would actually grow long, confessed. Birbal's clever plan saved the day.
One interesting story is when Akbar asked Birbal to measure the length of a road without using any measuring tools. Birbal thought for a moment and then said, 'Your Majesty, I will count my steps as I walk along the road.' Akbar was impressed by his simple yet effective solution.
The Akbar and Birbal short stories also imply that wisdom is more powerful than brute force. Birbal didn't use any physical strength or coercion to achieve his goals. Instead, he relied on his intelligence, quick thinking, and understanding of human nature, like when he found the ring by outsmarting the thief.
Some popular names are 'The Clever Birbal', 'Birbal's Wisdom', 'Akbar and Birbal's Encounters'.
There was a time when Akbar lost his ring. He suspected his servants. Birbal came and said he knew who had the ring. He called all the servants together and said, 'The ring is with a thief. And the thief has a straw in his nose.' All the servants started looking at each other's noses. One servant unconsciously touched his nose. Birbal pointed at him and said he was the thief. It turned out he was right.
There is also a story where Akbar lost his ring in the garden. He asked Birbal to find it. Birbal announced that the ring was with someone who had a long nose. Everyone in the court started looking at each other. Then Birbal said that the only person with a long nose in the court was Akbar himself as he was the king and his nose was like the trunk of an elephant in terms of importance. And Akbar found the ring on his own finger.