In one instance, Akbar wanted to test Birbal's wisdom. He asked Birbal to build a palace using only two things - ice and sand. Birbal accepted the challenge. He made a beautiful ice - sand palace by using ice blocks as the main structure and sand to fill the gaps. However, as the sun rose, the ice started to melt. Akbar was about to scold Birbal when Birbal said, 'Your Majesty, this shows that things made with temporary materials are not long - lasting, just like false friendships.' Akbar was impressed with the moral lesson hidden in Birbal's act.
Another story is that Akbar once told Birbal to find a ring that he had lost. Birbal announced in the court that the person who had found the ring would get a big reward. Then he whispered to Akbar, 'Your Majesty, I found the ring.' Akbar was surprised. Birbal explained that by offering a reward, the real thief would be too scared to come forward as he would fear being caught for stealing. And as no one else could have found it, it means it was not really lost but misplaced by Akbar himself.
Another story is that Akbar once drew a line on the floor and asked Birbal to make it shorter without erasing any part of it. Birbal simply drew a longer line beside it. Akbar was confused at first, but then realized that Birbal had made his line seem shorter in comparison.
There was a time when Akbar got angry with Birbal and banished him from the court. After a while, Akbar missed Birbal's company. So he sent a message to Birbal saying that he should return if he could bring a gift that satisfies three conditions: it should be something that can be seen but not touched, it should be something that can be eaten but not digested, and it should be something that can be felt but not held. Birbal came back with a lighted lamp. Akbar could see the light but not touch it, the heat from the lamp could be felt but not held and the oil in the lamp could be 'eaten' by the flame but not digested. Akbar was so impressed that he welcomed Birbal back with great joy.
Akbar once said to Birbal, 'Birbal, can you make me laugh without saying a word?' Birbal nodded. He then started making the funniest faces. His eyes bulged out, his nose twitched, and his mouth twisted into all sorts of odd shapes. Akbar couldn't help but burst into laughter at Birbal's comical expressions.
Once Akbar and Birbal were walking in the garden. Akbar said, 'Birbal, can you show me a miracle?' Birbal then pointed at a mango tree and said, 'Your Majesty, that tree will bow to you.' As Akbar walked closer, Birbal climbed the tree and bent a branch down. Akbar was amused by Birbal's quick - wittedness.
There was a time when Akbar and Birbal were walking in the garden. Akbar saw a mango tree full of ripe mangoes. He asked Birbal to count all the mangoes without touching any. Birbal thought for a while and then said, 'Your Majesty, there are as many mangoes as there are hairs on your beard.' Akbar laughed as he knew it was an impossible task to count the hairs on his beard and thus count the mangoes too.
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.
There is a story where Akbar wanted to test Birbal's wisdom. He put a long stick in a well and asked Birbal to measure the length of the stick without taking it out. Birbal simply measured the length of the part of the stick outside the well and then calculated the total length using the depth of the well. In another instance, Akbar was feeling sad and asked Birbal to make him laugh. Birbal told a very funny story about a king who tried to ride a donkey backwards and ended up falling into a pond. Akbar couldn't help but laugh.
One story is about the test of wisdom. Akbar put a line on the floor and asked Birbal to make it shorter without erasing it. Birbal simply drew a longer line beside it, making the first one seem shorter. This shows Birbal's quick thinking.
One story is about the wise Birbal solving the mystery of the missing royal ring. A servant was wrongly accused. Birbal noticed a crow near the window. He deduced that the crow took the ring to build its nest. He found the ring in the crow's nest and saved the innocent servant.