Short Stories Of Birbal - I

Some stories of witty Birbal (Veer-Var in Hindi).

Akbar meets Birbal

Emperor Akbar was fond of hunting, even as a child he would miss his lessons and his tutors in order to go riding and hunting. And as a result he grew up into a better rider and fearless hunter. One day chasing a tiger, Akbar and few brave soldiers had gone a long distance from the royal capital at Agra, and as evening came, they realised that they were lost. They were hot, dusty and tired, riding slowly they reached a place where three roads met. Ah! at last, we see the road", said the emperor, he asked his courtiers "Which way shall we go? Which road goes to Agra?"

The road all looked the same. It was hard to decide which road led to Agra. The men looked at each other. they looked at the road. Then they looked at the dust beneath their horses' hooves. Nobody said a word.
Just then a young man came walking down one of the roads. Glad, to see someone on the road, the courtiers called him and ordered him to come forward. He did so, looking up at the richly-dressed hunters with bright, curious eyes. "Tell us, which road goes to Agra?" said the emperor Akbar.

The young man began to smile. "Huzoor, everybody knows that roads can not move. How can this road go to Agra, or go anywhere else?" he said, and he chuckled delightedly at his own joke.

There was absolutely silence. The emperor stared down at the youth. His soldiers held their breath. They knew the emperor's temper. Not one of them dared to say a single word. "People travel", the boy went on, not seeming to notice the ominous silence, "roads,don't do they?"

"No, they don't," the emperor cried suddenly and began to laugh. Nervously, his soldiers began to laugh too. The youth ignored them and continued to look at the emperor with twinkling eyes. "What's your name?" emperor asked the youth. "Mahesh Das", he said, he replied. "And what is your name Hazoor?"
The emperor pulled off an enormous emerald ring which he wore on his hand. leaning down, he gave it to the young man.
You are speaking to Akbar, emperor of Hindustan", he said. "We need fearless young men such as you at our court, Mahesh Das. Bring this ring with you when you come, and I shall recognise and remember you. And now, show us the way in order to go to Agra."
Mahesh Das bowed low and pointed towards the capital. The emperor turned his horse and galloped away, followed by his courtiers. Mahesh Das watched until a bend in the road hid them from his sight.

Birbal got his name

After few years Mahesh Das decided to travel to emperor's court at Agra to seek his fortune. He had finished his studies and was ready to face the world. When he arrived at Agra, he walked through the bazaar of Agra, big havelis in which Nobles lived, it was all very confusing for a lad who have lived in the village. But Mahesh was no ordinary individual, he carried the emperor's ring in a bag and looked around with interest. By evening he reached the massive fort of emperor of Hindustan which was on the bank of river Yamuna. The huge wooden gate was open and important-looking people hurried in and out. Though Mahesh was a brave boy but he felt very small as he neared the enormous studded gate of the fort. Two guards stood outside holding the spears in their muscular hands. Mahesh went to them and said, "I have come to meet the emperor. he invited me to his court."

"Ho!" said the sentry, looking at the Mahesh's dusty feet and simple cotton clothes. "So the emperor invited you to his durbar, did he? To the Diwan-i-Khas, no doubt, the hall of Private Audience, where he meets high-ranking nobles!" A few passer by stopped to watch, smiling at the simple village lad's embarrassment.

"Perhaps", answered Mahesh Das with bold voice though he was frightened from inside. "And I have his ring to prove it." He took out the ring from his bag which emperor Akbar gave him. "Oh!", said the guards, in sudden doubt.

"That's no ordinary ring, sorry to have lost an opportunity to bully and tease you. I'll let you go in on one condition, said one of the guard, When you see the emperor, he will sure give you a gift. I'll let you in if you swear to give me half of whatever the emperor gives you."

People standing by began to murmur. They knew the greedy ways of the guard and wondered how the young man would deal with him. But their surprise Mahesh agreed to the guards condition without making any arguments or bargains. The guard said again threateningly, "don't forget or I'll make you feel very very sorry."

Mahesh nodded and said, "I won't forget," and walked in to the fort.

Emperor Akbar was in his Diwan-i-Aam, the hall of public Audience. Lamps lit up the carvings on the wall and rich carpets were spread on the floor. The great pillared hall was full of courtiers dressed in their finest and most beautifully woven clothes. But Mahesh Das had eye only for the emperor, who sat grandly on a platform at the far end of the hall. Bowing low, he made his way towards the throne. The courtiers murmured to each other in surprise. Who could this be? But emperor happened to glance up. He recognised the young man at once and asked him to come forward. "I remember you, Mahesh Das," said the emperor. "And I am pleased that you have come. Ask for anything your heart desires and it shall be yours."

"Jahanpanah is most gracious," Mahesh Das answered. "If Hazoor pleases, my dearest wish is to be given fifty lashes of the whip!"

"Mad, the boy must be mad," people whispered to each other. But the emperor liked the bright, straight forward look in his eyes and he said, "Before we grant this strange wish you must tell us the reason for asking such a gift."

Mahesh Das bowed once again and said, " The sentry who guards the Jahapanah's fort permitted me to come in only on one condition that i will give him half of the gift which I receive from you. And I promised him to share it with him. I'm ready to bear twenty-five lashes, in order to share this with the guard."

When Akbar heard this, he grew angry. "Are our people to be kept away by a greedy wicked guard? he thundered. "Send for that greedy guard."

The guard was sentenced to the entire gift of fifty lashes and never again tied to bully people who sought an audience with the emperor. And Mahesh Das was given a place at the court, with all the comforts that went with it. "We confer on you the title Raja Birbal for this day on," the emperor Akbar declared. "And you shall stay near us and amuse and guide us henceforth!" said the emperor.

Since then Mahesh Das got his name 'Birbal'.

Why is the Camel's Neck Crooked?

As you all know, Emperor Akbar was very impressed with Birbal’s wisdom and greatly enjoyed his quick wit. One fine morning when Akbar was especially pleased with Birbal, as a gesture of appreciation, he promised to reward him with many valuable and beautiful gifts.
However, many days passed, and still there was no sign of even one gift. Birbal was quite disappointed with the king. Then one day, when Akbar was strolling down the banks of River Yamuna with his ever faithful Birbal at his side, he happened to notice a camel passing by. He asked Birbal why the neck of the camel was crooked. Birbal thought for a second and promptly replied that it might be because the camel may have forgotten to honour a promise. The holy books mention that those who break their word get punished with a crooked neck; perhaps that was the reason for the camel’s crooked neck.
Akbar soon realised his folly of making a promise to Birbal for gifts and not honouring it. He was ashamed of himself. As soon as they returned to the palace he immediately gave Birbal his justly deserved reward. As you can see, Birbal always managed to get what he wanted without directly asking for it.