(11.3.8) Tinke Kaa Sahara (Akbar- Birbal Stories)

Birbal and a piece of straw (Akbar -Birbal Story)

One day the emperor Akbar, with his Security guards and courtiers, was boating in the river. When the boat reached in the middle of the river, Akbar thought of a joke. Showing a straw, he said,"Whoever of you will cross the river with the help of this straw, I will make him the Badshah of Delhi for one day." The courtiers looked at each other's faces. Then Birbal said," I can do this, but after becoming emperor."
Emperor Akbar said,"Well, for today, I declare you the emperor. The regime, the palace and the bodyguards etc. are yours for today. Assume this piece of straw as a royal scepter. Now cross the river with the help of the straw." Saying so Akbar gave the straw to Birbal.  Birbal took the straw in his hand but before jumping, he said to the security guards,"At this moment I am the emperor. You have to fulfill your duty to the emperor."
When Birbal began to jump into the river, the security guards stopped him from doing so and said,"You are our emperor. It is our duty to save you." 
Birbal asked them not to stop him from jumping into the river but they did not act upon his advice. Meanwhile, the boat reached the bank of the river.
Then the king said," Birbal, You're lost." 
"No,I have not lost, your majesty," Birbal said," I have crossed the river only with the help of the piece of straw. If the piece of straw were not with me, why would the bodyguards stop me from jumping into the river. And I would have certainly drowned in the river."
Akbar praised Birbal's cleverness and said,'You have really won, Birbal."
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(11.3.7) Jhuth Aur Sach Ka Antar (Akbar-Birbal stories)

The Difference Between a Lie and Truth (Akbar - Birbal Stories)

One day the Emperor, Akbar asked Birbal,"Can you tell me, what is the difference between the lie and the truth?"
Birbal replied,"Sir, the difference, that is between the ear and the eye, the same is the difference between the lie and truth."
"How's that?" Akbar wanted to know.
Birbal replied,"Sir, what the eyes see is true and and the things what the ears hear, is false."
Akbar liked the answer. Akbar praised the Birbal's reply.
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(11.3.6) Hatheli Par Baal Kyon Nahin (Akbar-Birbal Stories)

Why is there no Hair on the Palm (Akbar - Birbal Stories)

One day Emperor Akbar thought of a joke and said to Birbal,"Why is there no hair on my palm?" 
Birbal answered,"Sir, you always give some thing or the other in charity (donate some thing or the other ) to the poor and the needy with your hands, that's why, hair does not last (remain or stay) on your palm." 
Then Akbar asked another question,"Okay, but why is there no hair on your palm ( but why do your palms have no hair)?" 
Birbal replied," Sir, these hands of mine get charity throughout the year  from you, so there is no hair on my palm." 
"Well, we assume it so, but why do all the courtiers have no hair on their palms?" Akbar asked. 
Birbal replied,"Sir, it is simple to understand - You give me charity and I take it but these poor courtiers get nothing, they only rub their hands. So there is no hair on their palms." 
Hearing the wise and clever answer, Akbar was very much pleased with Birbal and praised him for his wit.
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(11.3.4) Badshahi Mahabharat (Akbar-Birbal Stories)

Imperial Mahabharat (Akbar - Birbal stories)

Akbar once wished that like the Mahabharata, 'Badshahi Mahabharata' should also be written, so that the forthcoming generations may know about him and his achievements.

So Akbar revealed his wish to Birbal and handed over him the task of writing the Badshahi Mahabharat. Birbal asked for (demanded) some money and  a period of six months for completing the task. Akbar accepted Birbal's request. Birbal took money from the royal treasury and spent it on the religious activities and donations. Five months later, Birbal went to Akbar with a bundle of blank papers and said,"Sir, Badshahi Mahabharat is almost ready(completed), but there is also a female character in it. So I will have  to ask some things to Begum Sahiba."
After getting the emperor's permission, Birbal went to the Begum Sahiba and said,"Badshah has asked me to write the Badshahi Mahabharat. It is almost ready. I have brought it with me, but there are some things which I can write with your permission only."
"The Begum asked,"What do you want to know ?"
Birbal said,"As you know, Droupadi was the heroine of  the Mahabharata and she had five husbands. You are the heroine of this Badshahi Mahabharat, so tell me who are the other four husbands of yours besides the Badshah Akbar?"  "And the second thing is that in the Mahabharata, Dusshashan, in full court, ripped the sari of Draupadi and the Pandavas (her five husbands) had to bear the humiliation. In same way, tell me the name of  the person who had done such type of wrong thing to you."
Hearing it, Begum Sahiba lost her temper. She took the bundle of papers form the hands of Birbal and ordered the maidens to burn it. The maidens followed the order of Begum Sabhiba.
Birbal went to Akbar empty handed and told him the whole incident. Akbar felt ashamed and gave up the intention of getting the Badashahi Mahabharat written.

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(11.3.2) Unt kee Gardan Tedhi Kyon

Why is the Camel's Neck crooked ?

Once the emperor Akbar was pleased with Birbal and promised to give him an Estate (Jagir). But even after several days Akbar did not give him the Estate. Birbal reminded Akbar of it once or twice. But Akbar did not pay any attention to what he (Birbal) said and started some other topic.

One day Akbar and Birbal were going somewhere. At that time they saw a camel there. Seeing the camel, Akber asked,"Birbal, why is the camel's neck crooked?" 

Birbal wanted to take advantage of the opportunity, so  he said," Sir, excuse me. This camel might have promised to give a Jagir to someone in his previous  life but  he might have forgotten to honour his promise. Perhaps, this is the reason of the camel's crooked neck." 

Akbar understood the intention of Birbal and fulfilled his promise by giving the Jagir to Birbal.
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