Helping Hands

A mother, wishing to encourage her son's progress at the piano, bought tickets to a performance by the great Polish pianist Ignace Pade...

The Little Wave

The story is abut a little wave, bobbing along in the ocean, having a grand old time. He's enjoying the wind and the fresh air - until...

A foot has no nose

Of the many interactions I had with my mother those many years ago, one stands out with clarity. I remember the occasion when mother sent m...

The Mouse Trap

A mouse looked through the crack in the wall to see the farmer and his wife open a package. "What food might this contain?" the m...

Testing for Gossip

In ancient Greece, Socrates was reputed to hold knowledge in high esteem. One day an acquaintance met the great philosopher and said, ...

The Fence

There once was a little boy who had a bad temper. His father gave him a bag of nails and told him that every time he lost his temper, he mu...

The Jealous Courtiers

One day Emperor Akbar was inspecting the law and order situation in the kingdom. One of his ministers, who was jealous of Raja Birbal, comp...

Painting By Birbal

Once Akbar told Birbal 'Birbal, make me a painting. Use imagination in it. To which the reply was 'But hoozoor, I am a minister,...

Noble Beggar

Emperor Akbar asked Birbal if it was possible for a man to be the lowest and the noblest at the same time. "It is possible," sa...

Half The Reward

Once when Akbar went hunting in the jungle, he lost his way. Mahesh Das who lived in the outskirts helped the king reach the palace. The em...

Birbal Turns Tables

Emperor Akbar was narrating a dream. The dream began with Akbar and Birbal walking towards each other on a moonless night. It was so dark...

Birbal The Wise

Ram and Sham both claimed ownership of the same mango tree. One day they approached Birbal and asked him to settle the dispute. Birbal ...

Birbal The Servant

One day Akbar and Birbal were riding through the countryside and they happened to pass by a cabbage patch. "Cabbages are such deligh...

Birbal The Child

Birbal arrived late for a function and the emperor was displeased. "My child was crying and I had to placate him," explained th...

Birbal Shortens Road

The Emperor Akbar was traveling to a distant place along with some of his courtiers. It was a hot day and the emperor was tiring of the jou...

Birbal Outwits Cheat

A farmer and his neighbor once went to Emperor Akbar's court with a complaint. "Your Majesty, I bought a well from him," sa...

The distance between one's eyes and one's ears

One day Akbar asked his courtiers if they could tell him the difference between truth and falsehood in three words or less. The courtier...

Birbal Betrays Himself

Birbal was missing. He and the emperor had a quarrel and Birbal had stormed out of the palace vowing never to return. Now Akbar missed hi...

Who Are Donkeys

One fine day, Akbar, accompanied by his two sons and his clever Minister Birbal, went to the river to take a bath. They asked Birbal to h...

Akbar’s Dream

One night, Emperor Akbar dreamt that he had lost all his teeth, except one. The next morning he invited all the astrologers of his kingdom ...

Tit-Bits

Emperor Akbar’s court was famous for its witty question and answer sessions. On one of these occasions, the Emperor asked Birbal if there...

The Cock And The Hen

Since Birbal always outwitted Akbar, Akbar thought of a plan to make Birbal look like a fool. He gave one egg to each of his ministers befo...

Pandit Sevaram

One day a Brahmin by the name of Sevaram asked Birbal for help. He said that his forefathers were great Sanskrit scholars and that people u...

The Wicked Barber’s Plight

As we all know, Birbal was not only Emperor Akbar’s favourite minister but also a minister dearly loved by most of the commoners, because o...

The Three Questions

King Akbar was very fond of Birbal. This made a certain courtier very jealous. Now this courtier always wanted to be chief minister, but th...

Re-Union

One day, when Akbar and Birbal were in discussions, Birbal happened to pass a harmless comment about Akbar’s sense of humour.  But Emperor ...

The Foolish Brahmin

Once upon a time a foolish brahmin came to visit Birbal with a strange request. He wanted to be addressed as ‘pandit’.  Now, the term ‘pand...

Answering A Question With A Question

One day Akbar asked Birbal, "Birbal, can you tell me how many bangles are on your wife's hand?"  Birbal said, "No, Huzoo...

Donkey Insult Reply

Once Akbar went to the river with his two sons and wise Minister Birbal. On the bank of the river, Akbar and his two sons took off their cl...

Birbal Fake Death

One day the court barber, who was very jealous with Birbal, plotted a plan against him. So when the King called him again to trim his beard...

Caught the Thief

It so happened once that once a rich merchant's house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he ...

Birbal Always A Problem Solver

Several courtiers were vying to be the Royal Advisor of Emperor Akbar. So one day, when they came to the court, they said to the Emperor, ...