A WISE COUNTING

Emperor Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his countries. He often asked questions which were strange and witty. It took much wisdom to answer these questions.

Once he asked a very strange question. The countries were dumb folded by his question.

Akbar glanced his courtier. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Birbal entered the courtyard.

Birbal was the wittiest of all courtiers. He looked at his fellow courtiers who were deeply engrossed in their thoughts. Then he bowed humbly in front of Akbar and asked, “My lord! Can I know what has made my fellow courtiers so thoughtful?” Akbar replied, “I just asked them a question. They are blinking for an answer”.

Birbal, who knew the nature of the emperor quickly grasped the situation and asked, “May I know the question so that I can try for an answer”.

Akbar said, “How many crows are there in this city?” Without even a moment’s thought, Birbal replied “There are fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine crows, my lord”.

“How can you be so sure?” asked Akbar.

Birbal said, “Make your men count, My lord. If you find more crows it means some have come to visit their relatives here. If you find less crows it means some have gone to visit their relatives elsewhere”. Akbar was pleased very much by Birbal’s wit.

MORAL: A WITTY ANSWER WILL SERVE ITS PURPOSE.