In another story, Akbar once wanted to test Birbal's wisdom. He showed Birbal a line drawn on the floor and asked him to make it shorter without erasing any part of it. Birbal simply drew a longer line beside it. This made the first line look shorter in comparison. Akbar was impressed by Birbal's cleverness.
One story is about Akbar asking Birbal how many crows are there in the city. Birbal quickly replied that there are 99,999 crows. When Akbar asked how he was so sure, Birbal said that if there were more, then the extra crows would be visiting from other places and if there were less, then some of our crows must be visiting other places.
There was also a time when Akbar lost his ring. He suspected one of his servants. Birbal was called to solve the mystery. Birbal asked all the servants to come to the garden and said that the tree under which the thief was standing would shed its leaves. All the servants were made to stand under different trees. The real thief, fearing being caught, shook the tree he was standing under to make it look like the leaves were falling on their own. Birbal easily caught the thief.
Once Akbar and Birbal were taking a walk in the garden. Akbar saw a mango tree full of ripe mangoes. He said to Birbal, 'I want to know how many mangoes are there on this tree without counting them.' Birbal said, 'Your Majesty, there are as many mangoes as there are leaves on the tree.' Akbar was amused and realized Birbal's quick - thinking ability.
One famous Akbar Birbal story is about the 'Three Questions'. Akbar wanted to test Birbal's wisdom. He asked three questions: What is the most precious thing in the world? Who is the most intelligent person? What is the best time? Birbal replied that knowledge is the most precious, the one who learns from everyone is the most intelligent, and the present moment is the best time. His answers impressed Akbar greatly.
Once Akbar lost his ring in the palace. He asked Birbal to find it. Birbal thought for a while and then announced that the thief was the person who had a long nose. All the courtiers started looking at each other's noses. Akbar was confused too. Birbal then said that he just wanted everyone to search themselves. And soon the ring was found in a corner of the room. This shows Birbal's cleverness in solving problems in an interesting way.
Once, Akbar asked Birbal, 'Birbal, how many stars are there in the sky?' Birbal quickly replied, 'Just as many as the hairs on your Majesty's beard.' Akbar was amused and satisfied with this clever answer.
One well - known story is about the ring. Akbar lost his precious ring in the palace. He asked Birbal to find it. Birbal announced that the person who stole the ring would be identified by a magic mirror the next day. He also secretly placed a box with a hole in the middle of the palace yard. Everyone was made to pass by it. The thief, fearing detection by the mirror, put the ring in the box while passing by to get rid of it. Thus Birbal found the ring cleverly.
One story is that Akbar once asked Birbal how many crows were in his kingdom. Birbal quickly replied, 'There are ninety - five thousand four hundred and sixty - three crows in the kingdom.' When Akbar was surprised and asked how he could be so sure, Birbal said, 'If there are more, then some crows must have come from other kingdoms to visit. If there are less, then some of our crows must be visiting other kingdoms.'
Sure. Once Akbar asked Birbal, 'How many crows are there in the city?' Birbal quickly replied, 'There are 50,589 crows, Your Majesty.' Akbar was surprised and asked, 'How can you be so sure?' Birbal said, 'If there were more, then the extra crows would be visiting from other places. If there were less, then the crows from our city would be visiting other places.'
Akbar once told Birbal that he wanted to know what the most precious thing in the world was. Birbal thought for a while and said, 'Your Majesty, knowledge is the most precious thing. Because with knowledge, one can gain all other things like wealth, power and respect.' Akbar was very impressed with this answer and rewarded Birbal. This shows how Birbal's wisdom was not only in solving puzzles but also in giving profound thoughts.
Akbar and Birbal had a story where Akbar drew a line on the floor and challenged Birbal to make it shorter without erasing it. Birbal simply drew a longer line beside it. By comparison, the first line looked shorter. This shows Birbal's cleverness in solving problems in an unconventional way.
One day, Akbar lost his ring in the palace garden. He was very upset. He called Birbal and told him about it. Birbal went to the garden, came back and said, 'Your Majesty, the ring is not lost. It is just that the garden has swallowed it for a while.' Akbar was confused. Birbal then ordered the gardener to dig at a particular spot. There, they found the ring. Birbal had noticed the gardener acting suspiciously and guessed he might have found the ring and hidden it.