There is a story where Akbar wanted to test the intelligence of his courtiers. He put a line on the floor and asked them to make it shorter without erasing any part of it. While others were confused, Birbal simply drew a longer line beside it. By comparison, the first line seemed shorter. Akbar realized Birbal's cleverness yet again.
Jodha Akbar's story is about the great Mughal emperor Akbar and his marriage to Jodha. Akbar was known for his religious tolerance. His marriage to Jodha, a Rajput princess, was a significant step in building relations between the Mughals and the Rajputs. This union brought together different cultures. Akbar respected Jodha's beliefs and traditions, which in turn influenced his policies towards different religions in his vast empire.
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 story about Akbar is his relationship with Birbal. Akbar was known for his wisdom, but Birbal was equally clever. Once, Akbar asked Birbal how many crows were in his kingdom. Birbal quickly replied that there were 99,999 crows. When Akbar asked how he could be so sure, Birbal said that if there were more, then some crows must be visiting from other kingdoms, and if there were less, then some of his crows must be visiting other places.
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 got angry with his courtiers for some minor mistake. He wanted to punish them severely. Birbal came forward and said, 'Your Majesty, if you cut the branches of the tree (the courtiers), the tree (the kingdom) will not be able to grow properly. Forgive them and guide them instead.' Akbar, after thinking for a while, followed Birbal's advice and the courtiers were very grateful to Birbal for saving them.
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.
The most famous one might be the story about weighing the elephant. Akbar got an elephant as a gift and wanted to know its weight. His wise men were clueless. But Birbal had a brilliant idea. He got a boat, made the elephant stand in it and marked the water level. Then he removed the elephant and filled the boat with stones until the water reached the same mark. Then they weighed the stones and that was the weight of the elephant.
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.