The Wit of Birbal – Between The Lines

Jealousy in the Court

In the court of Akbar the Great, Birbal had a friend who was also a courtier. While Birbal rose high in the Emperor’s esteem and earned praise for his wit and cleverness, the other courtier performed routine duties and saw no advancement in his career. This imbalance filled the courtier with envy, and he sought an opportunity to take revenge on Birbal.

A Test of Wit

One day, Akbar looked at his courtiers and asked, “Can there be an inner meaning to words that are purposeless?”

Birbal replied, “Yes, there can be.”

The jealous courtier thought this was his chance to belittle Birbal. He declared, “How can that be? Words that are purposeless and nonsensical can have no inner meaning.”

Akbar looked inquiringly at Birbal, who then responded, “Very well. Let my friend speak at random, and I will find meaning in his words.”

Birbal’s Quick Insight

At once, the courtier said, “The man who was not born of his parents assaulted them while drunk.”

The other courtiers crowded around to hear how Birbal would respond. He replied swiftly, “Normally, no man ever assaults his parents. If he were to do that, we would question whether he was indeed born of those parents. Should he assault them while drunk, we are certain those parents could not have spawned such a person. In other words, breeding tells in men and animals.”

Akbar clapped his hands in joyous acclaim of Birbal’s interpretation, which only incited further ire from the envious courtier.

More Challenges

The courtier shot back, “The king went on a hunt. A bird saw him from its nest and disappeared into the water.”

Birbal succinctly explained, “The king shot the bird with his arrow, and it fell into the waters of the river.”

Once again, applause echoed through the court, delighting the nobles, but the courtier remained undeterred. He posed another challenge: “For lack of enough grass, the donkey kicked the lion.”

Birbal smiled and said, “The lion is the King of the Beasts, and the donkey is its servant. If grass was lacking, it meant that the lion did not reward the donkey enough for its services. That is why the donkey kicked the lion. In other words, the lion is our King, and the donkey represents my friend, the courtier. His grass, or salary, is insufficient, leading him to contemplate attacking the King. That is the meaning I glean from these words.”

The Final Revelation

When the jealous courtier heard this remarkable explanation, he was genuinely surprised. He had not expected his words to be returned to him with such deep insight. Birbal had accurately guessed his discontent. Naturally, he had to protest and declare his loyalty to the King.

The court erupted in laughter at the courtier’s discomfiture, with the Emperor himself rewarding Birbal handsomely for his wisdom.