The Musical Genius Famous musicians once gathered at Akbar’s court for a competition. The one who could capture a bull’s interest was to be declared the winner. One by one, they played the most heavenly music but the bull paid no attention. Then Birbal took...
The Sadhu Akbar came to the throne when he was only thirteen years old. In the years that followed, he built one of the greatest empires of his time. He lived in unimaginable splendor. He was surrounded by courtiers who agreed with every word he...
The Sharpest Shield and Sword A man who made spears and shields once came to Akbar’s court. “Your Majesty, nobody can make shields and spears to equal mine,” he said. “My shields are so strong that nothing can pierce them and my spears are so...
The True King The King of Iran had heard that Birbal was one of the wisest men in the East and desirous of meeting him sent him an invitation to visit his country. In due course, Birbal arrived in Iran. When he entered the palace...
Back to Square One As usual, a lot of people were present in Akbar’s durbar. A famous astrologer had come from a faraway country. He was talking about the Solar System and the Earth’s shape. At one point Akbar said, “If the earth is round,...
The Well Dispute Once there was a complaint at King Akbar’s court. There were two neighbours who shared their garden. In that garden, there was a well that was possessed by Iqbal khan. His neighbour, who was a farmer wanted to buy the well for...
The Wooden Bowl A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year-old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather’s shaky hands and failing...
The White Elephant Once upon a time, there lived a herd of eighty thousand elephants at the bottom of the majestic Himalayas. Their leader was a magnificent and rare white elephant who was an extremely kind-hearted soul. He greatly loved his mother who had grown...
The Ship of Friendship A voyaging ship was wrecked during a storm at sea and only two of the men on it were able to swim to a small, desert-like island. The two survivors who have been good friends, not knowing what else to do,...
The Praying Hands Back in the fifteenth century, in a tiny village near Nuremberg, lived a family with eighteen children. Eighteen! In order merely to keep food on the table for this mob, the father and head of the household, a goldsmith by profession, worked...
