Akbar always praised Birbal for his wit and intelligence. Because of this, one courtier was very jealous of Birbal. He told Akbar, “I have three questions for Birbal. If he answers correctly, I will accept that he is intelligent.” Akbar agreed. The jealous courtier asked Birbal, “Where is the centre of the Earth?” Birbal said, “My home is the centre of the Earth.” The courtier asked, “How many stars are there in the sky?” Birbal brought a sheep and replied, “The number of stars equals the number of hair on this sheep. Count them yourself.” Taken aback by the prompt replies, the jealous courtier asked, “How many men and women are there in the world?” To this, Birbal replied, “The exact number can be reached only if all the jealous people of the world, including you, are left out.” Akbar chuckled in amusement and ordered the jealous courtier to leave at once.
Three Witty Answers
