One morning, Akbar was not in a good mood. He looked tense. The news spread like wildfire around the palace. So, all the courtiers, servants, guards and the ministers maintained distance from Akbar.
When Birbal entered the palace, he was also told about the Emperor’s bad mood. Birbal straightaway went to Akbar and asked, “Your Majesty, is anything wrong with you? I have learnt that you are not in a pleasant mood today.”
Akbar replied, “Birbal, I am certainly not happy today. I had a dream last night and I don’t have good feelings about it.” Birbal asked, “What did you see in the dream, my lord? Tell me so that I may help you.”
Akbar said, “I saw that I have lost all my teeth. Only a tooth is left in my mouth. Once, a saint told me that all dreams have hidden meanings. I want to know what it means. Or else, it will keep on troubling me.”
Birbal suggested the Emperor to consult an astrologer who knows about dreams. Akbar liked the idea and said, “Very well said, Birbal. I am happy with your suggestion. Now the first thing you should do right now is to call all the best astrologers living in our capital. Remember, that it shouldn’t take very long.” Birbal bowed down before the Emperor and left to gather the best of astrologers as per the Emperor’s instructions.
After a few hours, Birbal came back with the astrologers. Akbar was very happy to see that his favourite minister never failed to carry out his orders. Birbal asked all astrologers to listen to the Emperor.
Akbar said to the astrologers, “O great astrologers! I need your help. Last night, I saw a dream which is troubling me. I am unable to understand the meaning of. Since all of you have great knowledge of dreams, please throw some light on the dream of mine. I saw that I lost all my teeth except one.”
All astrologers did their calculations. Some opened their books and some discussed their individual theories among themselves. They took some time to reach one conclusion. Then, one astrologer got up and said, “Your Majesty, as per our knowledge about dreams, it means that all your relatives will die before you.”
It angered Akbar even more. He was not at all happy with the conclusion. Akbar sent them back without any rewards. But Birbal knew how to calm Akbar down. He said, “O lord, your dream means that you will live longer and prosper much more than your relatives.” This made Akbar feel happy and he showered gifts on Birbal.
