Once Birbal had got late to reach the court and this worried Akbar as Birbal was usually on time. In fact, he used to be the first one to reach the court. So, Akbar called a servant and ordered him to see where Birbal was. The servant bowed down and left.
After a few moments, the servant came back. Akbar was surprised to see him back so soon. He asked the servant, “What happened? Why are you back so soon?” The servant replied, “O Lord of the world, I was on my way to Birbal’s home, but I saw him walking towards the court. That was why I turned back and came to inform you.”
Akbar then waited for Birbal to come to him. When Birbal reached the court, Akbar asked, “I have learnt that you came walking today. What is the reason? What happened to your horses?”
Birbal replied, “Your Majesty, my wife and other relatives have taken the horses to visit an aunt. That is why I had to come to the palace on foot. And please pardon me for getting late today.”
Akbar instantly called the stable by and ordered him to get a new horse for Birbal. Actually, the stable boy was one of those people in Akbar’s kingdom who were very jealous of Birbal. So out of jealousy, the stable boy gave Birbal a horse which was old and the weakest of all. Also, the horse had been sick for the past many days. It was so sick that it took a lot of time to reach Birbal’s house.
Unfortunately, the same night the horse passed away. And the next day, Akbar found Birbal walking again. The Emperor again asked what happened to the new horse he had got. Birbal said, “Your Majesty, the horse I had got was so fast that last night he went straight ahead and ran to heaven.”
Akbar was able to make out that the stable boy did not have good intentions and he gave the weakest horse to Birbal on purpose. He ordered the servant to summon the stable boy. When the stable boy came, the Emperor was so furious that he pronounced punishment of a hundred lashes for the stable boy. The stable boy panicked and fell into the feet of Akbar while crying, and asked for forgiveness. But the emperor was stuck on his decision. He said, “How dare you do such a thing? As per my orders, Birbal should have been given the best horse by you. But you cheated. That is why you should be lashed a 100 times.”
But Birbal intervened and asked Akbar to forgive him. The stable boy realized his mistake and apologised to him. The next day, he gave the fittest horse to Birbal.
