One day, Akbar said to Birbal, “You can solve any problem in a jiffy. You must be good at painting too.” Birbal said, “No, Your Majesty! I can’t even hold a painting brush.” Akbar angrily said, “I am an art‑lover. You cannot say ‘no’ to me. I want you to imagine and create a painting. It should be ready within a week.” Birbal did not know what to do, but he had no choice. After a week, Birbal walked in with his painting. Akbar was furious when he saw it. He said, “Birbal! There are just a few patches of blue and white. What kind of a painting is this?” Birbal replied, “Your Majesty! You asked me to imagine. I imagined a cow and some grass. The cow ate the grass and went to her shed. All that remains is the sky and the clouds.” Akbar had a hearty laugh.
Birbal’s Painting
