Akbar never got tired of asking Birbal different witty questions. Birbal also made sure that his answers satisfied and amused his Emperor. By now, everyone in the court knew that there was no question whose answer Birbal didn’t know.
So one fine evening, Akbar asked Birbal, “Everyone is aware of how smart and witty you are. Prove to them your intelligence once again. Let me ask you a question. Answer me correctly. Birbal replied, “Why not, Your Majesty. I would love to do that for you.”
Akbar then asked, “Tell me, Birbal, how many bangles your wife wears.” Birbal was quite stunned at the question as he had no answer. He said, “Your Majesty! This is not a tough question, but it is certainly tough to answer it. And I would honestly tell you that I don’t know the answer to this question.”
Akbar was surprised to hear that his favourite minister did not have an answer to his question. All the courtiers were shocked as Birbal was the most intelligent person they had ever seen. Akbar laughed and said, “This is amusing and interesting at the same time that my most intelligent minister does not have an answer to my simple question. Haven’t you noticed your wife’s bangles? She serves you food daily.”
Birbal replied, “Your Majesty, I would like to give you an answer to this question. But first, I would request you to come with me in the garden.” Akbar agreed, so they both went to the garden. Akbar asked, “Birbal, why have you brought me here? Were you hesitating to answer the question in the presence of all courtiers?”
Birbal said, “No, Your Majesty. It is not so. Please answer a question of mine. We used the stairs to reach the garden. Can you tell me how many stairs we climbed down?”
Akbar was confused and couldn’t say anything. Birbal continued and said, “Your Majesty, we use these stairs every day. You should be able to answer this simple question. But Akbar said that he didn’t know the answer.
Thereupon Birbal said, “Your Majesty, I know it is not easy to answer this question. We may witness such things every day, but we don’t give them much importance. And also, one shouldn’t ask a question whose answer one doesn’t know.” Akbar understood what Birbal was trying to convey. So, he dismissed the question and both of them went back to the court.
