One night, when the winter season was at its peak, Akbar and Birbal were roaming around in the palace. It was very chilly. A thought struck Birbal’s mind. He said, “Majesty, I believe that a man can do anything for the sake of money.” But the Emperor disagreed with him.
They were passing by a pond; Akbar dipped his hand into the cold water. He asked Birbal, “Do you think that a man can stand in this cold water whole night for money?”
“Of course! I can find one, if you say,” said Birbal. Akbar accepted the challenge. “If any man is able to pass a night in the icy cold water, I shall give him one thousand gold coins,” said Akbar.
The next day, Birbal brought a poor and lean man to the court. That man was ready to stand in the pond. The Emperor said, “Very well! Birbal, escort this man to the pond. And if he succeeds, I will reward him as I promised.”
The man and Birbal left. But Akbar sent his guards after the man to ensure he didn’t cheat. To Akbar’s surprise, the man completed the challenge.
The next morning, the man returned to the palace to claim his reward. Akbar asked the man how he managed to stand in the cold water. The man said, “Your Majesty, I saw a lamp-post at a distance. I kept looking at it and its heat made me complete the challenge.”
Akbar got furious and refused to reward the man saying, “That means you were not completely in the cold water. Hence, you will not receive the reward.”
The man left the court with disappointment. Birbal was surprised at the Emperor’s action. The next day, he didn’t come to the court. Akbar got worried. He sent a courtier to bring Birbal.
The courtier came back and told Akbar that Birbal was cooking Khichri and would be back only after eating it. He waited for Birbal till evening, but he was nowhere to be seen. As the Emperor grew impatient, he himself went to look for Birbal at his house.
When he reached Birbal’s house, he saw that a pot was hung almost 10 feet high and fire was burning at the ground. Akbar was confused and asked Birbal what he was doing. When Birbal said that he was cooking Khichri, Akbar burst into laughter.
“The pot won’t get enough heat. You will sit here for weeks but this khichri won’t cook,” said Akbar. Birbal replied, “Majesty, when this pot can’t get heat from a distance of 10 feet, how could the man get heat from a lamp-post which is very far away?”
Akbar understood what Birbal was trying to tell him. The next day, he summoned the man and gave his due reward.
