Chapter :

Emperor Akbar loved going on hunting trips. One day, while on one of these trips, he met a young man named Mahesh Das. Mahesh Das was quick-witted and clever, and Akbar was very impressed by him. As a token of his appreciation, the Emperor gave Mahesh Das his ring and invited him to visit his palace whenever he wished.

A few years later, Mahesh Das decided to take the Emperor up on his offer. He traveled to the city of Agra, where Emperor Akbar had his fort by the Yamuna River. When Mahesh Das arrived at the fort gates, the guards stopped him. He told them he had come to see the Emperor, but they looked down on him because he was not well-dressed and asked why they should let him in. Mahesh Das showed them the ring given to him by the Emperor as proof.

One of the guards, realizing Mahesh Das must be important to the Emperor, agreed to let him in but made a deal with him: Mahesh Das would share half of whatever he received from the Emperor with the guard. Mahesh Das agreed and was allowed to enter the fort.

Inside the court, Mahesh Das bowed to Emperor Akbar and showed him the ring. Akbar immediately recognized it and remembered the clever young man he had met years ago. Pleased to see him, Akbar offered Mahesh Das anything he wanted.

Mahesh Das thought for a moment and then made a surprising request: he asked the Emperor for fifty lashes of the whip. Everyone in the court was shocked, including the Emperor. Akbar, knowing Mahesh Das was very clever, asked him why he wanted such a punishment.

Mahesh Das explained the deal he had made with the guard at the gate. The Emperor was both amused and angered by the guard’s behavior. He ordered the guard to receive the fifty lashes for his rudeness and bullying. Akbar then rewarded Mahesh Das for his cleverness by inviting him to join his court and giving him all the comforts he could desire. He also gave him a new name: Birbal.

From that day on, Birbal became one of Emperor Akbar's most trusted advisors, and his wit and wisdom became legendary. To this day, stories of Birbal’s cleverness are told to children all over India.