Birbal’s Khichdi

Once upon a time, Birbal and Akbar decided to take a stroll alongside a beautiful lake. When thoughts took a turn, a simple question occurred to Birbal: How far a man can go to have money? He expressed it to Akbar, who while listening to Birbal sat down and touched the water in the lake. He at once took his hand out as he realized the stabbing cold in his hand. He exclaimed that no one would ever spend a night in this cold water for any amount of money. Birbal believed that someone could. Akbar as determined on his belief as ever challenged Birbal to bring one such being, and he would grant that man a total of one thousand coins made of pure gold.

Birbal started his search, and kept looking for this one man everywhere until he found one. This happened to be a poor guy who was desperate enough to risk a whole night of severe cold to have the gold coins reward.

Akbar when heard the news, appointed his trusty guards to make sure that the poor guy stays in water for the whole night. Surprisingly, the next morning, the poor man came to Akbar after completing his challenge, all sound and healthy, and demanded his much awaited reward. Akbar couldn’t believe it and asked that how he managed to spend the whole night out there. The poor man talked about a light post that he saw around the lake which he kept in focus all night. He believed that by keeping his attention focused on lamp, he managed to avoid thinking about cold. To his surprise, Akbar refused to give him the gold coins as he used lamp’s energy to keep himself warm.

The poor man all disappointed and hurt, informed Birbal. Birbal didn’t make it to the court next day. When Akbar inquired, Birbal conveyed the message that he can’t make it unless his Khichdi is ready. After waiting for several hours, Akbar along with his guards went to visit Birbal. Birbal had a pot of khichdi hanging from the roof of the room several feet away from the fire. Akbar asked Birbal that how he expects for a fire to cook khichdi from such a distance. Birbal very intelligently replied that the same way the poor man received warmth from a lamp post so far away from himself. Akbar once left speechless and had to pay the poor man at the end.