Emperor Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his courtiers. He often asked questions which were strange and witty. It took much wisdom to answer these questions. Once he asked a very strange question. The courtiers were dumb folded by his question. Akbar glanced at his courtiers. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Birbal entered the courtyard. Birbal who knew the nature of the emperor quickly grasped the situation and asked, "May I know the question so that I can try for an answer". Akbar said, ... read more

THE LAME MAN One day two friends saw a man who was limping. One of them said that the man must have born lame. The other said that he must have met with an accident. They both started arguing over the matter. The argument got so heated up that finally they went to the man and asked him the reason for his limping. The man laughed and replied that he was limping as one of his sandals had broken. Both the friends walked away with an embarrassed face.

In a city called Vardhamana, lived a very efficient and prosperous merchant. The Fall And Rise of A Merchant - Panchatantra Story PictureThe king was aware of his abilities, and therefore made him the administrator of the kingdom. With his efficient and intelligent ways, he kept common man very happy, and at the same time he impressed the king on the other side. Such a person, who can keep everybody happy, is rarely found. Later, there came a time that the merchant's daughter was getting married. He arranged for a lavish reception. The merchant not only invited the king and ... read more

OBEYING THE RULES On the front gate of a temple, there was a sign which read, Remove your footwear before entering the temple. A guard had also been appointed there. One day, the guard saw a man entering the temple and asked him, Where are your shoes? The man replied, I don't wear shoes. Then you can't go inside, said the guard. Why? asked the man Didn't you read the sign? It says that you can't enter the temple without removing your shoes or slippers.

Birbal caught the Thief Once a rich merchant’s house was robbed. The merchant suspected that the thief was one of his servants. So he went to Birbal and mentioned the incident. Birbal went to his house and assembled all of his servants and asked that who stole the merchant’s things. Everybody denied. Birbal thought for a moment, then gave a stick of equal length to all the servants of the merchant and said to them that the stick of the real thief will be longer by two inches tomorrow. All the servants should be present here again tomorrow with their sticks. All the servants went ... read more