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For centuries, the court of Emperor Akbar has lived not in majestic palaces but in the wise stories of his counsellor, Birbal. Sparkling with wit and humour, Akbar and Birbal stories teach life's biggest lessons in creative and engaging ways to children.
Parents love the Akbar Birbal story of kindness, wisdom and humour as the ideal bedtime stories for their kids. So, let's read 10 famous Akbar Birbal stories in English with morals that teach us the best life lessons–to be kind, think outside the box, and keep learning throughout life.
Akbar once challenged a beggar to spend the whole night in the freezing river to earn a reward. The beggar successfully completed the challenge in the hope of earning the reward. But when Akbar questioned him on how he was able to spend the whole night in the freezing river, he replied, "I constantly looked at the glow of a lamp in a distant place."
Hearing his answer, Akbar denied him the reward and said that he had cheated.
To find a solution, Birbal came up with an idea.
Birbal started preparing khichdi by suspending a pot over the ceiling while placing a fire on the ground. The distance between the fire and the pot was huge. Seeing this, Akbar thought that the khichdi would never be able to cook as the fire was far away. When he asked Birbal for the reason, he replied, "If the man managed to get warm from a distant lamp, then of course this pot can cook." Akbar laughed and understood his mistake. Later, he rewarded the man.
One fine day, Akbar handed over an empty pot to Birbal and asked him to bring him "a pot full of wisdom." Birbal returned the same empty pot to Akbar and explained, "A wise man always keeps space for more learning." Akbar was impressed.
Akbar questioned Birbal, "How many crows are there in my kingdom?" In no time, Birbal answered, "As many as you wish! If there are more, it implies that guests have arrived; if fewer, some have gone on a visit." Akbar laughed out loud.
Akbar one day asked his courtiers to fill a tank with milk for free distribution. Secretly, all poured water, believing their small portion of water would not make any difference. The next morning, the tank was full of water and no milk. Birbal cleverly explained how every man thought in the same way.
A farmer purchased a well from a wealthy man, but when he attempted to draw water, the wealthy man exclaimed, "I sold the well, not the water!" Birbal wisely declared that if the farmer owned the well, then the wealthy man should immediately take away his water. Upon understanding that he cannot take away the water at once, the wealthy man admitted his defeat.
One day, Akbar was very angry with a man of his kingdom who wasted money, and he ordered Birbal to make a list of fools in his kingdom. Birbal listed the man's name first and Akbar's second. Looking at his name on the list, Akbar was shocked. When he asked Birbal for the reason for writing his name, Birbal replied, "You gave money to a fool; if you fail to get it back, you too are one." Akbar learned his mistake and forgave him.
One day, Emperor Akbar protested that his courtiers frequently lied to him and requested Birbal to find the liar.
Birbal stuck a tall stick in the centre of the court and declared, "This is a magic stick. Anyone who speaks a lie will find it rising by an inch when they touch it."
The next morning, Akbar instructed all the courtiers to touch the stick before proceeding into the court. One of them, in fear, secretly chipped off an inch of the stick before entering, believing that it would grow when he was lying.
When Birbal saw the shorter stick, he smiled and remarked, "This man has already exposed his lie even before the trial started."
Akbar laughed and complimented Birbal for his clever suggestion.
There were two women, both of whom claimed to be the mother of the same child. Akbar requested that Birbal find the real mother. Birbal instructed the child to be cut in half. One woman agreed, but the other cried and said, "Give the child to her, but do not cut him!" Birbal handed the child to the real mother, who was crying with worry.
Akbar lost his ring and suspected a courtier. Birbal promised Akbar that he would catch the thief. He announced to all, "The thief has a straw stuck to his beard." Instantly, one man touched his beard in fear. Birbal caught him.
Akbar inquired of Birbal, "Why do saints attract more people than kings?" Birbal answered, "Because kings punish the guilty, but saints forgive them. Goats go where they find grass, not sticks.
These Akbar Birbal stories in English are not only amusing, but they also shape young minds into being great minds. Children learn to be honest, intelligent, respectful, and kind in the best way possible. They're short, memorable, and ideal for bedtime stories.
Next time you need to have a chuckle and a lesson with your child, tell them this Akbar–Birbal story from Peppermint. It's a gem from our past that never loses its charm.
