The Unlucky Face: Birbal’s Clever Solution

Long ago, in Emperor Akbar’s kingdom, lived a young man named Yusuf. Despite being harmless, everyone in the city despised him. People believed he was cursed, calling him “unlucky.” Stories claimed that even a glance at Yusuf’s face could bring misfortune. Wherever he went, people threw stones at him and ridiculed him, making his life miserable.

The Rumor Reaches Akbar

The tales of Yusuf’s supposed bad luck eventually reached Emperor Akbar. Curious to find the truth, Akbar summoned Yusuf to his court. Yusuf arrived humbly and spoke politely with the emperor.

However, as fate would have it, just as Yusuf was being introduced, a messenger arrived in haste. “Your Majesty,” he cried, “the queen is gravely ill. She has fainted, and the physicians are unable to determine the cause.”

Alarmed, Akbar rushed to the queen’s chambers, spending the entire afternoon by her side. By evening, the queen’s condition improved, and Akbar returned to court, only to find Yusuf patiently waiting.

Akbar’s Anger

Seeing Yusuf, Akbar’s frustration boiled over. “The rumors are true!” he shouted. “Your cursed face caused the queen’s illness!” Without further thought, Akbar ordered Yusuf to be imprisoned.

Helpless, Yusuf cried out for mercy, but the court was too afraid to question Akbar’s decision. Suddenly, Birbal stepped forward, whispering something into Yusuf’s ear. Gaining confidence, Yusuf bowed to Akbar and said, “Your Majesty, I am ready to accept your punishment. But may I ask you one question?”

Intrigued, Akbar nodded.

“If seeing my face caused the queen’s illness,” Yusuf asked, “then why did nothing happen to you? You have seen my face too.”

The Lesson Learned

Akbar paused, realizing the flaw in his judgment. He had been quick to blame Yusuf without reason. Acknowledging his mistake, he freed Yusuf and apologized. To make amends, Akbar gifted Yusuf a bag of gold coins from the royal treasury.

Once again, the court marveled at Birbal’s wisdom, recognizing his ability to reveal the truth through logic and clever thinking.

Moral of the Story:

It is unjust to judge someone based on rumors or superstitions. Wisdom lies in seeking truth with fairness and reason.

This tale highlights how Birbal’s sharp intellect turned a moment of injustice into an opportunity for reflection, earning him admiration from all.