THE RIDDLES | Akbar and Birbal story

THE RIDDLES

One beautiful moonlit night. Emperor Akbar and Birbal sat near the fountain in the garden of the palace. Akbar was in a mood to ask riddles to Birbal. He said, “Birbal, can you solve this riddle for me? Who are the guests who come leisurely and also leave leisurely?”

“Teeth, Your Majesty,” said Birbal promptly.

Akbar asked another riddle, “ All right. Here is another one for you. There are two relatives. They are of the same color. But we like to hear only one of them. Who are they?”

Birbal smiled and replied, “A cuckoo and a crow. Both are black birds. We like to hear the cuckoo, but we dislike the cawing of the crow.”

Akbar then said, “Birbal tell me, what can grow without water and sunlight?”

Birbal said, “Your Majesty, there is a tree which has grown without water and sunlight. This tree has no roots, branches or leaves, yet plenty of flowers bloom on it. But the tree does not  bear my fruits.”

Akbar was puzzled. Instead of answering Akbar’s riddle, Birbal had asked him another riddle. As he was thinking Akbar looked up at the sky. Suddenly, he found the answer. Triumphantly, he said, “Start…..!”

Continuing his answer, Akbar said, “This tree is the sky. T is, indeed, a magic one. There are countless flowers on this tree. They never wither. This tree has grown without any water and sunlight.”