Once, an ambassador of a neighbouring country visited the
court of Akbar and said, “Sir, we have heard that there are too many wise and
witty people in your court. So our King has sent me to fetch a pitcher (pot) full of
wisdom from here. I expect you to fulfill our king’s wish soon.”
Akbar was puzzled to hear this. He thought what a senseless
wish was this?. How can one procure a pitcher full of wisdom? Finding no way
out, he sent for Birbal, the wisest of his gems.
Birbal having heard the entire thing, slightly chuckled and
said, “Do not worry, Majesty, I will fulfill their demand, I just need few weeks’
time.” Akbar granted
him.
Birbal asked a servant to get a pitcher. Then he took the
pitcher to a pumpkin creeper and placed it inverted over the pumpkin flower.
Birbal then went to the ambassador and said, “Sir, we just
need two weeks’ time. I assure you, the wisdom will reach the brim of the
pitcher within a fortnight.”
After fifteen days,
Birbal stopped his experiment and found that the pumpkin had got
completely stuck inside the pitcher.
He took the pitcher to the ambassador and gifting it to him,
said, “Sir, here is your pitcher full of wisdom. You please take the fruit of
wisdom out of it without
causing it any harm and return us our pot”. The ambassador
closely inspected the fruit of wisdom and feeling embarrassed, left for his
country.
King Akbar, on seeing the gesture of the ambassador, was laughing
and praising his wisest gem heartily.
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