One cold winter, Emperor Akbar announced, “I will give a big reward to anyone who can stand in the cold lake all night.” A poor man needed money for his family, so he agreed to try.
He stood in the icy water the whole night. In the morning he came to the court to collect his reward. “How did you manage to stay in the cold water?” asked Akbar. “Your Majesty, I looked at a lamp burning far away on the palace wall, and I kept thinking of its warmth,” said the man.
“Then the lamp kept you warm! You do not deserve the reward,” said Akbar. The poor man went away sadly. Birbal felt sorry for him.
The next day Birbal did not come to the court. Akbar sent a servant to find out why. The servant came back and said, “Birbal is cooking khichdi, and he will come when it is ready.” Hours passed, but Birbal did not come, so Akbar went to Birbal’s house himself.
He saw a small fire on the ground and a pot of khichdi hanging from a tree, high above it. “How will the khichdi cook if the pot is so far from the fire?” asked Akbar. “In the same way that the poor man was warmed by a lamp far away,” replied Birbal.
Akbar understood his mistake. He called the poor man back and gave him his reward.
Moral of the story
Be fair to everyone.
New words
- announced
- told everyone publicly
- reward
- a prize for doing something
- icy
- very cold
- manage
- to succeed in doing something difficult
- deserve
- to have earned something
- khichdi
- a simple dish of rice and lentils cooked together
Questions and answers
- What did Akbar announce?
Show answer
He announced a big reward for anyone who could stand in the cold lake all night.
- Why did the poor man agree to try?
Show answer
He needed money for his family.
- How did the man say he stayed in the cold water?
Show answer
He looked at a lamp burning far away and thought of its warmth.
- Why did Akbar refuse to give the reward?
Show answer
He said that the lamp had kept the man warm, so he did not deserve it.
- How did Birbal show Akbar his mistake?
Show answer
He hung a pot of khichdi high above a small fire, to show that something far away cannot warm or cook anything.
- What did Akbar do in the end?
Show answer
He called the poor man back and gave him his reward.
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