HEAT FROM THE LAMP

Akbar organized a contest that anyone who stands for a whole night in the cold water of River Yamuna would get a lot of money. No one was brave enough to take the test. But one poor washerman needed money for his sick child. He went to the Emperor and agreed to brave the cold water of the river.

Two men kept guard through the night to ensure that the washerman stood in the river all night.

The cold icy water reached his waist, but the washerman kept standing the whole night. Next morning, the two guards took the washerman to Akbar.

Akbar asked the two men. "You both tell me if this man really stood in teh river and should he be given the prize?"

One of the two men who had watched the washerman throughout the night said, "Yes, Your Majesty, this man should be given the prize money."

But the other man did not like the washerman. He said, "My Lord, he stood in the cold water all the night, but he kept looking at the light of an earthen lamp in your palace, he took heat from it."

Akbar became angry with the washerman, saying, "You have failed the test. So you will not be given the prize."

The poor washerman came back home and told his wife that he had not been given the prize money.

Both of them were worried about their sick child, so his wife asked, "Was Lord Birbal there when the Emperor was talking to you?"

The washer man replied, "No"

The washerwoman said, "Go to Lord Birbal at once and tell him all that has happened. He will help you."

The washerwomen went to Birbal's house and told him all that had happened. Birbal felt pity for him; he thought of a plan to help the poor washer man.

Birbal did not go to Akbar's court for two days. Akbar really liked to have Birbal in his court because he was a clever and good minister.

0n the third day, Akbar sent a courtier to call Birbal. The man came back to say that Birbal was very busy and could not come. Akbar was very surprised that birbal had refused to come.