HEAT FROM THE LAMP 1

Akbar asked, "What was he doing?"

The man replied, "He was cooking in a very strange way."

Wanting to find out for himself, Akbar went to see what was Birbal doing. What Akbar saw made him very surprised.

Birbal was standing under a tree. On a high branch, was a pot hanging with a rope. Down below on the ground under the pot, Birbal had lit a small fire.

Birbal bowed when he saw Akbar, who asked, "What are you doing?"

Birbal said, "I am cooking, My Lord. I have put rice and pulses in that pot to prepare porridge."

Akbar said, "Have you gone mad, Birbal? The fire is down below and the pot is far up on the branch of the tree. How can the dish be cooked?"

"Why, Your Majesty?" asked Birbal.

Akbar said, "Because the fire is too far from the pot. The heat of this fire will not reach the pot high over there."

Birbal said, "But, Your Majesty, when the washerman could take the heat from an earthen lamp far away from the river, then this dish will surely get cooked."

Akbar was stunned for a moment but then he said, "Have you done this to challenge my decision making ability?"

Birbal bowed and said, "No Your Majesty. I have done this just to ensure that the washerman gets his prize money which he truly deserves. He stood in the cold water all night. He did pass the test."

Akbar said, "Yes, Birbal, You are right. The washerman did pass the test. Thank you for opening my eyes to the truth. Call the washerman to the court."

The washerman was given the prize money who took his sick child to the doctor, and the child was soon well again. Then he went to thank Birbal, who was happy that he had helped to save a life.