akbarOne day, Akbar was said to have called a special darbar. All the nobles of the land were invited to attend the meeting in the imperial audience hall. It was a most impressive sight, as one by one the nobles arrived.

Finally, there was the sound of drums and the emperor was announced. He walked down the length of the hall, greeting his nobles as he went. At the other end was the marble throne, on which he seated himself. The nobles were curries as to why he should have assembled them. What had happened? Was there going to be a war? Was he going to announce the marriage of his daughter? Had one of the princes rebelled? The herald called for silence.

``dear nobles,’’ began the emperor, `` I have noticed that some of you are not pleased by the friends I have. There is one person in particular whom you do not like. You would rather appreciate that I sent him away and took one amongst you as a friend. No emperor can rule if his nobles are not satisfied with him. I have called you here to day to say that if you wish it, I shall change my friends. But, since I am an emperor, I must also be just. Have I your permission to put my friends to a test? If the person who is selected is successful, I shall make him my friend, but if he fails, then, don’t you think it is fair I need accept him as a friend?’’

The nobles agreed to this proposal. Everyone knew that Akbar was referring to Birbal, his friend, and to Tansen, whom the nobles wanted the emperor to adopt as his friend. Akbar continued, ``I believe that my friend Birbal is man of superior intelligence. That is why I enjoy his company. Now there is one test that needs great intelligence and that is the ability to save oneself from death. I am going to condemn both Birbal and Tansen to death and however of the two can save himself, will be my close friend’’. This seemed fair enough to the nobles. But how was the emperor going to condemn them to the death? ``My plan is as follows’’ said the emperor. ``I have written two letters to the king of Burma, in which I have asked him to put the bearer to death. Birbal shall carry one letter and Tansen the other’’.

On hearing this, Birbal was certain of his end. How could be manage to persuade the king of Burma not to kill him, when Akbar letter demanded precisely this? Tansen himself was horrified at being involved in the argument and was furious with the nobles. He was a brilliant musician and wished to be left in piece. But it was too late. The emperor insisted that the two men should leave for Burma immediately.

They set out with heavy hearts. The journey was difficult enough without the constant that they were going to meet with death at the other end. They took a boat down the River Ganga. On arriving at the delta of the river, they moved to a lager ship which set sail for Burma. The sea was rough and the doomed men prayed that the storm would wreck the ship, and thereby end their agony. At last they arrived in the capital city, feeling tired and weak. But they had little time to lose. They bathed and changed into their best clothes since wished to create a good impression on the king of Burma.

The king welcomed them with much enthusiasm. He believed at first that they had come as the envoy of the emperor of India. But when the letters were given to him and had read their contents, he was extremely bewildered. He showed the letters to his minister who was equally baffled. The king and is minister retired into an ante-chamber to decide what they should do. Then they reappeared and the king questioned the two unfortunates. ``We wish to know why the emperor has acted in this fashion. We believe that there is some hidden motive behind all this. What is it? Both Birbal and Tansen assured the king that there was no such motive. But the king refused to be convinced. ``You must have committed some terrible offence for the emperor not o allows even your bones or your ashes to remain in this kingdom.’’ Again the two instead that they committed had no crime. Finally, the king announced that they would be executed but after eighth days in prison. This, he thought, would enable them to think again and confess their crime.


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