36. Neither Here, Nor There

Birbal was liked by Akbar for his wit and wisdom. One day Akbar confronted the esteemed title of 'Raja' to Birbal. Birbal was often appreciated in the court for his witty answers, great sense of humor and judgment ability.

Due to the special attention received by Birbal, other courtiers often felt deprived and unimportant. They envied not only for his wit, but also because of the favoritism and closeness he enjoyed with Akbar. They were many incidences when they tried to level down Birbal or attempted to outwit him. This story relates to one such incidence.

One day a courtier approached Akbar when he was seated alone. The courtier appealingly said, 'My Majesty, you entrust all work of importance to Birbal. We are here to serve you. We will be obliged if you give is some work and a chance to prove our merit'.

Akbar agreed. He said, 'Let me entrust you with some work'. The courtier was happy. Akbar gave him three Rupees and said, 'Buy three things from these three hundred rupees - the first thing should relate to 'here', the second thing to 'there' and the third thing should belong to 'neither here nor there'.

The courtier thanked Akbar and rushed to the market. He visited several shops asking for - here, there and neither here nor there. The shopkeepers laughed on him. Some of them even called him insane. The day can to an end. The search was futile and embarrassing. In fact, all the while the courtier kept thinking, ''What does the King mean by here, there ?'

The courtier finally decided to return to the court. He told Akbar, 'My Majesty, these things cannot be bought from anywhere in the market. But if Birbal is able to get them, I will accept that he is genius'.

Akbar immediately called Birbal and asked him to get - here, there, neither here nor there. Birbal agreed to get them next day.

Next day when Birbal arrived, Akbar asked about his assignment. Birbal smiled and said, 'My Majesty, I have got all of them. I gave the first rupee to a beggar. So it went there (towards God). The second was used to buy sweets (used here in this world). I spend the third rupee in dicing, so it went neither here nor there'.

All courtiers were stuck by Birbal's logic. Akbar was impressed with Birbal once again. He gave him a big reward for his acute sense of discrimination and unbending wit.