47. Just one Question

One day a scholar from a far country came to Emperor Akbar’s Court.

The scholar was known far and wide for his wisdom. He came to Akbar's court to test Birbal's wit. At the court, he challenged Birbal to answer a question. Birbal said he was privileged to met the scholar of such repute and readily accepted his challenge.

The scholar asked Birbal, 'Would like to answer one hundred easy questions or just one difficult question?'

Birbal choose to answer one difficult question rather than thousand easy questions. So the scholar asked, 'Tell me who came first - the chicken or the egg?'.

Birbal readily said, 'The chick came before the egg'.

The scholar was replied, 'How do you know that the chick came first?'

Birbal contended, 'O great scholar, we agreed that you shall ask me only one difficult question'.

The scholar was dumbfounded at Birbal's quick wit. He left the court wordlessly.