Once an ambassador of a neighboring country visited the court of Akbar. He came with an empty pitcher and pleaded Akbar, 'O Great Emperor! I have come to your country in hope of receiving some wisdom and wit. We have heard that your esteemed court has a great number of witty people. Therefore our king has requested that you fill this pitcher with wisdom for the merit of our countrymen. O mighty king, hope you will fulfill the wish of my king'.
Akbar was mused and puzzled to hear the ambassador's plea. He thought to himself, 'What a senseless wish!'
Akbar called Birbal and narrated the entire story to him. He asked Birbal to see the ambassador and handle the situation.
Birbal chucked when he heard Akbar. However, he assured him, 'My Majesty, I shall fulfill their demand in few weeks'. Akbar wondered what Birbal intended, but he found the issue too trivial to keep thinking about. He left the matter to Birbal and left.
Birbal thought what a senseless wish was this. How can one procure a pitcher full of wisdom? Finding no way out, he sent for Birbal, the wisest of his gems.
Birbal asked a royal servant to fetch the pitcher and went to the far end of royal garden.
The royal garden had many vegetable and fruit plants. There were tomato, peas and pumpkin creepers among many others. Birbal kept the inverted pitcher on a pumpkin flower.
After few weeks, Birbal returned to the garden and found that flower gave way to the pumpkin fruit and occupied the pitcher completely.
Birbal took the pitcher with pumpkin to the ambassador. He respectfully presented he pitcher to him saying, 'Sir, we are indeed lucky to have you in this court. Thanks for visiting our country and appreciating our Emperor, his court and his people. As a token of thanks, appreciation and remembrance, I Birbal present to you this pitcher of wisdom as wished by your wise king. Kindly accept it. We request you to take the fruit of wisdom out of it without breaking the pitcher and return the pitcher to us'.
The ambassador merrily took the pitcher from Birbal's hand. He removed the lid and observed closely. He was taken aback when he found a pumpkin in the pitcher. He felt embarrassed and left the court, saying thanks to the king and his courtiers.
Akbar who was unaware of Birbal's mischief asked him, 'Birbal, show me the fruit of wisdom. I am very keen about it'.
Birbal handed over the pitcher to Akbar. When Akbar saw pumpkin in the pitcher he burst into a laughter. He applauded Birbal's unique approach to the unusual situation.
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