Brain Teasers
Birbal the Wise - VII
Situation
Situation puzzles (sometimes called lateral thinking puzzles) are ones where you need to ask lots of yes or no questions to figure out what happened in the situation. These are good puzzles for groups where one person knows the puzzle and answers the questions.Situation
Emperor Akbar once ruled over India. He was a wise and intelligent ruler, and he had in his court the Nine Gems, his nine advisors, who were each known for a particular skill. One of these Gems was Birbal, known for his wit and wisdom. The story below is one of the examples of his wit. Do you have it in you to find out the answer?
One night, Emperor Akbar dreamt that he had lost all his teeth, except one.
The next morning he invited all the astrologers of his kingdom to interpret this dream. Birbal hadn't come that morning to the court.
After a long discussion, the astrologers prophesized that all his relatives would die before him.
Akbar was very upset by this interpretation, and so sent away all the astrologers without any reward.
Later that day, Birbal entered the court. Akbar related his dream and asked him to interpret it. After thinking for a while, Birbal gave a reply which pleased the emperor, so he rewarded Birbal handsomely.
What was Birbal's reply?
One night, Emperor Akbar dreamt that he had lost all his teeth, except one.
The next morning he invited all the astrologers of his kingdom to interpret this dream. Birbal hadn't come that morning to the court.
After a long discussion, the astrologers prophesized that all his relatives would die before him.
Akbar was very upset by this interpretation, and so sent away all the astrologers without any reward.
Later that day, Birbal entered the court. Akbar related his dream and asked him to interpret it. After thinking for a while, Birbal gave a reply which pleased the emperor, so he rewarded Birbal handsomely.
What was Birbal's reply?
Answer
Birbal was an optimist in addition to being a witty and intelligent courtier. While the astrologers thought only of the negative possibility while interpreting the dream, Birbal actually found a more positive and diplomatic answer.Birbal replied that the Emperor would live a longer & more fulfilled life than any of his relatives.
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