Birbal and the Pot of Oil

One day, a wealthy merchant came to Emperor Akbar’s court with a tricky challenge for Birbal. He filled a pot to the brim with oil and said, “Birbal, remove all the oil from this pot without spilling a single drop.”

The courtiers murmured among themselves, convinced the task was impossible. But Birbal calmly thought for a moment and asked for some sand. He poured the sand into the pot, allowing it to soak up all the oil. Then, with careful scoops, he removed the sand mixed with oil, leaving the pot completely clean and empty.

Akbar and the merchant, who had been watching intently, were amazed at Birbal’s cleverness. With his quick wit and creativity, Birbal had once again turned the impossible into the possible.

Moral: With creativity and intelligence, even impossible challenges can be solved.

Summary: A merchant challenged Birbal to remove oil from a pot without spilling it. Birbal poured in sand, which absorbed the oil, and removed it cleanly. His clever solution impressed both Akbar and the merchant.