The Farmer and the Well

A poor farmer once purchased a well from a wealthy man so that he could water his fields. After paying the full price, the farmer went to draw water. But the rich man stopped him, saying, “You only bought the well, not the water inside it.”

Upset, the farmer went to Emperor Akbar’s court to seek justice. Birbal was asked to resolve the matter.

Birbal visited the rich man and said, “You claim to have sold only the well, not the water. In that case, you must remove the water immediately, for it does not belong in the farmer’s well. Or, if you wish to keep the water there, you must pay the farmer rent.”

Hearing this, the rich man realized his trick had backfired. Ashamed, he allowed the farmer to use the water freely. Birbal’s wit once again ensured justice was served.

Moral: Those who try to deceive others often end up trapping themselves.

Summary: A farmer bought a well, but the rich man tried to stop him from using its water. Birbal cleverly told the man to either remove the water or pay rent, forcing him to let the farmer use it.