Many people remember how Birbal showed his nimble wit when the Emperor Akbar sent him to the Shah of Persia bearing the gift of a worthless sandal. And upon returning home, he needed his wit again, as this anecdote will show.

“Tell me, Birbal,” said the Emperor, “I suppose you praised the Shah of Persia when you saw him?”

“How could I not, majesty? Such is the duty of an envoy.”

“And what did you say in his praise?”

“Majesty, I said that he was the full moon.”

“What?! You called him the full moon? How dare you offer such high praise to anyone other than your monarch?”

“Sire,” Birbal replied, “you are the Sun, and no one ever questions the Sun. But my words to the Shah had an outer and an inner meaning. The Shah thought of the beauty of the moon in the night sky, and was pleased with the outer meaning.”

“Very well,” Akbar said, “and the inner meaning of your words?”

“After I have seen you, you will decline.”

And this inner meaning pleased Akbar very much.