The Stolen Swan
One day, a rich merchant appeared in the court of Akbar. After some formal greetings, he told him the reason for his arrival.
He said, “Your Majesty, a couple of months back, I bought a swan. It was very beautiful. It had golden feathers. I used to keep it in a large cage that I got exclusively built for it. One fateful morning, when I looked at the cage, I found it empty.”
“What do you think might have happened to your swan?” asked Akbar.
“Sir, I think one of my servants has stolen it,” replied the merchant.
Akbar asked his spies to investigate the matter well. They interrogated the servants, kept an eye on them, spied on them, but all in vain. Finally, they acknowledged their defeat and said bluntly that they had failed to find the thief. Birbal offered his help. He accompanied the merchant to his home. There he called all the servants and asked them to stand in a row.
Then he demanded the cage of the swan. He carefully examined the cage and pretended to whisper some words to it. The merchant got surprised.
“What are you doing, Sir”? asked the merchant.
“Sh sh... sh..., the cage is telling me about the thief,” said Birbal.
“Well, what is it saying?” questioned the merchant.
“It is saying that the thief has killed the swan and hidden its golden feathers in his turban,” replied Birbal.
One day, a rich merchant appeared in the court of Akbar. After some formal greetings, he told him the reason for his arrival.
He said, “Your Majesty, a couple of months back, I bought a swan. It was very beautiful. It had golden feathers. I used to keep it in a large cage that I got exclusively built for it. One fateful morning, when I looked at the cage, I found it empty.”
“What do you think might have happened to your swan?” asked Akbar.
“Sir, I think one of my servants has stolen it,” replied the merchant.
Akbar asked his spies to investigate the matter well. They interrogated the servants, kept an eye on them, spied on them, but all in vain. Finally, they acknowledged their defeat and said bluntly that they had failed to find the thief. Birbal offered his help. He accompanied the merchant to his home. There he called all the servants and asked them to stand in a row.
Then he demanded the cage of the swan. He carefully examined the cage and pretended to whisper some words to it. The merchant got surprised.
“What are you doing, Sir”? asked the merchant.
“Sh sh... sh..., the cage is telling me about the thief,” said Birbal.
“Well, what is it saying?” questioned the merchant.
“It is saying that the thief has killed the swan and hidden its golden feathers in his turban,” replied Birbal.
Now, the servant who had stolen the swan got very nervous. He thought that he is carrying the feathers of the swan in his turban.
Instinctively, he started examining his turban. No one but Birbal noticed him. He asked all the servants to depart except that particular servant. After all the servants has gone, he cross-examined that servant. He denied having committed the theft. Birbal scolded him and threatened him that would be whipped. At last, he acknowledged his theft. Birbal ordered to whip him.
Instinctively, he started examining his turban. No one but Birbal noticed him. He asked all the servants to depart except that particular servant. After all the servants has gone, he cross-examined that servant. He denied having committed the theft. Birbal scolded him and threatened him that would be whipped. At last, he acknowledged his theft. Birbal ordered to whip him.
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