Akbar & Birbal · Sanskrit Story
Birbal and the Three Questions
बीरबलः त्रयः प्रश्नाः च
Mughal court oral tradition · Akbar-Birbal kathāmālikā (c. 1590 CE) · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · नीतिः
प्रश्नस्य परिभाषां यः परिवर्तयति — सः एव जयति।
praśnasya paribhāṣāṃ yaḥ parivartayati — saḥ eva jayati.
“One who reframes the question is the one who wins”
The Scholar's Challenge
एकः विद्वान् पण्डितः सभायां आगच्छति। सः बीरबलाय त्रीन् प्रश्नान् पृच्छति। यदि उत्तरं न ददासि — पराजितः भवसि। सभा उत्सुकतया पश्यति।
A learned scholar came to court. He posed three questions to Birbal. "If you cannot answer — you are defeated." The whole court watched with curiosity.
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