Once when The King Akbar

Was hunting and lost his way,

Back to his great kingdom of Agra

It was almost the end of the day.

He found a man, young and clever

Mahesh Das, he told his name.

He impressed the king with his skills

And got a precious ring for the same.

The King invited him to the court

To have anything as a reward.

While he led them to their kingdom

And was happy about his award.

After a while when Mahesh Das

Decided to visit the King's court,

He was stopped at the huge gate

Of the great King Akbar's fort.

The guard at the main gate prohibited

Mahesh to see the King.

But he was not leaving now

He showed the guard his ring.

The guard got it, now he knew

That Mahesh wasn't an ordinary man.

He sent him in on a contract

Half the reward he'll get was his plan.

On the next gate, the keeper asked

For the quarter part of it,

The next gatekeeper demanded

The rest of his reward for the visit.

At last, Mahesh met the King

Akbar recognised him at first glance,

He asked him, "What do you want?"

It was indeed the greatest of chance

Mahesh told the King with respect,

"A hundred lashes are what I wish."

But the King got puzzled and said,

"Mahesh, why be so foolish?"

Then he told the King about

The treaty at the respective gates,

That the guards will get his reward

Akbar's anger was quite great.

He punished the guards with lashes

For their cruel and selfish deed,

And told 'The Clever Mahesh' that

"People like you I actually need."

From that day onwards Mahesh Das

Was a part of the nine gems,

And was called Birbal by the king

As Akbar knew his skilful games.

Since that one day 'The Clever Birbal'

Proved himself the smartest of all,

And with his great skills, he won

The hearts of the crowd in the hall.

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Poet's Note