One day, a sculptor came to the court of Emperor Akbar with three beautiful idols. All the idols looked exactly alike, but there was a marked difference in their internal structures. He said, “Your Majesty, these three idols look exactly alike. But, only one of them is the best. Will you ask Birbal to pick the best idol and tell me the reason for his choice?”
Birbal took the idols in his hands. He observed them minutely for some time. He noticed that there were small holes in the ears and the mouths of the idols.
Birbal asked for a thin and long wire.
He took the first idol and inserted the wire into its ear. The wire came out of the idol’s mouth.
He picked up the second idol and inserted the wire into its ear. The wire came out of the other ear.
Finally, Birbal took the third idol in his hands. He inserted the wire into its ear. The wire went right into the stomach of the idol. Birbal showed that idol to the sculptor and said, “This is the best of the three idols.”
The sculptor was surprised. He said, “Can you tell me why?”
Birbal said, “Let us assume that each idol symbolises a minister of a king and that the wire symbolises a secret of the state. In the case of the first idol, the wire inserted into the ear, came out of the mouth. Such a minister will hear a secret and blurt it out. He is a wicked minister of low character.”
Birbal further said, “The wire inserted into the ear of the second idol came out of the other ear. Such a minister does not pay attention to any important or secret matter. Whatever he hears with one ear goes out of the other ear. He is an ordinary minister.”
Birbal continued, “In the case of the third idol, the wire inserted into the ear, went right into the stomach. This is the minister who hears a secret but never reveals it to anyone. He is able to keep all the secrets. He is an ideal minister. Therefore, my friend, this idol is the best of the three.”
The sculptor was amazed to hear Birbal’s explanation. He gladly gifted away all the three idols to Birbal.
📚 Vocabulary
- Sculptor
- Meaning: A person who makes things out of stone, wood, or clay.
- Sentence: The sculptor brought three beautiful idols to the king’s court.
- Idol
- Meaning: A small statue or figure, usually of a person or god.
- Sentence: All three idols looked exactly the same from the outside.
- Exactly
- Meaning: In every way; just the same.
- Sentence: The idols looked exactly alike.
- Marked difference
- Meaning: A clear or important difference.
- Sentence: There was a marked difference inside the idols.
- Majesty
- Meaning: A title used to show respect to a king or queen.
- Sentence: The sculptor spoke to Emperor Akbar and said, “Your Majesty…”
- Minutely
- Meaning: Very carefully and closely.
- Sentence: Birbal observed the idols minutely.
- Hole
- Meaning: A small opening.
- Sentence: Birbal noticed small holes in the idols’ ears and mouths.
- Wire
- Meaning: A thin, bendable piece of metal.
- Sentence: Birbal used a thin wire to test the idols.
- Stomach
- Meaning: The part of the body where food goes after you eat.
- Sentence: The wire went into the stomach of the third idol.
- Wisdom
- Meaning: Being smart and making good choices.
- Sentence: Birbal used his wisdom to choose the best idol.
📝 Birbal’s Wisdom – Multiple Choice Questions
1. Who brought the three idols to the court?
A) Birbal
B) A king
C) A sculptor
D) A soldier
✅ Correct Answer: C) A sculptor
2. What was special about the three idols?
A) They could talk
B) They were colorful
C) They looked the same from outside
D) They were very heavy
✅ Correct Answer: C) They looked the same from outside
3. What did Birbal use to test the idols?
A) A stick
B) A wire
C) A feather
D) A brush
✅ Correct Answer: B) A wire
4. What happened with the first idol when Birbal inserted the wire?
A) The wire disappeared
B) The wire came out of its mouth
C) The idol broke
D) Nothing happened
✅ Correct Answer: B) The wire came out of its mouth
5. What happened with the second idol?
A) The wire stayed inside
B) The wire came out of the mouth
C) The wire came out of the other ear
D) The wire broke
✅ Correct Answer: C) The wire came out of the other ear
6. Where did the wire go in the third idol?
A) Out of its mouth
B) Out of its ear
C) Into its stomach
D) Into its hand
✅ Correct Answer: C) Into its stomach
7. Which idol did Birbal say was the best?
A) First
B) Second
C) Third
D) None of them
✅ Correct Answer: C) Third
8. What is the moral of the story?
A) We should always speak loudly
B) Wise people keep secrets and listen carefully
C) Statues can be magical
D) Birbal loves gold
✅ Correct Answer: B) Wise people keep secrets and listen carefully
