The Royal Insignia Story
King Akbar had the habit of roaming around his kingdom in disguise. He felt that this way he would know if anyone in his kingdom was in need so he could help him out. But Birbal did not like this habit at all.
As King Akbar was going out one evening to roam around in disguise of an old man, Birbal said, “Your Majesty, I do not like this habit. You are in a disguise. Someone may harm you thinking you to be a common man. Or if someone comes to know that you are the King and are unguarded, you may be attacked.”
King Akbar did not pay attention to Birbal’s words and left the palace anyway. As he reached a lonely street, he felt he was being followed. He turned and saw a man. But the man pretended that he was looking elsewhere.
King Akbar in disguise approached him and said, “Who are you?”
“Wanderer,” the man replied.
“What do you do for your living?”
“Simply roam around from place to place.”
“Where do you stay?” the King inquired.
“Everywhere,” pat came the reply.
King Akbar got irritated by the silly replies.
In an angry tone, he said, “How dare you speak this way? Do you know who I am? I am the Emperor of India. If you do not believe me take a look at this.”
Saying this, King Akbar took out the only ring with the royal insignia that only a King could possess.
“Let me see that,” the man said and took the ring from the king’s hand. Putting it in his pocket, he started to run.
King Akbar panicked. He started shouting “Stop thief. He is running away.”
Soon a crowd gathered there and started to chase the thief. They caught him soon. Then the man took out the royal ring and said, “How dare you believe a fool’s words? I am no thief. I am the Emperor of India, King Akbar. If you have any doubts, you can see this royal ring I have.”
The crowd believed the man for only the King could have the royal ring. They bowed low to him. When King Akbar saw this, he got very scared. He rushed back to the palace.
“Only Birbal knows that I am the King in disguise. I must take his help to recover the royal ring from the cheat.”
As the King reached his chamber, he saw a small bag on his bed. He opened it. The royal ring was in it along with a letter. King Akbar was very happy to get the royal ring back. He opened the letter eagerly and started reading it.
The letter said, “Your Majesty, I had warned you that your roaming around the kingdom without guards was not free of risk. You could have lost a lot more than your royal ring today.”
There was no name at the end of the letter. But King Akbar understood all.
He thought to himself, “It means that man was Birbal in disguise. He played this trick to make me realize my mistake. Now I understand what Birbal feared. From now on, I’ll never go out on such grounds alone. I’ll have in disguise to accompany me.”