The Foolish Astrologer

A traveling astrologer arrived at Akbar's court, boasting loudly that he could read the future in the stars with perfect accuracy, down to the very day a person would die. To prove his skill, he offered to read the fortune of anyone in the court, free of charge, as a demonstration of his gift.

Several courtiers, jealous of Birbal's favor with the emperor, saw an opportunity and encouraged the astrologer to read Birbal's fortune specifically, hoping to unsettle him in front of everyone.

The astrologer studied Birbal's palm and consulted his charts with great ceremony, then announced, with grave confidence, "I see clearly — you, Birbal, will die exactly seven days from this very day."

A hush fell over the court. Several courtiers exchanged satisfied glances, expecting Birbal to be shaken. But Birbal only nodded thoughtfully and thanked the astrologer politely for the reading, showing no sign of fear at all.

Seven days later, as it happened, Birbal appeared at court perfectly healthy, very much alive, and went about his duties as usual. Akbar, both relieved and curious, summoned the astrologer back to explain himself before the whole court.

The astrologer stammered and hesitated, unable to account for his failed prediction.

"Since you can read exactly when a person will die," Birbal said calmly, stepping in, "surely you must also know when your own death will come. Please, tell the emperor — on what day will you yourself die?"

The astrologer, caught completely off guard, tried to avoid the question, but Akbar insisted he answer honestly. Cornered, the man finally admitted, in a trembling voice, that he had no way of knowing such a thing at all — that his charts and predictions were nothing more than clever guesses dressed up in confident words.

"Then how," Birbal asked gently, "could you claim to know the date of my death, when you cannot even guess your own?"

The astrologer had no answer. Akbar, seeing through the deception entirely, dismissed him from court that same day — while the jealous courtiers who had hoped to see Birbal humiliated found themselves quietly embarrassed instead.