Chapter 14
Birbal Outwits The Cheat
1. Who was Birbal?
Answer: Birbal served as Emperor Akbar’s most trusted advisor and minister. Famous for his intelligence and sharp wit, he was often called upon to resolve complicated problems and disputes in the royal court. His cleverness and wisdom made him capable of outsmarting dishonest people and ensuring justice was done.
2. Who was Akbar?
Answer: Akbar was a prominent emperor of India, known for his fairness and sense of justice. He conducted a durbar, or royal court, where anyone could present their grievances. He relied heavily on his ministers, particularly Birbal, to provide advice, solve problems wisely, and maintain justice in his kingdom.
3. Who was the villager in the story?
Answer: The villager was a man who had previously sold his well to Gopal. He came to Emperor Akbar’s court with a complaint, stating that Gopal was using the water without paying for it. In reality, the villager was attempting to deceive Gopal and demand additional payment for something that no longer belonged to him.
4. Who was Gopal?
Answer: Gopal was the man who had bought the well from the villager. He had full rights to use the well and its water. The villager’s demand for additional payment for the water was unfair and dishonest, making Gopal the target of an attempted deceit.
5. Why did the villager go to Akbar’s court?
Answer: The villager approached Akbar’s court to lodge a complaint against Gopal. He claimed that Gopal was using the water from the well without paying for it, seeking the emperor’s authority to make Gopal pay again, despite the fact that Gopal had already purchased the well legally.
6. What was the villager’s complaint?
Answer: The villager’s complaint was that Gopal, who had bought the well, was using its water without giving him any money for it. He sought extra payment for the water, attempting to take advantage of the situation for his personal gain.
7. Was the villager’s complaint fair? Why or why not?
Answer: No, the complaint was not fair. After selling the well, all rights over the well and the water passed to Gopal. Since the villager no longer owned it, he could not ask for any additional payment.
8. How did Birbal respond to the villager’s complaint?
Answer: Birbal wisely explained that since the well now belonged to Gopal, the villager had no claim over the water inside it. He added that if the villager still considered the water his, he should take it out at once or else accept that he had no right to demand any payment.
9. What was the villager trying to do?
Answer:The villager was attempting to deceive Gopal. Even after selling the well, he tried to demand additional money for the water inside it. His greedy intention became clear when Birbal pointed out the foolishness of his claim.
10. How did the villager react to Birbal’s solution?
Answer: The villager at once understood that his trick had been exposed. Feeling ashamed, he admitted his wrongdoing, apologized to Gopal, and agreed not to repeat such dishonest behaviour in the future.
11. What lesson does this story teach about honesty?
Answer: The story shows that cheating or being dishonest never leads to success. Anyone who tries to deceive others will be caught sooner or later. It reminds us that being truthful and fair is the right and wise way to act.
12. How does the story show the importance of wisdom?
Answer: The story highlights wisdom through Birbal’s sharp and thoughtful approach. He immediately grasped what the villager was trying to do and offered a solution that exposed the truth without creating any conflict. His intelligent handling of the situation shows how wise thinking can resolve problems effectively.
13. How did Akbar show his trust in Birbal?
Answer:Akbar demonstrated his trust by allowing Birbal to handle the matter and find a just solution. He depended on Birbal’s wisdom and believed that Birbal would judge the case rightly, showing his confidence in Birbal’s abilities.
14. What is the significance of the well in the story?
Answer: The well plays a key role as it is the main item that was sold. Whoever owned the well also had the right to the water in it. The villager’s attempt to demand money for the water after selling the well created the dispute, which Birbal settled with his wise judgment.
15. How did Birbal use logic to resolve the issue?
Answer: Birbal applied clear logic by stating that since the well now belonged to Gopal, the water inside it must also belong to him. This straightforward reasoning exposed the weakness in the villager’s claim, making him understand that his complaint had no basis.
16. How does the story illustrate justice?
Answer:The story demonstrates justice by safeguarding Gopal, the honest party, and revealing the villager’s dishonesty. Birbal handled the situation fairly, showing that true justice involves addressing wrongdoing while maintaining fairness and balance.
17. What qualities make Birbal an effective minister?
Answer: Birbal is an effective minister because of his sharp intellect, cleverness, honesty, and quick decision-making. His skill in resolving problems fairly and using both logic and wit helps him manage difficult situations and uphold justice.
18. What role does honesty play in the story?
Answer: Honesty is a key theme in the story. The villager’s attempt to be dishonest is uncovered, while Gopal’s truthful conduct is safeguarded. The story underscores that dishonesty might appear beneficial at first, but it eventually leads to failure.
19. How does the story reflect human greed?
Answer: The story reflects human greed through the villager’s effort to demand extra payment for the water. His desire for personal gain led him to act dishonestly, demonstrating how greed can drive people to unfair and unethical behavior.
20. How does Birbal’s approach differ from direct confrontation?
Answer: Birbal avoids openly accusing the villager of dishonesty. He employs logic and clever phrasing to lead the villager to recognize his own mistake, demonstrating that conflicts can be resolved effectively through tact and intelligence rather than direct confrontation.
21. How does the story entertain readers?
Answer: The story engages readers with Birbal’s sharp wit and the amusing way the villager’s dishonest plan is revealed. The moment when the villager admits his wrongdoing provides humor, making the story enjoyable while still conveying a moral lesson.
22. How does the story emphasize fairness?
Answer: The story highlights fairness by protecting Gopal, the honest buyer, from being taken advantage of, while also addressing the villager’s attempt to cheat. The resolution ensures justice is done without imposing unnecessary punishment.
23. What would have happened if Birbal had not intervened?
Answer: If Birbal had not stepped in, the villager could have gotten away with cheating Gopal, resulting in unfairness. This shows how intelligence and wisdom are essential for ensuring justice and resolving disputes properly.
24. How is quick thinking shown in the story?
Answer: Quick thinking is displayed when Birbal immediately grasped the villager’s dishonest intent and came up with a clever solution that revealed the truth. His fast and effective response highlights how prompt thinking can resolve problems efficiently.
25. How does the story reflect the idea of rightful ownership?
Answer: The story illustrates that ownership transfers completely once something is sold, including all associated rights such as the use of water. The villager had no claim to ask for money for the water from a well that no longer belonged to him.
26. How does the story highlight the power of observation?
Answer: The story highlights observation through Birbal noticing the villager’s suspicious complaint and quickly understanding his intention to cheat. It demonstrates that attentive observation is key to uncovering the truth in any situation.
27. How does Birbal maintain respect for the emperor while solving the case?
Answer: Birbal handles the situation with logic and tact, avoiding any disrespect toward others. He delivers a fair solution while demonstrating loyalty and respect for Akbar, upholding the dignity of the court.
28. What effect does the story have on readers?
Answer: The story amuses readers while imparting important moral lessons. It encourages appreciation for honesty, wisdom, and fairness, and showcases Birbal’s clever problem-solving, making the tale both instructive and enjoyable.
29. How does the story show that justice prevails?
Answer: The story demonstrates that justice prevails by revealing the villager’s dishonesty and safeguarding Gopal’s honesty. Fairness and truth ultimately overcome greed and deceit.
30. What does the story teach about using intelligence to solve problems?
Answer: The story illustrates that smart thinking and logical reasoning can effectively solve disputes. Birbal resolves the case through clever strategies without any conflict, demonstrating that thoughtful problem-solving is more effective than using force or direct confrontation.
31. How does the villager show human weakness?
Answer: The villager displays common human flaws like greed and dishonesty. His effort to demand extra money after selling the well highlights how people can give in to temptation and act unjustly for their own benefit.
32. What moral lesson does the villager learn?
Answer: The villager learns that being dishonest is wrong and will ultimately fail when faced with wisdom and fairness. He admits his mistake and vows not to cheat again, realizing the value of honesty.
33. Why is the story still popular today?
Answer: The story remains popular because it blends humor, clever thinking, moral teachings, and smart problem-solving. Birbal’s wit and the amusing revelation of the villager’s dishonesty keep it engaging across generations.
34. How does the story highlight Akbar’s fair governance?
Answer: The story showcases Akbar’s fairness by showing that his court hears every complaint and seeks justice. By trusting Birbal to resolve issues wisely, Akbar demonstrates both fairness and sound judgment in governance.
35. How does Birbal ensure the villager confesses without embarrassment?
Answer: Birbal carefully frames his words so that the villager recognizes the flaw in his own claim. By avoiding a direct accusation, he allows the villager to admit his wrongdoing gracefully, ensuring the confession occurs without shame.
36. How is problem-solving portrayed in the story?
Answer: Problem-solving is shown through the use of reasoning, keen observation, and ingenuity. Birbal analyzes the situation, discerns the villager’s motives, and comes up with a solution that settles the matter efficiently.
37. What does the story suggest about greed and dishonesty?
Answer: The story indicates that while greed and dishonesty might seem beneficial at first, they eventually fail. Wisdom and fairness reveal such behavior, conveying an important lesson about proper moral conduct.
38. How is the theme of wit shown in the story?
Answer: The theme of wit is demonstrated by Birbal’s smart handling of the situation. His quick thinking and clever strategy outmaneuver the villager, emphasizing the value of intelligence in overcoming challenges.
39. What role does Akbar’s authority play in the story?
Answer: Akbar’s authority sets the stage for justice to be served. The villager approaches the emperor’s court for a resolution, giving Birbal the opportunity to act and uphold fairness in the matter.
40. Summarize the main lesson of the story.
Answer: The story teaches that honesty, fairness, and wisdom are essential virtues. While greed and cheating might appear appealing, they are eventually uncovered by clever reasoning. True justice is achieved when intelligence and fairness guide actions, and dishonesty faces its natural consequences.
Answer by Mrinmoee
