Braingle: 'Birbal the Wise - I' Brain Teaser

Birbal the Wise - I

Trick brain teasers appear difficult at first, but they have a trick that makes them really easy.

Puzzle ID:	#30295
Fun:	(2.99)
Difficulty:	(1.66)
Category:	Trick
Submitted By:	brainster
Corrected By:	MarcM1098

Emperor Akbar once ruled over India. He was a wise and intelligent ruler, and he had in his court the Nine Gems, his nine advisors, who were each known for a particular skill. One of these Gems was Birbal, known for his wit and wisdom. The story below is one of the examples of his wit. Do you have it in you to find out the answer?

Once, Emperor Akbar wanted to find out which of his courtiers was the most intelligent. He put forth to them a test, announcing that whoever won the test would be awarded the title of "The Most Intelligent Courtier".

He brought a piece of white cloth, laid himself down on the floor, and said whoever could cover him with the cloth from head to toe would get the award.

Several courtiers tried, but to no avail. If they covered the Emperor's head, the toes remained uncovered.

Finally, Birbal came in and achieved what none of the courtiers could achieve! What did he do?

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Comments

batti_s May 06, 2006	Nice teaser. Smart one.... Alternate: Birbal stands very close to Akbar's head. He covers Akbar's head and his own toe with the cloth. Akbar did not say that the head and toe must both be his, right?
brainster May 06, 2006	Good one, you are another Birbal in the making!
terranmarine May 06, 2006	Yeeeeessss!!! Got it!
spazzyjazzy93 May 06, 2006	i thought he just ripped it! gr8 teaser
Swordoffury1392 May 07, 2006	Great. I got it! I'm Indian and I've heard a lot of stories of Birbal from my parents. A lot of them are interesting.
brainster May 08, 2006	That's great swordoffury! I did not know you were Indian! These were a big part of my childhood too, and I think some of the stories make great teaser material!
Swordoffury1392 May 08, 2006	Yeah. I never actually tought of putting them into teasers though. Good idea!
Punk_Rocker May 10, 2006	Akbar is a name from StarWars. Hehe, sorry, nice teaser, even though I didn't get it!
irar1792 May 10, 2006	I agreed with spazzyjazzy93. i liked the teaser, it was fun
blagh May 11, 2006	I thought he'd brought in another piece of cloth as well and used both of them. That way he is covered, and it is partially with the cloth. I also thought of bringin in clay and wiping it on with the cloth. Again he's covered (with clay) using the cloth. Of course there'd probably be a death sentence in there as well, but it would work. Add in your other possible answers in the space provided below:
fem81uk May 13, 2006	ah good one! i didnt get it but it was good
unklemyke May 14, 2006	Or, Birbal might have just pulled the cloth over the Emperor's head for a minute, then down enough to cover the feet - being covered SIMULTANEOUSLY was not part of the challenge!
jazzmusician46 May 14, 2006	Yes...I tend to agree with you. The answer tends to suggest the goal posts were moved a fraction compared to the original problem. That in itself is a challenge!
Onslaught May 22, 2006	good one and i thought it was going to be from head to toe.nto including either.
RRAMMOHAN May 23, 2006	In those days, how many of the King's courtiers had the courage to ask His Highness to change the position the King had chosen to lie down? None, perhaps, except Birbal!
brainster May 24, 2006	Yes that's true Rammohan!
qqqq May 29, 2006	Yea! I got it! Very good teaser!!
didida Jun 03, 2006	I actually got it! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!
xxrid3_str0ngxx Jun 06, 2006	yay! i actually got it!!!! !!!! yay me!!!!
smarty_blondy Jun 15, 2006	Easy, but really cute.
akl21 Jun 20, 2006	I absolutely love these! Keep 'em coming... They're great
Quax Jun 21, 2006	I had considered covering the emporer's head, then giving him a sharp kick to the side. Then, before the guards can swoop in, adjust the cloth to cover his feet as he rolls around in pain. Asking politely may be more diplomatic.
brainster Jun 22, 2006	I am just glad you were not part of Akbar's court!
schoo Jun 25, 2006	Very nice riddle, clever answer too.
kittyloverhan22 Jun 29, 2006	I thought he ripped the cloth in
kittyloverhan22 Jun 29, 2006	OOOOPs!
kittyloverhan22 Jun 29, 2006	I thought he ripped the cloth in half and put one half on his head, and the other half on his feet. Heh heh. You got me, but oh well!
nids Jul 10, 2006	wat abt taking a pic.. n wrapping tat pic in the cloth.. lol neways nice teaser.. easy but fun... gr88..
luv2sing101 Jul 21, 2006	nice one!!!!! thats funny!
Lizzie713 Oct 26, 2006	well done I love it
senther7 Dec 01, 2006	Birbal has done it again.......keep e'm comming!
LeafFan4life May 28, 2007	that was very polite of birbal
LeafFan4life May 28, 2007	lol i like quax way rofl
FatHead Nov 17, 2007	For more wrinkling joy, read Madeline L'Engle's _A_Wrinkle_in_Time_.
thisisme91 Apr 04, 2008	I suddenly feel my self-esteem boost!
crocodile Nov 27, 2009	Birbal is the smartest, but the others are IDIOTS!!!!!!
math321 Jun 23, 2012	My solution would be to turn the cloth sideways, thereby having the corners cover his head and toes.
ciciocle Sep 08, 2012	this is easy if you are a Romanian. we have an old saying: one must lie down just as long his blanket is. and we also have a variant of this story that goes this way: when the ruler (the emperor etc) covered his head with the blanket and showed that his feet are uncovered, the wise man hit his toes with a stick, thus the ruler pulled his feet under the blanket