Brain Teasers
Birbal the Wise - I
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?
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?
Answer
He politely requested the Emperor to lie on his side and pull up his knees, and then he could easily cover the Emperor from head to toe!Hide Answer Show Answer
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Comments
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?
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?
Good one, you are another Birbal in the making!
Yeeeeessss!!!
Got it!
Got it!
i thought he just ripped it!
gr8 teaser
gr8 teaser
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.
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!
Yeah. I never actually tought of putting them into teasers though.
Good idea!
Good idea!
Akbar is a name from StarWars. Hehe, sorry, nice teaser, even though I didn't get it!
I agreed with spazzyjazzy93.
i liked the teaser, it was fun
i liked the teaser, it was fun
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:
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:
ah good one! i didnt get it but it was good
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!
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!
good one and i thought it was going to be from head to toe.nto including either.
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!
Yes that's true Rammohan!
Yea! I got it! Very good teaser!!
I actually got it! I think I'm starting to get the hang of this!
yay! i actually got it!!!! !!!! yay me!!!!
Easy, but really cute.
I absolutely love these! Keep 'em coming... They're great
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.
I am just glad you were not part of Akbar's court!
Very nice riddle, clever answer too.
I thought he ripped the cloth in
OOOOPs!
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!
wat abt taking a pic.. n wrapping tat pic in the cloth.. lol
neways nice teaser.. easy but fun...
gr88..
neways nice teaser.. easy but fun...
gr88..
nice one!!!!! thats funny!
well done
I love it
I love it
Birbal has done it again.......keep e'm comming!
that was very polite of birbal
lol i like quax way rofl
For more wrinkling joy, read Madeline L'Engle's _A_Wrinkle_in_Time_.
I suddenly feel my self-esteem boost!
Birbal is the smartest, but the others are IDIOTS!!!!!!
My solution would be to turn the cloth sideways, thereby having the corners cover his head and toes.
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
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