In olden days, there was a king name Akbar who loved one of his ministers Birbal because of his wit and wisdom. However, there was a group was ministers who were jealous of this. They outwardly showered with him with praise and compliments, but inside they began to plot to kill him.
One day, the ministers approached his barber with a plan. As the barber was extremely close to the king, they asked him to get rid Birbal permanently. Of course, they promised him to pay a large sum of money. The barber greedily agreed.
The next day, king required his services; the barber started his conversation about the emperor’s father who he also used to serve. The barber sang praises of his fine silky-smooth hair and then the king was in a good mood, he asked that he could do anything for his ancestors.
The king was furious at such impertinent stupidity and told the barber that it was impossible because they were already dead. The barber told the king that he knows a magician who could send people to heaven to enquire after his father’s health. But the person had to be intelligent and responsible enough to make on the spot decisions and follow the magician’s instructions. The barber suggested the e person, the wisest of all minister’s Birbal.
The king was very excited about hearing his dead father and asked the barber to make arrangements immediately. The barber explained that Birbal would be taken to the cemetery and lit a pyre. The magician would chant sacred utterance which will protect Birbal from the fire. Then Birbal would ascend to the heaven.
The king happily informed Birbal about this plan. Birbal said that it was a brilliant idea and wanted to know whose plan was it. When learning that it was the barber’s plan he that agreed to go to heaven on two conditions that he will be given a large sum of money as well as on one month’s time to settle his family so that they don’t have no trouble while he is gone. The king agreed on both of the conditions.
In month, Birbal got few trustworthy men to build a tunnel from the cemetery to his house. On the day of ascension, Birbal escaped through the concealed doors of the tunnel. He disappeared into his house where he hid there for few months while his hair and beard were growing.
The ministers were rejoicing as they had seen the last of Birbal. Then one day, after few months Birbal arrived in the palace with the news of king’s father. The king was pleased to see him and he had a barrage of questions. Birbal told the king that his father had all facilities except one that there were no barbers up there. The king decided to send his own barber to the heaven. The magician was called the pyre was lit and barber on the spot. No one dared to conspire against Birbal again.