One day Emperor Akbar asked Birbal what he would choose if he were given a choice between justice and a gold coin.

�The gold coin,� said Birbal. Akbar was taken aback. 
�You would prefer a gold coin to justice?� he asked, incredulously. 
�Yes,� said Birbal. 

The other courtiers were also amazed by Birbal�s display of idiocy. For years they had been trying to discredit Birbal in the emperor�s eyes but without success and now the man had gone and done it himself! They could not believe their good fortune. 

�I would have been dismayed if even the lowliest of my servants had said this,� continued the emperor. �But coming from you it�s. . . it�s shocking - and sad. I did not know you were so debased!� 

�One asks for what one does not have, Your Majesty!� said Birbal, quietly. �You have seen to it that in our country justice is available to everybody. So as justice is already available to me also; and as I�m always short of money I said I would choose the gold coin.� 

The emperor was so pleased with Birbal�s reply that he gave him not only one but a thousand gold coins.

The End