Once upon a time
Birbal Counts the Crows
Akbar-Birbal · retold for families
About 3 min read aloud · For grown-ups and children together
Akbar pointed at rooftops black with crows. “Birbal, count them exactly.”
Birbal closed his eyes, then said, “Exactly twenty-one thousand, five hundred and sixty.”
“Prove it,” demanded the emperor. Birbal smiled. “If more, relatives visit. If fewer, some visit relatives. In Agra, the number stays.”
Akbar clapped. The court roared. Outside, crows cawed as if agreeing.
The tale ends with parents saying: clever answers need not be cold — they can be kind jokes too.
Classic tale retold by IRA Creations for screen-free bedtime. After the story, try a quiet craft — our painting kits or free colouring sheets.