38 - A Close Shave

Summary

In this episode of 'Stories from India,' host Narad Muni narrates a tale of Emperor Akbar and his wise minister Birbal. The story revolves around a conspiracy by Akbar's ministers and the royal barber to get rid of Birbal by tricking him into a fake afterlife mission. Birbal, however, outsmarts them by faking his own death and reappearing later to reveal the truth. The episode ends with the conspirators imprisoned and a humorous twist that Birbal's presence is sorely missed in heaven due to the lack of a skilled barber for Akbar's bearded ancestors.

Takeaways

• 🎙️ The podcast 'Stories from India' narrates myths, legends, and folk tales, hosted by a character named Narad Muni who is a mythological figure with eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future.
• 👑 The story focuses on Emperor Akbar and his favorite minister, Birbal, known for his wisdom and wit in solving problems and answering difficult questions.
• 🃏 During a poker night, other ministers and the emperor's barber express their discontent with Birbal's favored status and plan to get rid of him by exploiting Akbar's belief in the afterlife.
• 💭 Birbal becomes aware of the conspiracy and devises a plan to outsmart his enemies by pretending to go to the afterlife to check on the emperor's ancestors.
• 🔥 Birbal creates a spectacle of his 'journey to the afterlife' by having a pyre set on fire, while secretly escaping through a tunnel back to his home.
• 📺 For a month, Birbal stays at home, binge-watching Netflix shows and growing a full beard, all while his enemies believe he has been sent to the afterlife.
• 🎉 Birbal makes a dramatic reappearance at the emperor's court, surprising everyone and delighting Akbar, who had been bored without his witty minister.
• 👴 Birbal tells Akbar that his ancestors in heaven are comfortable but lack good barbers, as evidenced by their long beards, which leads to a humorous situation.
• 🪓 The barber, part of the conspiracy, is ordered by Akbar to go to heaven, but instead, he and the other conspirators end up in prison.
• 🏆 The story ends with Birbal's victory, showing his resourcefulness and the consequences for those who conspired against him.
• 🎶 The podcast is supported by music from Purple Planet and encourages listeners to engage through comments, reviews, and social media.

Q & A

What is the podcast 'Stories from India' about?

The podcast 'Stories from India' is about myths, legends, and folk tales from India, hosted by Narad Money, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.

Who is the main character in the story of Akbar and Bebel?

The main characters in the story are Akbar, the emperor of most of medieval India, and Bebel, his favorite minister known for his wisdom and resourcefulness.

Why did the ministers and the barber dislike Bebel?

The ministers and the barber disliked Bebel because they felt he was favored by the emperor and his influence was causing issues for them, such as budget cuts and being asked silly questions.

What was the plan devised by the ministers and the barber to get rid of Bebel?

The plan was to exploit Akbar's belief in the afterlife by suggesting that someone be sent to the afterlife to help the emperor's ancestors. They hoped that Bebel, being the wisest, would be chosen for this task.

How did Bebel prepare for his supposed journey to the afterlife?

Bebel used the month of preparation to dig a tunnel under the stack of wood where he was supposed to be burned. The tunnel led back to his house where he stocked up on food and spent a month watching TV.

What happened to the conspirators who tried to get rid of Bebel?

The conspirators ended up in prison after their plan was exposed. They later applied for an exchange program to another kingdom.

What was the reason Akbar ordered the barber to be sent to heaven?

Akbar ordered the barber to be sent to heaven because Bebel reported that the emperor's ancestors in heaven were in need of a good barber, as their beards had grown very long.

How did Bebel manage to reappear in the court after supposedly being sent to the afterlife?

Bebel reappeared in the court by using the tunnel he had dug during his preparation. He grew a full beard to match his story of having been in heaven and walked in during an All Hands meeting.

What was the reaction of the court when Bebel reappeared?

There were gasps all around as people recognized Bebel. Akbar was delighted, and the court was once again captivated by Bebel's presence.

What was the final outcome for the conspirators after their plan was exposed?

The conspirators were sent to prison, and they eventually applied for an exchange program to another kingdom to escape further punishment.

Outlines

00:00

🎙️ Introduction to 'Stories from India' Podcast

The podcast 'Stories from India' is introduced by the host, Narad Muni, a mythological character with eternal life and omniscience. The podcast focuses on Indian myths, legends, and folk tales. The host, also a traveling musician and storyteller, discusses the story of Emperor Akbar and his favorite minister, Birbal. The episode is standalone, and listeners are encouraged to check out previous episodes for context. The story begins with discontent among other ministers and the emperor's barber, who are jealous of Birbal's favored status and his ability to solve problems and answer difficult questions. They conspire to get rid of Birbal by exploiting the emperor's belief in the afterlife.

05:00

🔥 Birbal's Cunning Escape from the Afterlife Plan

The ministers and the barber devise a plan to send someone to the afterlife to check on the emperor's ancestors, knowing that Akbar is gullible and would believe in such a journey. They spread rumors to reinforce this belief. Birbal, aware of the conspiracy, decides to play along. He requests a month to prepare and financial support for his family. On the day of the supposed journey, Birbal fakes his own cremation by setting a stack of wood on fire while secretly escaping through a tunnel back to his home. There, he spends a month binge-watching Netflix shows and growing a full beard before reappearing at court, much to everyone's surprise.

10:03

👨‍🦲 The Return of Birbal and the Barber's Downfall

Birbal returns to court during an All Hands meeting, shocking everyone present. Akbar is delighted to have Birbal back and provides him with comfort. Birbal shares a fabricated story of meeting Akbar's ancestors in heaven, claiming they are comfortable but lack a good barber, as evidenced by their long beards. This prompts Akbar to order the barber, who was part of the conspiracy, to be sent to heaven, effectively ending the plot against Birbal. The conspirators are imprisoned, and Birbal secures another victory. The podcast concludes with a teaser for the next episode featuring a mythical creature from the Himalayas and a call for listener feedback.

Keywords

💡Narad Muni

Narad Muni is a mythological character in Hindu mythology known for his eternal life and omniscience. In the context of the video, he serves as the host of the podcast, 'Stories from India,' and uses his gift of eternal life and knowledge to share tales from Indian folklore. His presence sets the tone for the mythical and legendary nature of the stories discussed.

💡Akbar

Akbar, referred to in the script, is the Mughal Emperor Akbar the Great, known for his wise rule and interest in understanding different cultures and religions. In the video's narrative, he is depicted as having a favored minister, Birbal, who is known for his wit and wisdom, paralleling the relationship between Akbar and Birbal in Indian folklore.

💡Birbal

Birbal, also known as Bebel in the script, is a legendary figure in Indian folklore and is one of Emperor Akbar's nine gems (navratnas) in his court. He is renowned for his intelligence and wit. The script revolves around a story where Birbal cleverly outsmarts a conspiracy against him, showcasing his resourcefulness and wisdom.

💡Conspiracy

A conspiracy in the script refers to a secret plan by the emperor's barber, ministers, and others to get rid of Birbal due to their jealousy and resentment. The term is central to the plot, illustrating the cunning and deceitful nature of the characters involved and the challenges Birbal must overcome.

💡Podcast

A podcast is an episodic series of digital audio or video files that a user can download to listen to or watch. In the script, the podcast 'Stories from India' is the medium through which the host, Narad Muni, narrates myths, legends, and folk tales, making it the central platform for storytelling.

💡Afterlife

The afterlife is a belief in life after death, often with the idea of an existence in another realm or plane. In the script, the characters exploit Akbar's belief in the afterlife to devise a plan to send Birbal there, under the pretense of helping the emperor's ancestors, which is a key element in the unfolding of the story.

💡Wit

Wit refers to quick and clever intelligence, often demonstrated through humor or sharp responses. Birbal's wit is a recurring theme in the script, as it is his ability to think quickly and humorously that allows him to outsmart the conspiracy against him.

💡Folklore

Folklore encompasses the traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth. The script is based on Indian folklore, specifically the tales of Emperor Akbar and Birbal, which are well-known and cherished in Indian culture.

💡All Hands Meeting

An 'All Hands Meeting' typically refers to a gathering of all members of an organization. In the script, it is a court meeting where Emperor Akbar discusses important matters with his courtiers. The term is used to depict the setting where key decisions and discussions take place.

💡Resourcefulness

Resourcefulness is the ability to find quick and clever ways to overcome difficulties. Birbal's resourcefulness is highlighted in the script when he devises a plan to fake his own death and escape the conspiracy, demonstrating his ability to think on his feet and outmaneuver his adversaries.

Highlights

Introduction of the podcast 'Stories from India' and the host Narad Muni, a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future.

The podcast focuses on the story of Akbar and Bebel, where Bebel is portrayed as Akbar's favorite minister and problem-solver.

Akbar's ministers and the emperor's barber express their discontent with Bebel's favored status and plan to get rid of him.

A plan is devised to exploit Akbar's belief in the afterlife by spreading rumors and news to reinforce his belief.

The barber raises questions about the comfort of Akbar's ancestors in heaven, sparking a discussion in the court.

The court decides to send someone to the afterlife to assist Akbar's ancestors, with Bebel being the obvious choice due to his wisdom and resourcefulness.

Bebel willingly accepts the mission to the afterlife, requesting a month to prepare and financial support for his family.

Bebel secretly digs a tunnel during his preparation month, leading from the pyre to his house, where he hides with a stockpile of food.

The conspirators celebrate, believing Bebel has been burned to death, unaware of his escape through the tunnel.

Bebel reappears at court with a full beard, surprising everyone and revealing that he has been in the afterlife.

Akbar is delighted by Bebel's return and eager to hear about his ancestors' well-being in heaven.

Bebel cleverly informs Akbar that his ancestors lack good barbers in heaven, leading to the exposure of the conspirators.

The barber and the conspirators are imprisoned, and they later apply for an exchange program to another kingdom to avoid punishment.

The podcast concludes with a teaser for the next episode featuring a creature from the Himalayas known in pop culture.

Invitation for listeners to leave comments, suggestions, or reviews on the podcast's website or social media.

Acknowledgment of the music source from Purple Planet and a sign-off from the host with a promise to see the listeners soon.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

[Applause]

hello and welcome to stories from India

a podcast where we talk about myths

Legends and folk tales from

India I'm your host narad money and I'm

a mythological character

myself I have the gift of eternal life

and knowledge of the past the present

and the

future by

profession I'm a traveling musician and

a

Storyteller so the way I'm doing my job

is by

podcast this week we are back with Akbar

and

bebal we'll see how beerel can pull off

a trick that even David Copperfield and

Houdini would have been proud

of if you haven't heard previous akar

bebel stories that's perfectly okay as

these stories are all

Standalone check out the links in the

show notes to earlier

episodes all you need to know for

today's episode is that Akbar was the

emperor of most of medieval

India as any Emperor

should he had many min

ERS but one of them was his absolute

favorite and that was

bebble akar could count on bebble to

solve every problem to give the wisest

replies to the toughest

questions and to get anyone out of any

sticky

situation bebell was the equivalent of

Jes to akar's biry w booster or Herm to

Harry

Potter today's Story begins not with

akar and beel but with a few other

people from the emperor's

Court it was poker

night at the poker table were three

other ministers and the emperor's

Barber as is usual amongst co-workers at

a social event who have a common boss

they started complaining about their

boss's

favorite and that was

bebble the minister for horse saddle

procurement slammed his cards down on

the table and cursed

beell my budgets are cut just because

bebble told a joke the other day about

some

horses the minister for manure and

fertilizers

added and if I have to answer another

one of silly and hypothetical questions

I might just ask for a transfer to

another

kingdom the barber chimed in you can say

that again I can't stand listening to

beable stories from the emperor

anymore the other day as I was trimming

his hair I almost snipped his ear

off if I hadn't been akar's dad's Barber

for years I'd have found a different job

by

now the fourth chap the emperor's

personal secretary's personal secretary

was a man of

action gentlemen he said we all agree

this is a deplorable

situation we should

act moving someplace else is not a good

idea I hear other countries have it

worse we should get rid of

beerel but

how does anyone have any

ideas they brainstormed a bit until they

finally hit upon a

plan Akbar was gullible and known to

believe in the

afterlife they would take advantage of

that soon they began spreading bits of

information and news around the palace

reinforcing akar's

belief after lots of this one day the

barber wondered aloud to akar that he

had had a new thought and that he was

really

worried how were akbar's dear old father

and grandfather getting on in

heaven were they

comfortable what if they needed

something wasn't it akar's duty to

ensure they were

comfortable these questions ate at the

gulal emperor

Emperor until finally he brought up

these questions during the next All

Hands meeting in his

court people pondered over

this but soon the emperor's personal

secretary's personal secretary had an

idea why not send someone to the

afterlife they could help out if the

emperor's ancestors needed

anything that seemed like a jolly good

idea to the

crowd beerel meanwhile was on his

guard he had been following the trending

afterlife hashtags all over the

kingdom he could see where this was

leading he began thinking

furiously once the entire court had

cheered for the decision to send someone

there was no doubt as to who would be

sent this job job required the wisest

the wittiest and the most resourceful

person amongst

them and that of course was

bebble Akbar was a bit

hesitant but he heard people muttering

around him about how Noble he was for

sacrificing bebel for his ancestors

needs beille stepped up and said he'd

love to

go the conspirators had not expected

that but the plan was working it

seemed beer will continued that it would

be a pleasure to see the emperor's

ancestors he'd just need a bit of time

to

prepare say a month or

so and

money call it his entire earnings and

pension for what might have been the

rest of his

life he would secure his family

future top up his kids college fund and

only then head out on the oneway

trip that sounded reasonable

enough a month passed by very

quickly on the appointed date beerel had

prepared an elaborate P for himself

stacked with logs of

wood he waved everyone goodbye and got

in between all of the

wood he gave the goahead signal to a

couple of guards who then promptly set

the stack of wood on

fire hours later when the wood had

completely burned out everyone headed

home the conspirators hung back to make

sure that everything in the stack had

indeed burned

completely and then they went off for a

celebratory drink

but don't worry beille was completely

safe he had figured out that the barber

was involved and that he was the weakest

link in the

conspiracy beerel had used the month of

preparation to prepare a

tunnel right under the stack of wood the

tunnel led him back to his house where

he camped out on a ton of food he had

locked

away he spent the next month binge

watching on all of the latest Netflix

shows finally when he had had enough of

watching TV he decided to make his next

move he had been careful not to shave

during the entire month and now he had a

full

beard he walked in at halftime during

the next All Hands meeting at akar's

court there were gasps all around as

people recognized

him Akbar was

delighted the past month had been

extremely dull without beerel

around beerel had been comfortable

enough in his own home but no one else

knew

that your majesty he said it's been a

long

journey Akbar immediately ordered his

servants to bring in a recliner

some drinks and food and anything else

beer might

need as beer slowly ate his food and

sipped at his drink all eyes were

expectantly glued to

him finally Akbar

asked well did you meet my

father of course your majesty replied

bebel your illustrious father received

me warmly

he's in excellent health and having the

time of his life so are all your

ancestors Akbar then asked if they were

all comfortable in

heaven absolutely replied beel they have

every possible

Comfort

except yes go on prompted

akar well it's like this your highness

there's every possible comfort in

heaven except for good

Barbers you can tell from my own

beard most of your ancestors have beards

trailing down to their

feet in fact just the other day right

after he had tripped on his own beard

your father mentioned to me how very

badly he misses the Royal

Barber you can guess the

reaction Akbar was distressed by this

piece of news and immediately ordered

the barber to be sent to

heaven the barber didn't go of

course he would sooner give up all his

co-conspirators than be burned

up and that's exactly how all of them

ended up in

prison another victory for

bebble and and this one served as a

warning to any other future

conspirators they applied for an

exchange program to another kingdom

instead that's all for

now previous akar and bebble episodes

include episode 9 a clever minister in

King akar's Court episode 10 The Great

detective and episode 22 slow

cooker in the next mini episode we'll

meet a creature from the Himalayas whose

existence is very much

debated its existence in pop culture is

indisputable as it makes guest

appearances in tinon and Disney and

Marvel

Comics as well as various movies

including one as recent as last

year if you have comments or suggestions

please leave a comment or a review on

the site sfip podcast.com or tweet at

SFI podcast you can also find me on

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subscribe to the show to get notified

automatically of new

episodes thanks to all your listeners

for your continued support and

feedback the music is from purp

planet.com that's

purple-planet.com I'll see you

soon

[Music]

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