9 - A clever Minister in King Akbar's court
Summary
TLDRIn this episode of 'Stories from India,' the host, Narad Monei, explores Indian myths and legends. The story features Emperor Akbar and Mahesh Raj, who gains recognition for his wisdom and becomes known as Beil. Beil's cleverness is showcased as he resolves a dispute over a neighbor's greed, using the ambiguity of the word 'like.' The episode also hints at the tale of Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu, and promises future stories of Akbar and Beil's adventures, including Beil's role as a method actor and his unique approach to problem-solving.
Takeaways
- ποΈ 'Stories from India' is a podcast narrating Indian myths, legends, and folk tales.
- π§ Narrator Narad Monei is a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future.
- πΆ The podcast uses music and applause as part of its presentation style.
- π± The story of Akbar and Bebel highlights the importance of charging phones for long trips, with a humorous modern-day reference.
- π Akbar, the 16th-century emperor of India, was known for his fairness and occasional eccentricities.
- π€ The tale of Akbar and Mahesh Raj shows how Akbar valued Mahesh's equal treatment and wisdom, leading to a job offer at the court.
- π The concept of method acting is introduced through the story of a mimic who impresses with his immersive performance.
- π‘ A story involving a merchant and his neighbor emphasizes the importance of precise language in agreements, as exploited by Bebel.
- π Bebel's role in resolving disputes showcases his intelligence and the value of clear communication.
- π The character of Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu, is mentioned as part of the mythological context.
- π The podcast invites listener feedback and corrections, emphasizing the interactive and evolving nature of the storytelling.
Q & A
What is the podcast 'Stories from India' about?
-The podcast 'Stories from India' is about discussing myths, legends, and folk tales from India.
Who is the narrator of the podcast 'Stories from India'?
-The narrator is Narad Muni, a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.
Why did Emperor Akbar and his friends find themselves lost during a hunting trip?
-Emperor Akbar and his friends found themselves lost because they strayed from the regular path and their phone batteries died, leaving them unable to navigate.
What was the significance of the pebble thrown by Mahesh Raj at the mimic's back?
-The pebble thrown by Mahesh Raj made the mimic's back shiver exactly as a real bull would have, demonstrating the mimic's talent for method acting.
How did Mahesh Raj prove his wisdom to Emperor Akbar?
-Mahesh Raj proved his wisdom by choosing to gift his lucky cap to the mimic, which impressed Akbar and led to him being given a job at the court.
What was the unique job given to Mahesh Raj by Emperor Akbar?
-Mahesh Raj was given a job to hang around the court, get a salary, and occasionally receive bonuses.
What was the dilemma faced by the old merchant whose house caught fire?
-The old merchant's dilemma was that all his valuable possessions were inside a bag in a cupboard in his burning house, and he couldn't retrieve them without risking his life.
What agreement did the merchant and the neighbor make regarding the retrieval of the merchant's valuables?
-The agreement was that the neighbor would retrieve the bag and give the merchant whatever he liked, keeping the rest for himself.
How did Beil resolve the dispute between the merchant and the neighbor?
-Beil resolved the dispute by interpreting the agreement in a way that the neighbor had to give the merchant the gold, jewels, and money, and keep the bag for himself, as he 'liked' the valuables and 'did not like' the bag.
What is the significance of the story of the boar (Varaha) in the context of the podcast?
-The story of the boar (Varaha), the third avatar of Vishnu, is significant as it represents another encounter with a powerful demon and showcases the divine intervention to restore order and justice.
What is the importance of precise language as illustrated in the story of the merchant and the neighbor?
-The importance of precise language is illustrated in the story to highlight how the choice of words can lead to different interpretations and outcomes, emphasizing the need for clear communication.
Outlines
π Akbar's Adventurous Rule and Mahesh Raj's Wisdom
In this episode of 'Stories from India', Narad Monei introduces himself as a mythological character with eternal life and knowledge, setting the stage for a tale of Emperor Akbar's adventures. Akbar, known for his fairness and occasional eccentricities, is depicted as a young ruler who enjoys hunting trips with his friends. During one such trip, they lose their way and their phones die, leading to a humorous situation where Akbar needs to prove his identity to a skeptical boy named Mahesh Raj. Mahesh Raj's defiance and Akbar's determination to prove his status form the crux of this narrative, highlighting the emperor's human side and his interactions with common folk.
π The Mimic and Mahesh Raj's Insightful Gesture
Continuing from the previous episode, Mahesh Raj is given a chance to prove Akbar's identity by presenting the emperor's ring at court. The story unfolds with a mimic's performance, where Mahesh Raj, despite being poor, chooses to gift his lucky cap instead of the ring. His decision is based on the mimic's exceptional performance, which he believes deserves appreciation. Akbar is impressed by Mahesh Raj's wisdom and hires him without any formalities. This segment explores themes of appreciation for art, the value of wisdom, and the unexpected paths to recognition and employment.
π₯ The Merchant's Dilemma and Beil's Clever Ruling
This paragraph delves into a legal dilemma involving a merchant whose house catches fire, and his valuables are at risk. The merchant makes a hasty agreement with a neighbor to retrieve his valuables, only to be disappointed when the neighbor keeps everything but returns the empty bag. The case is brought before Akbar, who assigns it to Beil. Beil cleverly interprets the agreement, ruling that the neighbor must return the valuables since he 'liked' them, and can keep the bag, which he did not. This story showcases Beil's wisdom and the importance of precise language in agreements, as well as the moral lesson about greed and fairness.
π Varaha: The Boar Avatar and its Impact
In the final paragraph, the narrative shifts to a mythological tale involving Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu. The story begins with a wish fulfillment gone wrong by Brahma, who grants a demon, Hiranyaksha, immense power, making him nearly invulnerable. This leads to chaos and the submersion of the earth beneath the ocean. Vishnu, in the form of Varaha, dives into the ocean, restores the earth, and defeats Hiranyaksha. The episode ends with a teaser for the next week's stories, promising more adventures of Akbar and Beil, and a discussion on the Tree of Life. The segment also invites feedback and corrections, emphasizing the interactive nature of the podcast.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Narad Muni
π‘Akbar
π‘Method Acting
π‘Bebel
π‘Hunting Trip
π‘Mahesh Raj
π‘Mimic
π‘Merchant and Neighbor
π‘Vishnu
π‘Brahma
π‘Bore
Highlights
Introduction to the podcast 'Stories from India' hosted by the mythological character Narad Moneoi, who has the gift of eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.
The podcast dives into Indian myths, legends, and folk tales, such as the story of Akbar and Bebel, with a humorous take on modern-day issues like charging phones.
Emperor Akbar's character is portrayed as a fair king with occasional eccentricities, showing a human side to historical figures.
The tale of Mahesh Raj, a common boy who impresses Akbar with his manner and wisdom, leading to an unexpected friendship and job offer.
The concept of 'method acting' is introduced through the story of a mimic who so convincingly imitates a bull that he is recognized as the original method actor.
A story about the importance of precise language is shared, where a neighbor's greed is outsmarted by Bebel using the ambiguity of the word 'like'.
The story of a merchant and his neighbor illustrates the consequences of not specifying terms in an agreement, leading to a lesson in the power of words.
Bebel's role as a wise advisor to Akbar is highlighted, showing a unique relationship between a king and his counselor.
The introduction of the character Waraha, the boar and the third avatar of Vishnu, adds a layer of religious mythology to the podcast's narrative.
A humorous critique of Brahma's over-generous granting of powers to demons, highlighting a recurring theme in Indian mythology.
The story of how Vishnu, as a boar, restores the Earth and defeats the demon Hiranaka, showcasing the heroism of the deity.
An upcoming episode teaser about Bebel in 'Sherlock Holmes mode', promising a tale of crime investigation using psychology.
A sneak peek at the 'Tree of Life' episode, which will explore a magical tree that can grant any wish.
A call for audience feedback and corrections, showing the host's openness to interaction and improvement.
Acknowledgment of the support from family and friends, and an invitation for listeners to engage with the podcast through reviews and social media.
Credits for the podcast's music from Purple Planet, adding a layer of professionalism and creativity to the production.
Transcripts
[Music]
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hello and welcome to stories from India
a podcast where we talk about myths
Legends and folk tales from India in
case this is your first episode let me
quickly introduce myself I narad monei
and I am a mythological character to
myself I have the gift of eternal life
and knowledge of the past the present
and the
future and I am a traveling musician and
a Storyteller by
profession I used to walk around with a
wiena for several Millennia but
podcasting has made my job so much
easier this week we'll dive into the
world of akar and
bebel where you'll learn why you should
always charge your phone before you head
out on long
trips and you'll also learn about the
very first method actor you'll also see
why you should choose your words
carefully when you're rushing into a
burning
house the character this week is a bore
it can change size and it can
swim if your reaction to that is yeah
sure that'll happen when pigs fly you're
right because this B can fly too now on
to the
show Akbar was the emperor of 16th
century India like most rulers we have
met in this podcast he was a fair
King but unlike most of those kings
Akbar did have occasional
eccentricities more on that
later we'll start off before bebble was
bebble Emperor Akbar had become ruler of
India when he was just 13 years old
instead of hanging out at movie theaters
and playing video games at the arcade he
was instead running a
country and because he was running the
country he got to decide what his
friends did as well if he wasn't going
to have fun they weren't
either so his friends would often have
to be delighted to accompany akar on his
hunting
trips on one such trip they strayed
quite a ways away from the regular
path and as happens in these situations
their phone batteries died so they
couldn't get a handle on where they
were I need a horse and saddle with an
inbuilt charger next time thought akar
in fact I'll email the stable boy right
now and then he looked at his dead phone
and
groaned and to top it all they were
thirsty we could just ask that boy for
water said one of Aur hostages I mean
friends Akbar looked up and saw the boy
the boy seemed bright but was also
deliberately ignoring how richly the
hunting party was
dressed they all did ask the boy for
water and the boy said okay but with
almost an air of
defiance what's your name asked
akar what's yours replied the
boy I am Akbar said akar and I'm Mahesh
Raj said the boy and sure just follow me
home and you can have all the water you
need Mahesh Raj took them home and gave
everyone water and also directions to
Agra which was where Akbar
ruled Akbar was pretty intrigued by
Mahesh Raj's
manner unlike everyone else he had
encountered in his entire 13-year-old
life Mahesh was not treating him like a
god
he seemed to consider Akbar his
equal so I don't know how else to bring
this up said akar you do know that I'm
the emperor right that's a tall story
said
Mahesh I am believe me said
akar in the absence of any objective and
incontrovertible proof I don't said
Mahesh
Raj Akbar being a typical team teager
now absolutely wanted to prove his
point Mahesh Raj didn't believe him even
after Akbar pulled out money with his
face on it that's not objective said
Mahesh Raj it's extremely hard to pull
off a likeness on
currency this is the 16th century after
all and metallurgical or printing Arts
are by no means
perfect Akbar would have continued to
try to to prove his point but his Pals
were rushing him
now it had been a whole day since they
had played Super
Mario they shouldn't have to hang back
here any
longer fine said Akbar to Mahesh here's
my ring just show up in court and then
you'll
see and then Akbar and his hunting party
went back to
Agra Mahesh Raj did travel to Agra after
a
while as it happens he reached akbar's
Court just as there was live
entertainment there was a mimic who
could imitate any animal it was amazing
to
hear every time he imitated some animal
people would gift him
something seeing as the people at CT
were the Kingdom's richest those gifts
were mostly gold and
silver Mahesh Raj was in their midst he
was poor and had nothing much other than
his his lucky cap and the emperor's
ring when the mimic mimicked a bull
everyone was impressed and dropped more
gold and silver into the mimik
Hat Mahesh Raj had a thought he picked
up a small pebble and bunged it at the
mimiks back not
forcefully but the mimiks back shivered
exactly as a real bull might have done
if hit by a
pebble this impressed Mahesh Raj Mahesh
Raj debated for a moment between the
emperor's ring and his lucky but old and
battered
cap and finally decided to gift the
mimic the more valuable of the two his
cap while some people in the audience
turned their noses up at the dirty
looking gift which wasn't even
accompanied by a gift receipt the
emperor noticed this and asked the boy
to explain his
actions both throwing the pebble and
gifting the mimic his
hat Mahesh Raj quickly explained how it
was his lucky hat and all and that he
had chosen to show his appreciation only
after the mimic acted exactly like a
bull making a bull sound is something
that can be learned but this mimic
clearly immersed himself in the role
Beyond just the
voice he had reacted to the pebble
exactly as a real bull may have have in
short the mimic was the original method
actor the mimic had never before been
appreciated for this and he was quick to
forgive the pebble thrown at him Akbar
was quite impressed by Mahesh Raj's
wisdom and he also finally recognized
the
boy immediately he gave the boy a job
without so much as a background check or
even glancing at his resume
the job description was
straightforward hang around the court
get a salary and occasionally
bonuses Mahesh Raj accepted and about
this time everyone started calling him
beerbo a very good decision frankly the
tales of Akbar and Mahesh Raj just
sounds awkward akar and Beil is so much
better here's one of those stories
there was once an old Merchant in the
Kingdom he had some valuables with him
that he kept in the safest possible
place in a bag in a cupboard in his
house there weren't any Bank walls then
there were some sort of banks who could
hold your money for you but those Banks
were run by a single
person and that person would hold your
valuables in a bag in his cupboard in
his
house so all in all the merchant was
quite justified in keeping his valuables
the way he did one day the Merchant's
house caught on
fire given most houses were made of
straw and cow dunk back then both of
which aren't exactly fire
resistant this was going to be a
disaster luckily the old Merchant
managed to escape but all his worldly
possession ions were in the bag in the
cupboard inside the burning
house he wanted to go in again and get
the
bag but his neighbor a much younger man
stopped
him are you crazy why are you going back
in
there my money gold jewels they're all
inside in a bag in the cupboard I need
those said the
merchant the neighbor asked hm money
gold chills I can get those for you
could you really asked the merchant sure
I'd be risking my life but I expect to
be compensated in my
way I'll get your bag and I'll give you
whatever I like and I'll keep the rest
for
myself deal said the
merchant they didn't sign a legal
agreement they didn't have their lawyers
present they didn't even Shake on
it but after all there was no time to
lose the neighbor rushed in and rushed
out with the
bag thankfully nothing happened to
him the merchant was
overjoyed within moments though his Joy
turned to Bitter disappointment as the
neighbor kept all the money gold and
jewels for himself and gave the merchant
just the empty
bag it would have been better for his
valuables to have have perished in the
fire than to see them owned by someone
else but the merchant had made that
agreement and should have foreseen this
really he had been expecting his
neighbor to have stuck to the spirit of
the agreement than to the
letter the merchant took his grievance
to the
king Akbar realized how thny this issue
was and immediately assigned it to
beille Akbar loved doing this he would
enjoy subjecting beerel to challenges
like
these beerel called The Merchant and the
neighbor and all the witnesses and went
over all the facts of the
case while he understood the agreement
it was clear to him that the neighbor
was being logically but unreasonably
greedy there was just one way to resolve
this the young man needed to be taught a
lesson he asked the merchant again so
the agreement was that the neighbor
would give you whatever he liked and
keep the rest for
himself yes said the
merchant yes said the neighbor and yes
said all the
witnesses well then it seems pretty
clear you return this man's gold jewels
and money and you can have the bag he
said to the neighbor wait what said the
neighbor it's obvious from your own
agreement continued Beil you promised to
give the merchant whatever you liked and
to keep the rest for
yourself obviously you like the gold the
jewels and the money so you must give
those to the merchant and the bag which
you obviously did not like that's
yours bebble was making a distinction
between two definitions of the verb like
one that means to find agreeable
enjoyable or satisfactory
and the other like which means feel
about or consider or think
about pble was able to take advantage of
this
ambiguity now if the neighbor had chosen
his words better by using the word
choose to instead of
like he'd have had an ironclad case
here I'll give you whatever I choose to
would make for a pretty compelling
argument
but then the neighbor wasn't thinking
about it in the Heat of the Moment quite
literally while it's debatable whether
maybe beerel should have let the
neighbor keep the valuables anyway I
mean the man did after all risk his life
by rushing into the burning
house beardell may have been thinking
about other things as well the merchant
was old and past retirement age and the
neighbor was young the neighbor was was
more likely to get more chances in life
to make
money if nothing else now that he had
had a rough but effective introduction
to the importance of using precise and
accurate verbiage he could become a
lawyer or maybe a tax
consultant some notes on the show while
Akbar and bebal are often compared to
tanali Raman and krishnaa Ray they are
quite
different thali ran was a courtchester
and there was a clear boundary between
him and the King beel however had a
completely different kind of
relationship with Akbar Akbar did not
consider bebel to be intellectually
inferior to himself and bebel knew that
while their intellectual Gap was
certainly not as steep as that between
Cheves and birie booster of PG wood
house Fame bebell did often get akar and
himself out of sticky situations the way
Jeeves might have done
method acting is an interesting thing if
you haven't come across it
before Robert Deniro's example in Taxi
Driver is one of the most famous ones
where he lived and worked as a real taxi
driver just to immerse himself in the
role the character this week is waraha a
boore that is the third Avatar of Vishnu
we've already encountered other avas of
Vishnu before including in the very
first episode Unicorn
fish check that episode out if you
haven't
yet the story starts with yet another of
my dad's wish fulfillment gone
wrong Brahma the Creator who's my dad
had given a demon called hiranaka a lot
of power and made him invulnerable to
pretty much everything seriously we are
just a dozen episodes into this podcast
and we have already encountered four or
five cases of Brahma giving people too
much
power sheesh you'd think there be some
checks and balances on this power giving
Thing by
now but never mind I'll bring it up with
Brahma when I see him
next anyway hiranaka had kind of
terrorized the whole earth and the whole
earth was now captive at the bottom of
the
ocean don't ask me how that works to
confess I don't understand it very well
myself
I do have the knowledge but it's hard to
connect the dots sometimes especially at
my age it's just extra Dimensions or
something
fancy so anyway there was a loophole
again hiranaka hadn't asked to be made
invulnerable to
pores he would have been much better off
taking the safer approach of specifying
what could kill him instead of
specifying each and every animal That
Couldn't Vishnu took the form of a boore
and spoiler
alert dived into the oceans restored the
Earth again and killed
hiranaka it's a good story by itself we
can cover it in a separate episode
further down the
road next week we'll do a couple more
akar bebble stories where you'll see
beerel in Sherlock Holmes mode as he
investigates a crime and find the
perpetrator using the psychology the
character next week is the tree of life
that can give you anything you want and
no it's not an end from The Lord of the
Rings movies nor is it the tree from the
Avatar movie since I'm several thousands
of years old my memory may not be
perfect at
times so if you see any errors in my
podcast I'd appreciate it if you could
Point them out to me if you have any
comments or Sugg suggestions you can
leave a review on the site it's sfip
podcast.com
the site is also linked in the show
notes you can also tweet at SFI
podcast the music is from purple
planet.com that's
purple-planet.com as always I'm grateful
to family and friends for all the
support and help and thank you all for
listening the feedback I have received
has been
very
useful I'll see you next
[Music]
week
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