Ek tha RAJA

“Ek tha raja, jiska naam Akbar tha. Woh bahut samajhdar aur insaaf pasand tha. Unki rajdhani mein ek chhota sa goan tha, jiska naam Akalpur tha. Goan ke log khushal zindagi guzar rahe the, lekin ek din ek bada saanp goan mein aagaya. Saanp bahut bhayanak tha aur logon ko daraya ja raha tha.

Log pareshan the aur raja Akbar ko is baare mein batane ke liye gaye. Raja Akbar, saanp ko rokne ke liye socha aur apne darbar mein ek samjhauta kiya. Unhone kaha ki woh apne rajmahal ke paas mein ek khel khelne wale maidan mein aa jaye, jahan woh saanp ko samjhayenge.

Jab saanp maidan mein pahucha, toh raja Akbar ne kaha, “Main tumse ek sawal poochta hoon. Agar tum sahi jawab do toh main tumhein kuch nahi karunga. Lekin galat jawab do toh tumhein pakad kar jail bhej dunga.”

Saanp taiyar ho gaya aur raja Akbar ne pucha, “Saanp, tumhara pehla sawal hai, tumhare paas char pair hain. Lekin tumhara chala hua pair nahi hai. Woh kaun sa hai?”

Saanp sochne laga aur thodi der baad bola, “Raja Akbar, mera chala hua pair mitti mein hai.”

Raja Akbar muskurate hue bola, “Sahi jawab! Tumne mujhe impress kiya. Ab tumhara dusra sawal hai. Tum samajh sakte ho, lekin bol nahi sakte. Tumhara dusra sawal hai, jahan ek puraani haveli hai, wahan teen bhai hain. Pehla andha hai, doosra bahra hai aur teesra goonga hai. Woh kaun hai?”

Saanp sochne laga aur thodi der baad bola, “Raja Akbar, woh teen bhai apas mein bol sakte hain, kyunki pehle andhe ko goonga bana diya gaya hai.”

Raja Akbar phir se muskurate hue bola, “Bahut hi accha! Tumne mere sawalon ka sahi jawab diya. Ab tumhara antim sawal hai. Tum samajh sakte ho, bol sakte ho, lekin khana nahi kha sakte. Tumhara antim sawal hai, woh kya hai?”

Saanp sochne laga aur thodi der baad bola, “Raja Akbar, woh antim sawal hai, woh aap hi ho. Aap samajh sakte ho, bol sakte ho, lekin khana nahi kha sakte kyunki aap ek murti hai.”

Raja Akbar saanp ke jawab se prabhavit ho gaye aur usne saanp ko raja ke darbar mein rakh liya. Goan ke log khush hue aur raja Akbar ko dhanyavad diya.”