Goodnight Moon Trivia Quiz

Answer: Nine Jewels

The 'Navratna' consisted of nine courtiers of Akbar's court and were men with varied talents. They included Tansen, a musician, Faizi, a poet and Raja Todar Mal, his finance minister, among others. Though Birbal is sometimes depicted as a court jester, Akbar was very impressed with his wit and presence of mind and often came to him with problems facing the kingdom.

Answer: Guests of the native crows who had come to visit their relatives.

Birbal also told him that if they found that the number of crows was less than what he had claimed, it meant that some of the kingdom's crows had gone to the neighbouring countries to visit their relatives there.

Answer: It was two inches shorter than the others.

Afraid that the sticks really were magical, the thief had cut his stick by two inches so that when it grew overnight, it would still be the same length as the others.

Answer: He doused him with cold water when he was fast asleep at night.

Akbar requested the foreigner to stay as a palace guest while he thought of a way to respond to his challenge. As usual, Birbal was given the task of solving this puzzle. When Birbal had cold water thrown on the foreigner while he was fast asleep, he was startled and immediately started yelling in a particular language. Thus, Birbal was able to guess his native tongue.

He knew that when the foreigner awoke with a fright, the first words he would blurt out would be in the language he was most comfortable in.

Answer: Money

Birbal guessed that the man was going to ask him for money. Hence, before the man could say anything more he asked him if he would be returning to his village by the same route. When the man said he would, Birbal asked him to deny the rumours of his generosity on his way back.

Answer: The gold coin

The king was aghast that Birbal made such a choice and expressed his deep disappointment. Birbal then explained that a person will always choose something that he doesn't already have. Since Akbar ruled the kingdom with fairness, every citizen already had justice. Hence he had chosen the gold coin.

Answer: He started narrating a tale to the king.

Akbar was so engrossed in listening to the story that when they finally reached their destination, he exclaimed, "So soon?"

Answer: A beggar

When Akbar saw him, he stated that it was obvious that the beggar was one of his lowliest subjects but he didn't understand how he could also be the 'noblest' among them. Birbal then explained that in spite of being a beggar, this man had got an audience with the king himself, thus making him the 'noblest' among all the beggars in the kingdom.

Answer: He should be given sweets.

While all the other ministers suggested dire punishments, Birbal had correctly guessed that the offender was none other than the king's grandchild. Hence, he suggested that the king should give him sweets.

Answer: The other five kept looking at their king for directions.

The king was amazed that Birbal was able to correctly identify him. When asked to explain, Birbal said that while the other five kept looking at the king for cues on how to behave, the king himself looked straight ahead. Thus, the king's subjects always looked towards him for support and guidance.