5
A minister proposed taxing bird feathers; Birbal agreed and collected laughter instead of revenue.
To impress the emperor with boldness, a minister announced a feather tax payable by all who kept birds. Birbal approved and sent collectors with empty sacks: ‘Pay in feathers only.’ By sunset, courtyards flew with chaos, and the emperor saw the silliness by stepping into it. The tax died, and so did the minister’s ambition.
