Only Birbal could outwit Akbar and get away with it. A witty and wise diplomat, he ensured that both the emperor and the empire retained their greatness. This collection of tales highlighting Birbal's presence of mind, his kindness and his shrewdness guarantees a good laugh. At the same time, it divulges some useful tricks for overcoming sticky situations.

Birbal, a real person with the name 'Maheshdas', was one of the 'nine gems' of court advisers of Akbar the Great. He also composed poetry by the pen name 'Brahma'. Birbal's fame had spread far and wide. As Akbar's favourite minister, he had an answer to every question and a solution to every problem. In fair tribute to his shrewdness, even the mighty Shah of Persia addressed Birbal as the "Ocean of Intelligence". Combining tact and common sense with a fair pinch of humour, he won his master's heart.

Birbal's wit and presence of mind made him a favourite of the Emperor Akbar. An honour not without hazards as half the nobles in the court had their knives out for him. According to legend, he was constantly being tested and made to prove himself - a challenge he took up readily. Amar Chitra Katha presents enthralling stories of the greatest wit in the Mughal Court./A

Prafulla’s future promised only doom and sorrow. Gossiping neighbours and an unhappy marriage would have ruined many women, but Prafulla was not one to give in easily. With hard work and good sense, she turned her life around. An attractive heroine in Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay’s novel, Prafulla rose from poverty to a life of riches and fame.

Mahindra and Vasanti want to marry. But Mahindra is only a poor orphan, and Sukhvir, the richest man in the village, wants to marry Vasanti too. During a pilgrimage to a temple of Krishna, Vasanti's father, Raghav, realises Mahindra's qualities of loyalty and integrity and asks him to become his son-in-law. Mahindra is overjoyed but his happiness is shattered when Raghav, swayed by Sukhvir's wealth, breaks his promise. Mahindra calls the village council but no one believes him. In despair, he prays to Lord Gopal to bear witness to Raghav's promise.This is a folktale from Orissa where the Sakshi Gopal temple, in Puri, marks the occasion when Gopal stood witness (Sakshi) so Mahindra and Vasanti could marry.

The city of Lanka was once ruled by the wise and benevolent Kubera, the king of the yakshas and the son of Sage Vishrava. He would travel the world in his magnificent flying chariot, the Pushpaka Vimana, which had been gifted to him by his great-grandfather, Brahma. Lanka enjoyed an age of peace and prosperity under Kubera's reign. But all that changed when his fearsome half-brother Dasagriva, the leader of the rakshasas, decided to claim the city as his own. Amar Chitra Katha pieces together from various sources in Indian mythology, the story of the Lord of Wealth.