Gopal Bhar's Game of Wit 🌼
Gopal Bhar was the chief court jester of Krishnachandra Ray of Nadia. Because of his sharp intelligence, humor, and quick presence of mind, he was loved by everyone. Today, let's hear a long and amusing story about Gopal.
1. The Mystery of the Thief
One day, chaos broke out in the royal palace. An invaluable golden crown had disappeared from the king's treasury! The king was furious.
The king declared,
— "If the thief is not caught, everyone will be punished!"
The soldiers searched everywhere but found no clue. No one could think of a solution. At that moment, Gopal Bhar stepped forward from among the courtiers.
Gopal said,
— "Your Majesty, if you permit me, I will try to catch the thief."
The king smiled slightly and asked,
— "Can you really do it, Gopal?"
— "Nothing is impossible if we try, Your Majesty!"
The king granted him permission.
2. Gopal's Strange Plan
Gopal gathered all the servants and guards in a large room and said:
— "Tonight, each of you must go one by one before the goddess's idol and take an oath. The goddess knows everything. Whoever has committed the theft—if he touches the idol, his hand will turn black."
Everyone trembled with fear. That night, one by one, they went before the idol. But beforehand, Gopal had secretly smeared black soot on the idol.
The next morning, Gopal examined everyone's hands. Surprisingly, everyone's hands were stained black—except one person's hand, which was completely clean!
Gopal shouted,
— "Your Majesty, the thief has been found!"
The king asked in surprise,
— "How did you know?"
Gopal laughed and replied,
— "The one who was afraid did not touch the idol at all. That is why his hands are clean!"
The guilty man, trembling with fear, confessed his crime.
The king was very pleased.
3. The Foreign Scholar's Challenge
A few days later, a foreign scholar arrived at the royal court. He proudly said:
— "I have traveled to many kingdoms. No one has been able to answer my questions."
The king replied,
— "We have Gopal Bhar in our court. He will certainly try."
The scholar asked,
— "Tell me, where is the center of the earth?"
Everyone remained silent. Gopal thought for a moment, then drew a line on the ground with a stick and said:
— "Here. This is the center of the earth."
The scholar laughed,
— "What proof do you have?"
Gopal calmly replied,
— "If you doubt me, measure it. If I am wrong, I shall accept punishment."
The court burst into laughter, and the scholar fell silent.
Then the scholar asked another question:
— "How many stars are there in the sky?"
Gopal answered,
— "Exactly as many as the hairs on my cow's body."
— "Proof?"
— "Count them. If I am wrong, I will admit it!"
The king and courtiers laughed heartily, and the scholar left in embarrassment.
4. The King's Anger and Gopal's Reply
One day, the king said angrily:
— "Gopal, you think you are very clever! If tomorrow the sun rises in the west, what will you do?"
Without hesitation, Gopal replied:
— "Your Majesty, that day I will say that the King has surely made a new rule!"
At first, the king was annoyed. But then he understood that Gopal was gently reminding him—everything does not run by the king's will alone; nature has its own laws.
The king began to laugh.
5. The Lesson
Gopal Bhar did not just make people laugh. With his wit, he punished wrongdoing, broke arrogance, and taught everyone that:
👉 Intelligence and quick thinking are a person's greatest strengths.
👉 Arrogance leads to embarrassment.
👉 The truth cannot remain hidden forever.
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