Birbal's Solution:
When Mahesh's turn came,Emperor Akbar was already piqued : "Are you like the rest of the
incapables who have unsatisfactorily produced my portraits,which don't exactly show me what I am now?"
Whereupon Mahesh ,without fear yet in a tone of humility, said : "Look,my Emperor,into it and satisfy yourself"
Strangely,it was not a drawing or painting,but a mirror that emerged from the folds of Mahesh's garments to show the Emperor exactly what he was then.
"The best replica of Emperor Akbar", everyone chorused.
Akbar recevied Mahesh Das with open arms to the applause of everyone in the open Court, and rewarded him with a thousand gold coins. He also gave Mahesh a ring with the Royal Seal and invited him to meet the Emperor in his capital, Fatehpur Sikri.
Moral1:
Learn what your client wants and give it to him so that his need is fulfilled.What Akbar wanted was not an artist's impression of himself, but reality - which only a mirror could provide.
Moral 2:
With all humility,Mahesh made the Emperor realise that it was not possible to get what he wanted. And for this he won the prize,despite not having done what the Emperor wanted - a perfect portrait. An argument with one's superior would be termed arrogant behaviour and could get one the sack. But practical proof of the impossibility of the Emperor's request made him the wiser for it and earned the contestant his reward! So by all means, communicate what you have in mind frankly,but diplomatically.
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