A scholar from faraway lands once visits Akbar’s court. He declared that he is a smart one and no one can answer his questions. The scholar challenges Birbal to answer his question and prove that he is the smartest.

“Would you prefer to answer a hundred easy questions or just a single difficult one?” said the scholar in a pompous tone.

Akbar could sense that the scholar wanted to belittle Birbal.

But Birbal replies with confidence, “Ask me just one difficult question.”

“Alright. Tell me what came first, the chicken or the egg?”, asks the scholar with a thunderous voice.

“The chicken,” Birbal replies.

“How do you know?” the scholar asks mockingly.

“We agreed that you will ask only one question, which you have already done,” says Birbal in response.