Some courtiers in Akbar's palace burned with jealousy. Whatever the question, the emperor always turned to Birbal; whatever the reward, it always landed in Birbal's lap. So they hatched a wicked plan — and for it, they bribed the royal barber, the one man who stood close to the emperor's ear every single day.
While trimming the royal beard, the barber sighed, “Huzoor, last night I dreamt of your revered grandfather in heaven. He seemed happy, but oh, how he missed good conversation! If only you could send a truly wise man to heaven to keep him company and bring back his news.” Akbar sat up. “Send a man to heaven? How?” The barber explained smoothly: “My priest knows an ancient way, huzoor. The wise man must sit on a pyre of sandalwood. As the sacred fire burns and holy chants are sung, his soul will ride the smoke straight up to heaven. And who in the whole empire is wiser than Birbal sahib?”
The trap was perfect. The emperor, charmed by the idea of news from his grandfather, asked Birbal to make the journey. Birbal saw the jealous smiles all around him and understood everything. “Gladly, Your Majesty,” he said calmly. “But grant me two small things — let me choose the spot for the pyre near my own house, and give me ten days to pray and prepare.”
In those ten days, Birbal's trusted servants secretly dug a tunnel from that very spot to a room inside his house. On the appointed day, the pyre was lit with great ceremony. Hidden by the thick sandalwood smoke, Birbal slipped through a trapdoor into the tunnel and stayed hidden at home for many weeks, letting his hair and beard grow long and wild.
Months later, Birbal appeared at court, shaggy as a mountain sage. “Your grandfather sends his blessings, huzoor!” he announced. “Heaven is wonderful — he lacks only one thing. There is no barber in all of heaven! Look at my hair after just a few months there. Your grandfather begs you to send him your excellent royal barber at once — by the same fiery route.”
The barber turned white as milk and fell at Akbar's feet, confessing the whole plot. The scheming courtiers were punished, and Akbar laughed and marvelled at how Birbal had climbed out of the trap — through a tunnel, all the way to 'heaven' and back.