#1 A Sensible Counting.
Emperor Ravichandra was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his courtiers. He often asked questions which were strange and witty. It took much wisdom to answer these questions.
Once he asked a very strange question. The courtiers were dumb folded by his question.
Ravichandra glanced at his courtiers. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Gurukumar entered the courtyard. Gurukumar who knew the nature of the emperor quickly grasped the situation and asked, "May I know the question so that I can try for an answer".
Ravichandran said, "How many crows are there in this city?"
Without even a moment's thought, Gurukumar replied "There are fifty thousand five hundred and eighty nine crows, my lord".
"How can you be so sure?" asked Ravichandra.
Gurukumar said, "Make you men count, My lord. If you find more crows it means some have come to visit their relatives here. If you find less number of crows it means some have gone to visit their relatives elsewhere".
Ravichandra was pleased very much by Gurukumar 's wit.
MORAL : A witty answer will serve its purpose.