In plain words
Long ago the emperor Akbar had with him a minister called Bīrbal. He was a man of great cleverness. He would give fine answers to all the questions Akbar asked. So Akbar held him in higher regard than anyone else, and whatever the question, he would ask him alone. Seeing this, the other ministers, the counsellors and the commander of the army grew envious of Bīrbal. By whatever means, they thought, they too must give fine answers to the questions Akbar asked and win his praise.
One day, choosing a time when Bīrbal was not in the court, the commander of the army rose to his feet: “Great Lord! Why do you ask Bīrbal alone about every matter? You could ask us too, could you not! If you give us the chance, we too can give fine answers to your questions,” he said. At once the other ministers and counsellors also rose to their feet and said with one voice, “Lord! Please give us a chance too.” Then Akbar: “Very well, I shall ask you too. Not one question; I shall ask four. But you must give me answers that satisfy me,” he said.
Akbar put the first question: “Which is the best flower in this world?” One said the rose; another said jasmine. In this way each of them went on giving whatever name occurred to him. But Akbar was not satisfied. He put the second question: “Which milk is the best?” One man stood up and said cow's milk was the best. Another stood up and said goat's milk was very good. Akbar told them to sit down and asked the third question: “What in this world is the sweetest of all?” Many said jaggery. Some, though, said honey. But these answers too gave Akbar no satisfaction. Last of all he put the fourth question: “Which leaf is the best?” One said the coconut leaf was very good; another said the plantain leaf was the best.