In plain words
Each of them rose to his feet and named a leaf. But Akbar liked none of the answers, and told them all to sit down.
Just then Bīrbal entered the court. “Bīrbal, did you hear my questions?” Akbar asked. “I did not hear them, Lord!” said Bīrbal. “Very well, I shall ask you now; tell me. Which is the best flower in this world?” he asked. At once Bīrbal said, “The cotton flower is the best of all.” Why so? “Through the cotton flower we get cotton. With cotton we make our garments. With our garments we protect our honour and dignity. For a man to live in this world, clothing is utterly essential. So the cotton flower, whose use is lasting, is the very best of all flowers. The other flowers may give fragrance for the moment, but within a single day they wither and are of no further use,” he said. Akbar liked this answer very much. “Which milk is the best?” was the second question he put. “It is by its mother's milk that a child is protected, that it is nourished. So mother's milk is the very best,” said Bīrbal.
Akbar was very pleased, and asked the third question. “What in this world is the sweetest of all?” Bīrbal said: “Lord! A good word is the sweetest of all. With a good word you can give joy however great, and reach a position however high. When crows caw, we throw stones at them. When the cuckoo sings, we treat it with great respect. The crow has stolen nothing of ours; the cuckoo has brought us no crown. Only when the mouth is good does the name become good. So speech is very important. The good word alone is sweeter than all else.” Satisfied with this answer, Akbar put the fourth question at last: “Which leaf is the best?” Bīrbal: “Lord! The betel leaf is the best of all. For in all auspicious ceremonies such as weddings, tāmbūlam is received. The plantain leaf or the coconut leaf we use for the moment and then throw away. So they are not so excellent. Among leaves, the betel leaf is the very best,” he said. Akbar was delighted, and showered praise upon him. The commander, the counsellors and all the other ministers hung their heads in shame.