Once the Emperor Akbar asked his court jester Lahuwa what was the best weapon, to which the jester, replied that it depended much on the purpose for which it was required. A gun would be the best weapon to fight with from a distance, while a sword would be more useful than a gun in a hand to hand fight. "Personally, I think presence of mind is the best weapon" added the jester. The Emperor was anything but satisfied with the strange reply, and said that he would some day put his statement to the test.
One day he was sitting in the balcony of his palace, when he saw Lahuwa coming towards the palace. He told a keeper to set an elephant free at once, and lead him into the narrow lane that Lahuwa had to pass through. The order was immediately obeyed. When the jester saw the elephant approaching, he at once understood that it was at the instance of the Emperor that this dangerous trick was played upon him, which if not met with courage, would prove fatal. With that presence of mind for which he is so renowned in Indian History, he seized a puppy that was lying on the road, and threw it at the elephant. The attention of the elephant was thus diverted for a short time, during which he made good his escape, and approaching his royal master, he exclaimed - "I hope your Majesty is now convinced that presence of mind is the best weapon ; for a gun or a sword would not have saved me at such a critical time"
