The Emperor’s Weight

One day, Emperor Akbar sat in court, reflecting on the loyalty of his people.

He turned to Birbal and asked, “Tell me honestly, Birbal do my people value me more than they value gold?”

The courtiers exchanged glances. It was a delicate question, for both loyalty and wealth held powerful places in the empire.

Birbal, never one to answer in haste, smiled and said, “Let me show you, Jahanpanah not just tell you.”

The next day, Birbal had a large balance scale set up in the palace courtyard. On one side, he placed a life-size wooden figure dressed as the emperor. On the other side, he carefully piled gold coins, bricks of silver, and sparkling gems enough to make onlookers gasp.

Then, he invited villagers, traders, nobles, and ministers to gather around.

Birbal gestured to the two sides. “Today we weigh what matters more to the people gold, or their emperor.”

One by one, the people came forward. Without hesitation, each person walked toward the emperor’s side of the scale and bowed before it some even touching their heads to the ground.

Birbal turned to Akbar and said, “See, Jahanpanah? A just ruler does not need to be weighed in gold. In the hearts of his people, he already outweighs all the treasure in the world.”

Akbar watched in silence, deeply moved by the loyalty and love of his subjects and by Birbal’s simple but powerful lesson.

Moral: A ruler who leads with justice and integrity is worth more than all the riches in the world.