The Empty Plate

One day, Emperor Akbar declared that he would fast for a full day not for religious reasons, but to understand the suffering of the poor who often went hungry.

The court praised his compassion, and the palace kitchen was closed for the day in his honor. Servants, ministers, and even the common people admired the emperor’s effort to walk in the shoes of the less fortunate.

When the fast ended at sunset, the royal chefs prepared a grand feast: silver trays lined with fragrant rice, rich curries, sweetmeats, and fruits. The court gathered as Akbar sat down, ready to eat.

But before he could take a bite, Birbal quietly stepped forward and placed an empty plate before him.

Akbar looked puzzled. “What is this, Birbal?”

Birbal bowed and replied gently, “Jahanpanah, today you fasted like the poor. But they do not break their hunger with a royal meal. They often end their day with an empty plate or no food at all. If you truly wish to understand their hunger, break your fast as they do.”

A heavy silence settled over the room. Akbar stared at the empty plate for a long moment, the richness of the feast before him suddenly seeming distant.

He nodded slowly, deeply moved. “You’ve shown me, Birbal, that true understanding comes not from imitation but from empathy.”

Moral: To truly understand another’s pain, we must feel it not just observe it.