The Priceless Pebble

One quiet afternoon in the imperial gardens, Birbal approached Emperor Akbar with a respectful bow. In his hands was a small silk pouch, tied neatly with a golden thread.

“Jahanpanah,” Birbal said with a warm smile, “I have brought you a gift.”

Akbar untied the pouch curiously. Inside was nothing but a plain, grey pebble smooth, small, and seemingly insignificant.

The emperor laughed. “Birbal, is this a joke? You’re gifting me a stone?”

Birbal remained calm. “No, Your Majesty. This is not just a stone it is a reminder.”

Akbar raised an eyebrow. “A reminder of what?”

Birbal replied, “It reminds us that many of life’s greatest treasures appear ordinary like time, trust, loyalty, and love. We take them for granted because they’re always around. But lose them, and we realize how valuable they were. This simple pebble stands for those priceless things we often overlook.”

Akbar turned the pebble over in his hand thoughtfully. His smile faded into reflection.

“You’re right, Birbal,” he said softly. “It’s not about the object’s value it’s about the meaning it carries. A humble gift given with thought holds more weight than gold.”

The courtiers, who had been watching silently, nodded in agreement.

Moral: Even the simplest gift holds great value when given with meaning and heart.