The Shared Blanket

One cold winter morning, two poor men were brought before Emperor Akbar. They had been found on the street, loudly arguing over a worn-out woolen blanket they had discovered lying abandoned.

“It’s mine I saw it first!” shouted one.

“But I picked it up first, so it’s rightfully mine!” insisted the other.

The argument grew so heated that nearby guards had to intervene and bring them to court.

Akbar listened patiently and then turned to Birbal. “These men are freezing, and they’re fighting over a single blanket. What should be done?”

Without a word, Birbal took the blanket, pulled out a knife, and cut it cleanly down the middle. He handed one half to each man.

The two men looked down at the torn halves too small to wrap around themselves, too damaged to bring any real warmth but said nothing and walked away, still shivering.

Akbar raised an eyebrow. “Birbal, why didn’t you give the blanket to just one man at least one of them could’ve stayed warm?”

Birbal replied calmly, “Your Majesty, I only matched their actions. Instead of thinking of warmth or sharing, they chose to fight. They preferred division over compassion. And so, they left with exactly what they created something useless to both.”

Akbar nodded slowly, understanding the deeper message. “Yes, when greed leads the way, even blessings become burdens.”

Moral: Greed divides what could have united and leaves everyone out in the cold.