The Two Mirrors

One peaceful morning, Emperor Akbar was deep in thought, pondering how his people truly saw him.

Sensing his mood, Birbal arrived and said, “Jahanpanah, may I show you something that reflects more than just your face?”

Akbar, intrigued, followed Birbal to a chamber where two mirrors stood side by side.

One mirror was spotless polished to perfection. The other was dusty, covered in smudges and fingerprints.

Birbal asked the Emperor to look into both.

Akbar peered into the clean mirror first and saw his reflection clear and strong. Then, turning to the smudged one, his image appeared faded, distorted, and unclear.

Birbal said, “Your Majesty, these mirrors represent how the people view their king. When a ruler is just, honest, and fair, his image shines clearly in the hearts of his people like this spotless mirror. But when injustice, pride, or cruelty cloud his rule, his image blurs, like in the second mirror.”

Akbar gazed at the mirrors for a moment, then turned to Birbal and nodded solemnly. “A powerful reminder, my friend. The clearest reflection is not in glass it is in the people’s hearts.”

Moral: A leader’s true reflection is shaped by justice the clearer the conscience, the clearer the image.