The Whispering Parrot

One morning, a man arrived at Emperor Akbar’s court, holding a bright green parrot in a golden cage.

He bowed and announced, “Jahanpanah, this is no ordinary bird. My parrot can reveal anyone’s secrets no matter how well they’re hidden.”

The court buzzed with excitement. Akbar, amused and curious, asked for a demonstration.

The man turned to the parrot and said, “Tell us something about our great emperor.”

The parrot tilted its head, flapped its wings, and squawked, “The emperor hides sweets under his pillow!”

Akbar’s eyes widened in surprise. The court fell silent, then burst into laughter the rumor was oddly true, though known to very few.

But Birbal wasn’t laughing. He stepped forward, eyeing the man carefully.

Later, Birbal had the parrot quietly examined and questioned the palace staff. He soon discovered that the man had been sneaking around the palace grounds for days, watching and listening to private moments. He had trained the parrot to repeat phrases that matched what he had secretly learned.

Birbal returned to court and declared, “This parrot is no prophet only a puppet of deception. The man used trickery and invasion of privacy to make it seem like magic.”

Akbar, displeased by the deceit, ordered the man punished for dishonesty and spying.

Birbal turned to the court and said, “Even if wrapped in feathers or gold, a lie remains a lie.”

Moral: Deceit may wear the mask of wonder, but truth sees through the disguise.