The Wounded Stone

One morning, Emperor Akbar was strolling through the palace gardens when he noticed a young boy standing near a tree. In a moment of mischief, the boy picked up a stone and hurled it at the tree, hoping to knock down a fruit.

But instead of hitting the tree properly, the stone bounced back, striking the boy on his hand. The boy yelped in pain and held his bruised fingers.

Akbar, watching from a distance, let out a small laugh. “He tried to harm the tree, and ended up hurting himself!” he remarked with amusement.

Birbal, who was walking beside him, smiled thoughtfully and said, “That’s more than just a funny moment, Jahanpanah it’s a lesson.”

Akbar turned to him with interest. “Go on, Birbal.”

Birbal explained, “Whenever we throw harm at others whether through actions or words we are the first to feel its sting. Just like the boy with the stone, cruelty always finds its way back. Anger bruises the angry, hatred scars the hater. The harm we try to give others often begins by wounding ourselves.”

Akbar’s smile faded into a thoughtful expression. “Well said, Birbal. The world would be more peaceful if everyone understood this simple truth.”

Moral: When you hurt others, you harm yourself first cruelty is a wound that always returns to its source.