The Broken Sword

One day, a young soldier arrived at Emperor Akbar’s court, proudly holding up a broken sword.

With a bold voice, he declared, “Jahanpanah, this sword may be broken, but it shattered the strength of ten enemies in battle. It is a mark of my bravery!”

The courtiers applauded, impressed by the soldier’s confidence. But Birbal, who had seen many boastful claims before, stepped forward calmly.

He examined the sword carefully, then looked into the soldier’s eyes and asked, “And how many lies did you defeat today before bringing this here?”

The room fell silent. The soldier’s smile faded. He looked down, avoiding Birbal’s gaze.

Birbal continued gently, “Courage is not measured by the stories we tell, but by the truth we live. A sword may break in battle that is honorable. But when pride bends the truth, even a broken sword becomes a symbol of vanity, not valor.”

Akbar nodded thoughtfully. “Bravery speaks for itself. It does not need to shout.”

The soldier, humbled, bowed deeply before leaving the court.

Moral: Prideful words break faster than the weapons they praise.