The Invisible Gift

One day, Emperor Akbar challenged his courtiers with a curious task. “Bring me,” he said, “the most valuable gift you can but it must be invisible.”

The court buzzed with confusion. Some ministers brought empty velvet boxes and claimed they were filled with “air from sacred lands.” Others brought sealed scrolls and insisted they contained “unseen blessings.” Each tried to outdo the other with elaborate words for things that could not be proven.

When it was Birbal’s turn, he entered the court empty-handed.

“Where is your gift?” Akbar asked.

Birbal bowed deeply. “I have already brought it, Jahanpanah though you cannot see it.”

The court murmured.

Birbal continued, “It is faith, which lets your people sleep peacefully at night. It is love, which binds families together without ever being seen. It is loyalty, which makes a soldier defend his emperor even to death though it has no shape or color.”

Akbar sat back in silence, realizing the depth of Birbal’s words.

Birbal concluded, “The greatest gifts in life trust, respect, peace are not wrapped in gold. They are felt, not seen.”

Akbar smiled warmly. “And your gift, Birbal, is truly priceless.”

Moral: The most valuable things in life leave no trace on the eye only on the heart.