The Weight of a Feather

One afternoon in the royal court, Emperor Akbar decided to test the wit of his ministers with a riddle.

He asked, “Tell me, what is heavier a kilogram of iron or a kilogram of feathers?”

The entire court chuckled. “They are the same, Jahanpanah,” the courtiers replied confidently. “A kilogram is a kilogram, regardless of what it is made of.”

Akbar smiled at their quick answer, but then turned to Birbal. “And what do you say, Birbal?”

Birbal nodded thoughtfully. “They may weigh the same, Your Majesty. But allow me to ask something in return what feels heavier to the heart: losing a coin or leaving a kind word unsaid?”

The room grew quiet. The laughter faded as each person reflected on the question.

Birbal continued, “A coin lost may be replaced, but a kind word withheld in a moment of need can weigh on one’s heart forever. True weight is not in objects, but in emotions and choices.”

Akbar, deeply moved, smiled and said, “Once again, Birbal, you’ve shown us that true understanding lies beneath the surface.”

Moral: True weight is not measured in mass, but in the meaning we attach to things.