Once upon a time, as usual, Emperor Akbar was holding court to listen to the problems of his subjects. People were presenting their issues before the emperor when two neighbors named Raghav and Keshav approached with their dilemma. The root of their problem lay in the abundant mango tree standing between their houses, laden with fruits. The matter was about the ownership rights of the mango tree. Raghav claimed that the tree belonged to him, while Keshav insisted that Raghav was lying. The tree had become a source of dispute, and neither was willing to concede.
The case of the tree belonging to two different owners had become complicated, and both were unwilling to accept defeat. After hearing the arguments from both sides, Emperor Akbar handed over this complex matter to one of his nine jewels, Birbal, to resolve. To solve the case and uncover the truth, Birbal devised a clever plan.
That evening, Birbal instructed two soldiers to go to Raghav’s house and inform them that someone was stealing mangoes from his tree. Similarly, he sent two soldiers to Keshav’s house with the same message. Birbal also instructed the soldiers not to let Raghav and Keshav know that they were carrying news about mango theft. Instead, they were to observe and report back on what Raghav and Keshav did upon receiving this information. The soldiers followed Birbal’s instructions meticulously.
When the soldiers arrived at the respective houses, they found that neither Raghav nor Keshav was present. In their absence, the soldiers conveyed the message to their wives. Upon hearing about the alleged theft, Keshav’s wife calmly suggested to him to have dinner, stating that there was no need to worry about mangoes as they could deal with it in the morning. On the other hand, Raghav, when informed by his wife, immediately rushed home in a panic to protect his mangoes, expressing concern about the potential loss of a year’s hard work.
Observing these reactions, the soldiers reported back to Birbal, who then presented the case to Emperor Akbar. Birbal said, “Your Majesty, the root cause of all the issues is that mango tree. Why not just cut down the tree? Without the bamboo, there will be no flute.”
Emperor Akbar turned to Raghav and Keshav, asking for their opinions on Birbal’s suggestion. Keshav, accepting Akbar’s authority, said, “Your Highness, whatever you decide, I will accept without hesitation.” In contrast, Raghav, with folded hands, said, “Master, I have nurtured that tree for seven years. If you wish to give it to Keshav, please do so, but kindly spare the tree from being cut down. I bow to your decision.”
Having heard both sides, Emperor Akbar admired Birbal’s cleverness and said, “What is your opinion, Birbal?” Birbal, with a smile, recounted the events of the previous night and said, “Your Majesty, the incident last night and today’s reactions have proven that Raghav is the rightful owner of the tree, and Keshav is lying.”
Upon hearing this, Emperor Akbar praised Birbal for his wisdom. He acknowledged Raghav’s right to the tree and commended him for his diligence. Keshav, found guilty of theft and falsehood, was ordered to be imprisoned.
Lesson from the story:
The story of one tree and two owners teaches us that resorting to deceit without hard work leads to dire consequences.
