Once upon a time, Emperor Akbar and Birbal were discussing matters related to their subjects. During the conversation, Emperor Akbar expressed his belief that their subjects were incredibly honest. Birbal responded by saying that, in reality, people in any kingdom are not entirely honest, and dishonesty exists everywhere.
Emperor Akbar was displeased with Birbal’s statement and asked, “Birbal, what kind of statement is this?”
Birbal replied confidently, “I am speaking the truth. If you wish, I can prove it.”
Upon receiving permission from Emperor Akbar, Birbal began devising a strategy to expose the dishonesty prevalent among the people. He thought that since people do not openly engage in dishonesty, he needed to do something different.
Birbal announced throughout the entire kingdom that Emperor Akbar planned to organize a grand feast, and he requested contributions from the public. All they needed to do was pour a little milk into a large pot. This, according to him, would be a sufficient contribution from the people.
After this announcement, large pots were placed in various locations, and people started pouring their contributions. Some poured diluted milk, while others added only water. Everyone assumed that the person next to them would contribute real milk, so adding water or diluted milk wouldn’t matter much.
By evening, all the pots were filled with a mixture of water and a small amount of milk. Birbal, accompanied by Emperor Akbar and some cooks, went to inspect the pots placed throughout the kingdom. Emperor Akbar was shocked to find that most pots contained water or diluted milk, with only a minimal amount of actual milk. The cooks also confirmed that the milk was barely enough to make a slight color change.
Observing this, Emperor Akbar was astonished. He realized that Birbal’s statement was indeed true. He admitted that he had considered everyone honest, but Birbal’s insight had proven otherwise. Acknowledging Birbal’s wisdom, Emperor Akbar, Birbal, and the cooks returned to the palace.
The lesson from this story is that one should not blindly trust anyone, as people may engage in dishonesty when given the opportunity.
