So many fools!

01-05-2005, 09:37 AM

So many fools!

Emperor Akbar was taking a stroll in the palace garden with his
courtier Birbal following close behind. Just then, they sighted a
tall Pathan approaching them with reins of a pure bred horse in his
hand. Said he, ¡°Your Majesty, I am a horse trader from the Middle
East. If Your Majesty would allow, I would like to supply the best
Arab horses for your army. I have brought a horse as a specimen for
your inspection. If you like this one, I¡¯ll get any number for Your
Majesty.¡±

Emperor Akbar inspected the horse from all sides and patting the
mane of the stallion, whispered to Birbal, ¡°Birbal, ask the
treasurer to hand me a lakh gold sovereigns so that I may buy such
beautiful animals.¡±

Birbal bowed to the Emperor in respect and left. In no time he
returned with the treasurer in tow. Said the treasurer, while
handing over a bagful of sovereigns to Emperor Akbar, ¡°Here is the
money asked for by Your Majesty.¡±

Akbar happily took the bag and handing it over to the horse trader,
said, ¡°Here is a bagful of sovereigns. I wish to buy all the horses
you have on your estate. Kindly provide them soon.¡±

The trader with shining eyes took the bagful and promising to return
with all the horses he possessed, left the palace garden.

Next day, Akbar said to Birbal, ¡°Birbal, I asked you to chalk out a
list of fools present in my kingdom. Have you done the work?¡±

Birbal replied, ¡°The list is ready with me, Your Majesty. I have,
however, to add another name on this.¡±

The Emperor was pleased at the prompt action taken by Birbal and
impatiently said, ¡°Hurry up and add the last name. I want to know
the names of all the fools now.¡±

Birbal promptly noted down the name on his list before handing it
over to the Emperor. On seeing a long list of names, Akbar was very
amused. ¡°Gosh, I did not know that I had so many fools in my
kingdom.¡± So saying, he began to read the names on the list. On
reading the first name itself, the Emperor expostulated, ¡°Birbal,
what is the meaning of this impertinence? How dare you put my name
on top of the list? I want an immediate explanation from you.¡±

Birbal, without losing his cool, began to explain, ¡°Your Majesty
showed how gullible and foolish Your Majesty is. By giving away a
lakh sovereigns to a complete stranger without even asking for the
address of the horse trader, has not Your Majesty shown his
foolishness?¡±

The Emperor realised his mistake but not given to accepting defeat
easily, said, ¡°I¡¯m sure he will return soon with all the horses
for me.¡±

Birbal, not to be left behind either, added, ¡°In that case, I shall
delete Your Majesty¡¯s name and replace it with the horse trader¡¯s
to the list.¡±

bhaktajan · 11-21-2008, 11:20 AM

Krishna is "Absolute Truth" and Ignorance is also an "Absolutely Real Existence".

Because there is a state of existence that is called ''absolute" so there is stupidity that is 'absolute' --real life accidents transpire in absolutely reality --the true lessons of life take us from ignorance to Knowledge.

To learn the intricacies of vidya and avidya one needs study:

The proper path is towards knowledge that fullfills the guidelines of Sri Isopanisad Verse #11:

"Only one who can learn the process of nescience and that of transcendental knowledge side by Side can transcend the influence of repeated birth and death and enjoy the full blessings of immortality"

jayjp200 · 02-14-2009, 11:17 AM

Birbal was honest ....however Akbar was great too as he appreciated the honesty. These days ..one can be hanged for saying the truth to the superiors even in a mild best possible nicer ways.