Akbar and Birbal Stories – The Brightest Thing

One day, Akbar was sitting in his court. All of a sudden he asked, “Which is the brightest thing in this world.”

Some of the courtiers said cotton, some opined ice, some said flower, while the others were in favour of milk. At the end, cotton and milk were found to be the

brightest things.

Suddenly, Akbar noticed that Birbal was silent. “Birbal! You are not saying anything. What do you say! What, according to you, is the brightest thing?”

“Your Majesty, I think that the Sunlight is the brightest thing in this world,” replied Birbal.

“Well, How can you say that Birbal?” said Akbar.

“I need some time to prove my point,” Birbal replied.

“Ok, take your own time,” said Akbar granting him permission. The other day when Akbar was resting in his chamber, Birbal quietly came there and kept a bowl of milk and some cotton at the doorstep. Akbar, being in a deep slumber, cound not hear or see anything. Moreover, the chamber was completely dark. Not a single ray of light

could enter it unless the doors and the windows were opened. Birbal did his job very quietly.

After sometime when Akbar got up, he headed towards the door and accidentally hit the bowl and the whole of the milk spilled on the floor. He opened the door to know what has happened and found spilled milk and cotton at the doorstep. He was very much astonished. Suddenly, he saw Birbal coming towards him.

“Birbal, was it your mischief?” asked Akbar. Birbal laughed and nodded.

“But Why?” asked Akbar who could not understand anything.

“Your Majesty, can you tell me why did you spill the milk? Why didn’t you see the bowl of milk and cotton at the doorstep?” asked Birbal.

“How could I do that, Birbal?” said Akbar. “It was completely dark here. Only when I opened the door, I realised that these things were lying here.”

“Sir, you yourself have proved my point.” Birbal said calmly. “No one was doubtful about the brightness of cotton and milk, so I kept these things at the doorstep. But you could not see them until the door was opened and sunrays were let in.”

Now, Akbar understood the whole thing. He said, “Yes, you were right, Birbal. Sunlight is the brightest thing in this world.” Saying this, Akbar gifted him with his emerald ring.