Monday, February 16, 2015

88. The Loyal Gardener

It was a pleasant winter morning. Emperor Akbar was walking in his garden. The garden was embellished with various flowers enliven with dew drops. The Emperor was looked admiring at the flowers. The dew laden grass under his feet felt like velvet.

Suddenly the Emperor remembered one of the important court issues. He started thinking and suddenly stumbled on a rock. He already was disturbed and after falling over the rock he became very angry. He called his servants and asked them to arrest the gardener. The Emperor in heat of his anger gave orders to execute the gardener.

The gardener was arrested. He was taken to the execution chamber. As a custom, he was asked his last. The gardener pleaded the king’s men to meet the Emperor before he was executed. His wish was grated.

The gardener was taken to the court of Emperor. He went to the Emperor and spat on his feet. The Emperor was taken aback by the gardener’s unusual, unexpected gesture. He demanded, ‘You low born! Tell me why you spat on my feet? It is an insult to me’.

The gardener humbled. He trembled with fear and replied, ‘O great Emperor, I spat on the advice of your courtesan Birbal’.

The Emperor called Birbal. Birbal approached the Emperor with a witty smile and said, ‘O mighty Emperor! You can never come across a person as loyal as this poor gardener. He has been taking care of you gardens since years. It is unfortunate that he was put to death on your order with no reason. Now that he has spate on your respected feet, you have a fair reason to punish him’.
  
The Emperor immediately realized his mistake. He set the gardener free and asked him to continue working for his garden.

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