Thursday, March 12, 2015

33. Full Moon, Quarter Moon

The Shah of Persia praised and admired Birbal for presence of mind and wit. He spend several weeks with Birbal enjoying his company, learning about the state of political affairs in India and wellbeing of the royal family who were Shah’s distant cousins. 

When Birbal was set to depart, the Shah honored him with rich presents. He also send his regards and gifts for the members of royal family. While he was leaving several noblemen from the Shah’s court came to him thanking him for his visit and the love, respect Birbal had shown towards royal family and courtiers alike.

One of the great nobleman of the court asked Birbal, ‘Birbal, we admire you intelligence, wit and ability to differentiate between right and wrong, wise and irrational. Tell us what you think about our king, when compared to Great emperor Akbar’.

Birbal smiled and said, ‘O Great nobleman, I would say that your king is full moon, while our emperor is like the quarter moon’.

The nobleman thanked Birbal for his appreciation. They were pleased by Birbal’s words. However, when Birbal reached the state he found that the emperor Akbar was furious.

The emperor had learned from his secret sources that Birbal referred to Akbar as a quarter moon, while the King of Persia was admirably quoted as the full moon by him.
 
In the court session that followed Birbal’s return, the Emperor Akbar was furious and bawled the court, ‘Birbal, you are a traitor. How could you belittle me? You have been courtier since years, and few days away from me you breach my trust’.

Birbal bowed before the emperor and said, ‘O Great emperor, I can never belittle you. The full moon waxes, but the quarter moon ascends day after day. I referred you as a quarter moon to proclaim that you power has been always increasing, while that of Shah has been silently veining. Heaven bless your deed, my majesty I am not a traitor. I have served you since years and shall continue to serve long as I live’.


Hearing this, Akbar’s angered was pacified. He understood how brilliantly Birbal passed an important message to the Shah's nobleman. He was in fact impressed with Birbal's finely attuned political wisdom. I warmly welcomed Birbal back with a warm embrace and love.  

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