Once Emperor Akbar received a bottle of rare perfume as a
gift from one of his graceful queens. He was very happy with the gift and
handled it very meticulously.
One morning, when Akbar opened the bottle, a drop of perfume
fell on the floor. He immediately attempted to retrieve the prized perfume by wiping
the floor with his fingers. Birbal who was sitting besides Akbar chuckled. Akbar
saw a bemused look on his face. However, Akbar said nothing. He asked him to
come to bath next morning.
Akbar asked his attendants to fill his bathtub with the best
perfumes. Akbar intended to prove his royal standing to Birbal. He wanted to
show Birbal that an emperor of his order can afford rare and valuable perfumes,
much as he wants.
When Birbal came, he understood why Akbar asked his men to
put the best perfumes in his bath tub. Akbar asked him, ‘Birbal, do you like
the perfumes infused here in my bath tub?’
Birbal replied, ‘My Majesty, the perfumes infused are indeed
exotic and rare. But the entire full tub cannot retrieve what the single drop
took way!’
Birbal intended to tell Akbar that his pomp and show could
not supersede his instinctive reaction (when Akbar miserly attempted to collect
the perfume).
In other word, a person’s character is determined by reactions
not by forced behavior.
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