WHO IS GREATER?

One day, Emperor Akbar asked, "Who is greater, Lord Indra or me?"

A courtier replied, "Lord Indra is greater, Your Majesty."

Akbar because angry and shouted, "How dare you say that?"

Then Akbar put the same question to another courtier. Not wanting to displease the Emperor, the courtier replied, "Your Majesty, you are greater than Lord Indra."

Akbar said, "Prove it"

The poor courtier did not know what to say.

Suddenly, Birbal spoke up, "This question was put to Lord Brahma also."

"Then what happened?" asked Akbar.

Birbal replied, "Lord Brahma ordered two images to be made. One was yours and the other was that of Lord Indra. Then the two idols were weighed on God's scale."

Akbar asked, ,,"Why?"

Birbal replied, "To see which was bigger and larger."

And then?" asked Akbar.

Birbal explained, "Your Majesty, your idol was heavier and it bent the scale and reached the earth. But the idol of Lord Indra was light and it went up in the heavens, so Lord Indra rules heaven and you rule on the earth."

Unable to stop himself, Akbar started laughing at Birbal's wit.

God comes to help

Emperor Akbar asked, "Birbal, why does your Lord Krishna come running when anyone calls Him, Doesn't He have servants whom He can send? Why does He go to His people Himself?"

Birbal answered, "Because He loves all His people very much."

But Akbar was not convinced so Birbal thought of a plan. Birbal knew that Akbar loved his grandson, Khurram a lot. Birbal had a wax statue of Khurram made. He dressed up the status with Khurram's cloths and jewels. Then he called the person who looked after Khurram

Birbal told him, "Go to the lake with the idol. When I signal, pretend to slip and let the wax model fall into the water."

Then Birbal went to the court. In the evening, Birbal suggested Akbar to go for a stroll in the royal gardens.

Birbal walked with Akbar to the lake and signaled the man with the wax model as planned.

That man pretended to slip and the wax model fell into the deep water of the lake. Akbar was stunned to see his dear grandson fall in the lake.

Without wasting a moment, Akbar jumped into the cold water to save Khurram from drowning.

But as he reached him, he realized that it was just a wax model of Khurram and no tKhurram himself. He heaved a sigh of relief that Khurram was safe.

Akbar was furious and wanted to know the name of the person behind this mischief.

Birbal stepped forward and owned up the responsibility.

Akbar asked, "Why did you do this?"

Birbal replied humbly, "My Lord, why did you jump into the lake yourself to save Khurram? You have so many servants. You could have called them and let them save the Prince."
Akbar said, "Birbal, I love Khurram a lot and he is very precious to me."
Birbal said,  "So, you couldn't stop yourself. That is why Lord Krishna also does not send His servants. He loves His people and they all are so precious to Him that He comes to their help Himself."

Akbar smiled and said, "As always you are right, Birbal."