The Sweetest Voice

Emperor Akbar was immensely proud of the court's finest singer, whose voice was praised by every visitor to the palace. One day, hoping to hear his favorite singer flattered even further, Akbar posed a question to his assembled courtiers: "Tell me — whose voice in this entire kingdom is the sweetest of all?"

One by one, the courtiers, eager to please the emperor, praised the royal singer extravagantly, calling his voice a gift from the heavens itself, sweeter than any bird's song. A few jealous rivals of Birbal, hoping to catch him out, urged the emperor to ask Birbal for his opinion too, certain that whatever he said would displease someone.

Akbar turned to Birbal. "And what do you say, Birbal? Whose voice is the sweetest in my kingdom?"

Birbal bowed respectfully. "Your Majesty, with great respect to our talented singer, I believe the sweetest voice in the entire kingdom belongs to two others entirely: a child calling out 'Abba! Abba!' to his father in delight, and the gentle jingle of coins falling into the hands of someone in true need."

A ripple of surprise went through the court. The jealous courtiers smirked, certain Birbal had finally insulted the emperor's beloved singer and would be punished for it. But Akbar sat quietly for a long moment, thinking.

"Explain your answer, Birbal," he said at last.

"Your Majesty," Birbal replied, "a trained singer's voice pleases the ear for a moment, and is soon forgotten. But a child's joyful cry for his father touches something no music ever could — it is love itself, given a sound. And to someone starving or in debt, the sound of coins meant to save them is sweeter than any song ever composed, for it carries not beauty, but true relief and hope."

Akbar considered this deeply, and rather than taking offense, he found himself moved. "You have not insulted our singer at all, Birbal," he said. "You have simply reminded us that true sweetness is measured by the heart it reaches, not the ear it pleases." And he rewarded Birbal for his wisdom, while the jealous courtiers left the court that day with nothing to show for their scheme.