The Widow's Trampled Field

A wealthy nobleman's prize horses broke loose one night and trampled through a poor widow's small field, destroying the only crop she had to survive on for the coming year. When she went to him seeking fair compensation, he dismissed her rudely, insisting a poor widow's field could not possibly be worth troubling a nobleman over.

Desperate, she brought her case to Birbal. Rather than confront the nobleman directly, Birbal invited him to a grand feast at his own home, seating him at the place of highest honor. As the meal began, Birbal's own goats, "accidentally" let loose, rushed into the dining hall and trampled through the nobleman's elaborate meal, scattering dishes and ruining his fine silk clothing with mud and food.

Furious, the nobleman demanded compensation for his ruined clothes and spoiled meal. Birbal, feigning surprise, replied exactly as the nobleman had replied to the widow: "Surely a wealthy man's spoiled dinner is not worth troubling over." The nobleman, hearing his own dismissive words echoed back to him so plainly, understood the lesson immediately and, shamed before the gathered guests, paid the widow generously that very same evening.