Birbal and the Mango Tree

In the kingdom of Emperor Akbar, there lived two neighbors named Ram and Sham. They shared a garden boundary, and right on the line between their two houses grew a magnificent, leafy mango tree.

This year, the tree was heavy with sweet, golden fruit. It was a sight to behold! But instead of enjoying the fruit together, Ram and Sham began to fight.

“The tree is in my yard!” shouted Ram. “The roots are on my side!” “No!” argued Sham. “The branches hang over my house! My father planted it years ago!”

They argued day and night. The quarrel grew so big that they stopped talking to each other and finally dragged the matter to the royal court of Emperor Akbar.

Akbar listened to their shouting but could not decide who was telling the truth. Both men seemed equally convinced. As always, he turned to his wisest minister. “Birbal,” he famously said, “please solve this problem.”

Birbal stepped forward. He looked at Ram and Sham. “Both of you claim the tree is yours,” he said calmly. “Ram, you say you have watered it for years. Sham, you say your father planted it. Since we have no witnesses from the past, there is only one fair way to settle this.”

The court went silent. Birbal continued, “Since you cannot share it, we must divide it. I will order the royal guards to cut the mango tree effectively in half. You, Ram, can take the trunk and the roots. And you, Sham, can take the branches and the fruit.”

Sham’s face lit up. “Blocking my view for years,” he muttered. “Yes! That is a fair decision, Birbal. I will take the wood and the fruit. At least Ram won’t have it all!”

But Ram looked horrified. He stepped forward with tears in his eyes. “No, my Lord!” he cried out. “Please, do not cut the tree! It has taken years to grow this tall. It gives shade to the birds and fruit to the hungry. If you cut it, it will die. rather than seeing it destroyed, let Sham have the whole tree. I withdrawal my claim.”

Birbal smiled. The test was complete.

“Stop!” Birbal commanded the guards who were pretending to get their axes. He turned to the Emperor. “Your Majesty, the tree belongs to Ram.”

“How do you know?” asked Akbar, sounding surprised.

“Because,” explained Birbal, “a true owner loves his property. Sham was ready to see the tree destroyed just to get his share of wood. But Ram was willing to lose the tree to save its life. Only the one who has nurtured it with love would feel such pain at its destruction.”

Emperor Akbar nodded in agreement. “Well said, Birbal.”

He declared Ram the rightful owner of the tree. However, Ram, being a kind man, and seeing Sham ashamed of his greed, offered his neighbor a basket of mangoes as a peace offering. From that day on, the two neighbors shared the fruit and the shade, living in harmony.

Moral of the Story: True love is shown in care and protection, not just in possession.