The Invisible Gold

One day, Emperor Akbar playfully challenged Birbal with an unusual task: “Bring me a pile of gold that cannot be seen but can still be felt.”

Birbal thought for a while and returned the next day carrying a large, empty sack. He placed it before the emperor with great care.

Puzzled, Akbar asked, “But where is the gold?”

With a sly smile, Birbal replied, “This, Your Majesty, is invisible gold.”

Akbar scoffed, “Invisible gold? How is that possible?”

Birbal bowed and said, “Feel the weight of the sack, and you’ll know it is there—just like many of your royal decisions. They may not always be seen, but their effects are certainly felt.”

The courtiers burst into laughter, and even Akbar couldn’t resist smiling at Birbal’s witty explanation.

Moral: True value is often experienced through its impact, not just its appearance.

Summary: Akbar asked Birbal to bring invisible gold. Birbal presented an empty sack, claiming its weight was like Akbar’s decisions—unseen but felt—making the emperor and his court laugh at his clever wit.