The Search for a Fool

One day, Emperor Akbar playfully challenged his courtiers. “Go into my kingdom,” he said, “and bring me a fool—someone who cannot speak the truth.”

The courtiers spread out in search of such a man. After much effort, they returned with a simple-looking fellow whom they believed to be the perfect choice.

Akbar asked the man directly, “Tell me, are you a fool?”

Without hesitation, the man replied, “Yes, I am a fool.”

Akbar raised an eyebrow in amusement. But before anyone could laugh, the man added thoughtfully, “A wise man knows when to speak and when to stay silent. A fool, however, speaks even when silence would serve him better.”

The courtiers stood astonished. They had expected nonsense from him, yet his words carried truth and depth.

Akbar, puzzled, turned to Birbal for an explanation. Birbal smiled and said, “Jahanpanah, wisdom often hides behind the simplest of faces. At times, those we dismiss as fools may surprise us with the greatest insights.”

Akbar nodded in agreement. What had begun as a game ended as a lesson—that wisdom can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Moral: Never judge by appearances; wisdom often comes from the most unlikely sources.

Summary: Akbar asked his courtiers to bring him a fool who could not tell the truth. A man who claimed to be a fool surprised everyone by offering wise words. Birbal explained that wisdom can emerge from unexpected places, teaching that appearances can be deceptive.