Akbar & Birbal · Sanskrit Story
The Line That Cannot Be Shortened
रेखा ह्रस्वा न भवति
Mughal court oral tradition · Akbar-Birbal kathāmālikā (c. 1590 CE) · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · नीतिः
अन्यस्य महत्त्वेन लघुः स्वयं लघुः भवति।
anyasya mahattveṇa laghuḥ svayaṃ laghuḥ bhavati.
“Through the greatness of another, the lesser becomes lesser on its own”
The Emperor's Strange Command
एकदा अकबरः भूमौ एकां रेखां करोति। सः सभायां पृच्छति — एतां रेखां ह्रस्वां कुरुत। किन्तु रेखां स्पृशत मा। मन्त्रिणः परस्परं पश्यन्ति।
One day Akbar drew a line on the ground. He asked the court: "Make this line shorter." But there was one condition — do not touch the line. The ministers looked at each other in confusion.
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