Greater than God

M. SUDHAKAR

One day, two poets from a faraway kingdom arrived at the court. They delighted everyone with their songs and poems. The emperor, who was always generous, rewarded them well. The poets had never seen so much gold before. They were overwhelmed. Then the emperor ordered that they be given a set of princely clothes each. Then one of the poets begged permission to offer a poem of thanks. Emperor Akbar nodded and the poet began his recitation. He spoke of the emperor's bravery and kindness. He praised the emperor's learning and wisdom.

He ended by saying that emperor Akbar was the greatest king that had ever ruled "over this world on any other. He is greater than God Himself." With that, the poet bowed and left the hall.

There was a moment of silence. Many of those in the hall were shocked that the poet had compared a mortal to God.

Emperor Akbar looked around and his eyes began to twinkle mischievously. "So," he said, "it appears that I am now even greater than God."

All the people in the hall looked at their emperor in horror. Had he really believed the poet's words? Surely not! And yet, they were not entirely sure. Emperor Akbar looked at his ministers and commanders, his nobles and his counsellors. He wondered if any of them would have the courage to speak the truth. The ministers, commanders, nobles and counsellors looked back at him. Nobody stirred.

"So," said the emperor, beginning to feel irritated, everyone present agrees that your emperor is greater than god."

Nobody dared to disagree. Slowly, one by one, the courtiers bowed to show that they agreed. A low, shamed murmur of "Yes, your majesty," "It is so, your Majesty, " filled the hall.

Emperor Akbar thought that the courtiers were acting very foolishly. He turned to Birbal with a frown. "And you, Birbal. Do you agree too?" he asked.

"Oh, yes" Birbal replied immediately. The emperor's frown grew. "Your majesty, you can do something even God cannot!" Birbal said. "If any of your subjects displeases you, O King, you can send him on a pilgrimage or banish him from your empire, never to return. But God cannot. For God rules over the entire earth and the sky and the heavens. There is no place in this world or any other that does not belong to God. So he cannot banish any of his creatures."

Emperor Akbar's frown vanished. "Well said, Birbal!" he cried delightedly. And, from every corner of the court, relieved courtiers began to smile weakly and then to laugh. Birbal had done it again!

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