Clever Birbal

Short motivational moral story in english

 Akbar was very kind an open-minded emperor. He often used to take his courtiers' advice. 

One day he asked his courtiers, 

''Tell me the difference between truth and falsehood, but in less than three words!''

The courtiers were surprised. They did not know what to say on such a difficult topic in less than three words. Akbar was astonished,

 ''How come no body knows the answer? What about you, Birbal?''

Birbal with his hands folded, stepped forward and said, Your Majesty! I am silent as I want others to speak first. 

''Akbar said, ''It seems nobody knows the answer.''

Birbal at once replied, ''Four fingers!''

Akbar got confused. Birbal said, ''Your Majesty! Truth is what we see with our eyes. But what we hear with our ears nay not always be true. It can be false.''

''I understand, but what do you mean by four fingers?'' Akbar asked.

''The distance between our eyes and ears is the width of our four fingers!''

     Akbar was once again happy with Birbal's answer.