You know the kind of people, someone who’ll tell a king that his garden is the most beautiful in the entire world, whether or not they’ve ever actually seen another garden, and whether or not this one is, well… fine, but nothing special.
Courts are full of people like that.
And then there’s Birbal.
A Walk Through the Orchard
One pleasant afternoon, Akbar took a walk through the palace’s mango orchard. The trees were heavy with fruit, the air smelled sweet, and Akbar was in a wonderfully expansive mood. He gestured proudly at the trees around him.
“Tell me,” he said to the courtiers walking with him, “isn’t this the finest mango orchard in the entire land?”
And the courtiers agreed. Enthusiastically. Each one trying to top the last. The trees were magnificent! The fruit, unmatched! The whole arrangement, a stroke of genius! Quite possibly the most beautiful orchard that had ever existed, anywhere, ever.
Birbal Looks Around — Properly
Akbar turned to Birbal, who’d been quiet through all of this.
“And you, Birbal? What do you think of my orchard?”
Birbal looked around slowly. Really looked at the trees, the fruit, how everything was arranged.
“It’s a fine orchard, Jahanpanah,” he said. “The trees are healthy, the fruit looks good, and it’s well looked after. With a little attention to the eastern corner the watering there looks a bit uneven and perhaps replacing two or three of the older trees that aren’t giving much fruit anymore… it could be truly exceptional.”
There was a brief, slightly uncomfortable silence among the courtiers.
“Take Charge of It, Birbal”
Akbar looked at Birbal for a long moment. Then he nodded slowly.
“Take charge of the improvements to the orchard, Birbal. Let’s see what ‘truly exceptional’ looks like.”
A Year Later
Birbal spent the next season overseeing the changes. The watering was fixed. The older trees were replaced. New varieties were planted.
By the following year, the orchard’s yield had doubled and it really was considered one of the finest in the region. And the same courtiers who’d praised it so lavishly the year before? They praised it again. But this time… it actually deserved it.
So, What Can We Take From This Story?
- Flattery feels nice in the moment but it doesn’t help anyone actually grow.
- A little honest feedback, even if it stings for a second, is usually the first step toward something better.
- The most valuable person in the room often isn’t the one who makes you feel good but it’s the one who helps you do better.
This story hasn’t really changed in all the centuries since it was told and I can say that as we still see this pattern everywhere. In workplaces, in friend groups, even in families. What I love is how Akbar responds. He doesn’t get offended by Birbal’s honesty. He puts him in charge of fixing it. That’s the mark of someone who actually wants things to get better and not just to feel good in the moment.
Every room has its courtiers, and every room has its Birbal — if you’re lucky. The courtiers are easier to be around, honestly. They agree with you, they smile, everything feels warm and comfortable. But it’s the Birbal in the room who actually helps you grow. I try to notice, every now and then, which one I’m being in any given moment — and whether I’m brave enough to be the second one when it actually matters.
Read More Akbar Birbal Stories Here
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