A Humble Petition
A poor royal barber once told Akbar, “I have served you for years. Please allow me to visit Mecca and perform my religious duty.” Akbar agreed and gave him money for the journey.
Birbal’s Observance
Birbal, noticing the barber remained in town, disguised himself and followed him. He discovered the man spent all the money on luxuries instead of making the pilgrimage.
The Truth Revealed
Birbal brought the barber before the emperor and exposed his deceit. Akbar withdrew all favors, saying, “Deception in the name of God is the gravest sin.”
Lesson to Be Learned
Using religion for personal gain is an offense. One should approach the Lord with sincerity, not hypocrisy. As Śrīla Prabhupāda warns, “Beware of cheaters in spiritual life. One must be genuine to receive Kṛṣṇa’s grace.”
