A Strange Warning
A beggar warned Akbar, “A cursed coin is circulating. Whoever accepts it will fall into misfortune.” Akbar, intrigued, asked Birbal to find it.
Birbal’s Surprising Move
Birbal gave Akbar a coin and said, “Here is the cursed one—it is the coin you hold when you stop giving charity.”
The Emperor’s Realization
Akbar laughed and understood the deeper meaning. “Indeed, withholding charity brings spiritual ruin.”
Lesson to Be Learned
Greed is the true curse. Kṛṣṇa blesses those who give freely. The Bhagavad-gītā declares, tyāgenaike amṛtatvam ānaśuḥ—by renunciation and generosity, one attains immortality. Charity offered with love purifies the heart and pleases the Lord.
