A Curious Case
Two men came to court, quarreling over a donkey. One claimed, “He used my donkey’s shadow to rest without paying!” The other said, “I rented only the donkey—not its shadow!”
Birbal’s Wise Verdict
Birbal chuckled. “You rented the donkey—and all it casts. You must pay for using the shadow.” Both men laughed, realizing the foolishness of their dispute.
A Deeper Message
Akbar was amused. Birbal added, “We must not split hairs in greed. Harmony is lost when one clings to petty claims.”
Lesson to Be Learned
Materialism leads to quarrels even over shadows. A devotee seeks peace, not profit. As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, spiritual life begins when one realizes, “I am not this body,” and lives with detachment and simplicity.
