The King’s Order
Akbar ordered his men, “Bring me a horse that is neither brown, nor black, nor white.” The ministers were baffled. Birbal was summoned.
Birbal’s Condition
He said, “I will bring such a horse, but it must be delivered on a day that is neither sunny, nor cloudy, nor dark.”
The Emperor’s Laughter
Akbar realized the impossibility of both demands and declared, “Let this serve as a lesson in the absurdity of over-exacting expectations.”
Lesson to Be Learned
This world is full of dualities—black and white, night and day. Only Kṛṣṇa is beyond duality. Trying to create perfection within illusion is foolish. The devotee seeks transcendence, not illusion. As the Gītā says, nirdvandvo nitya-sattva-stho—rise above dualities and fix your mind on Me.
