A Foolish Builder
A man claimed he was building a ladder to reach heaven. He asked Akbar to sponsor the project. Many laughed—but the man insisted it was possible.
Birbal’s Question
He asked, “And where will the ladder stand?” The man pointed vaguely. “What will you do when the earth moves?” Birbal continued. The man grew quiet, exposed in his fraud.
A Lesson in Sincerity
Akbar dismissed the charlatan, saying, “Heaven is not reached by steps of pride.”
Lesson to Be Learned
No ladder can reach the eternal. Only surrender lifts the soul to heaven. Bhakti is not built of stone, but of humility, chanting, and devotion. The heart, not height, brings one to the Lord.
