The King’s Question
One day, Emperor Akbar, who often enjoyed testing the wisdom of his ministers, posed a question before his court: “How many stars are there in the sky?” All the learned courtiers remained silent, unsure of how to answer such a vast and abstract question.
Birbal’s Divine Response
Then stepped forward the ever-wise Birbal, who was known for his wit and spiritual insight. With folded hands and a calm demeanor, he pointed to a heap of sand and said, “O Emperor, there are as many stars in the sky as there are grains of sand in this pile.”
The Challenge
The emperor, amused, asked, “Can you prove it?” Birbal replied with confidence, “Certainly, O King. If anyone in your court can count the stars, I will count the grains of sand.” The emperor, understanding the impossibility of both tasks, smiled and acknowledged Birbal’s deep intelligence.
Lesson to Be Learned
True wisdom is not just in knowing answers, but in revealing the limitations of worldly knowledge. As Śrīla Prabhupāda teaches, only the Supreme Lord, the source of all creation, knows the full extent of His universe. Humility before the Lord’s inconceivable energy is the sign of a wise man.
