A wrestling competition was once held in the palace. Wrestlers from all over Akbar’s kingdom participated in the competition. Emperor Akbar, Birbal and the other courtiers watched the competition. When it ended, the winner boasted, “I am the champion! I am the most powerful man in the country. Does anybody want to challenge me?” Birbal walked up to the wrestler and asked, “Were your competitors as strongly built as you are?” The wrestler said, “Not at all. I could easily win over them.” Birbal said, “Then you are not a true winner. You shouldn’t be so proud.” The winner asked, “Didn’t you see how I defeated everyone? Birbal replied, “One should not be proud of defeating weaker people. A competition is fair only if it takes place between the two people of equal strength.” The winner understood Birbal’s counsel and began teaching the art of wrestling to the weak wrestlers.
A True Winner
