One day, Akbar caught a dishonest officer cheating his subjects. He was angry and upset. Just then, his servant told him, “Your Majesty’s horse has run away from its stable and I cannot find it anywhere.” Akbar said, “You deserve to die!” The servant trembled from head to toe. Birbal saw this and he knew this was not fair. So he said, “Your Majesty, the horse has run away and it will come back sooner or later, but the servant’s life will be gone forever. Please pardon him.” Akbar said, “Birbal, when I am angry I will only do the opposite of what needs to be done.” Birbal immediately said, “Your Majesty, you are right. This servant is a careless man who cannot find your horse. It is good that you have punished him with a death sentence.” Akbar realised that he had spoken in anger and pardoned the servant.
Angry Words
