One day, a merchant dressed in shiny clothes arrived in the court. In his hands he carried a beautiful box. He bowed to Akbar and said, “Your Majesty, I am a unique merchant. I have a hen that lays one golden egg every morning. If you wish, I can sell that hen to you.”
Akbar’s eyes lit up. He asked, “Really? A golden egg?”
The merchant opened the box and took out a shining golden egg. Everyone in the court was amazed. Some courtiers whispered, “This is wonderful!”
Birbal was smiling quietly. He said, “Your Majesty, a golden egg is truly valuable. But may we keep this hen with us for one night? Let us see the miracle of egg-laying in front of everyone tomorrow morning.”
The merchant hesitated a little but could not refuse. The hen was kept in a room in the palace. Birbal silently kept watch the whole night.
At midnight, the merchant quietly entered the room. He took out another golden egg from his bag and placed it under the hen. At that very moment, Birbal lit the lamp.
The merchant trembled. Birbal said with a laugh, “Oh, merchant! The hen does not lay golden eggs — you are the one who places the egg at night.”
In the morning, Birbal told the whole story in court. He broke the egg and showed everyone — inside it was an ordinary egg; only a thin layer of gold had been coated on top.
Akbar laughed loudly and said, “Birbal, once again you have broken the net of greed!”
The merchant apologised. Akbar gave him a light punishment and ordered him to do honest business from now on. The gold-coated eggs were taken back, and real gold was ordered to be sold at fair prices.
Moral: Those who show false miracles out of greed are sure to get caught one day. True earnings come only from honesty.