One day, Emperor Akbar sat thoughtfully in his court. Suddenly, he asked Birbal, “Birbal, tell me — who is the most honest man in this world?”
Birbal smiled and replied, “Your Majesty, many people appear honest, but finding a truly honest man is a little difficult. With your permission, may I try a small method?”
Akbar agreed.
Birbal took a simple wooden box. Inside it he placed only a small piece of paper and closed the box. Then he had the box placed on a stone in the busiest market of the city. In large letters it was written on the box: “This box contains something very valuable. Only the most honest man in the world should open it.”
A great stir rose in the market. People gathered. Some said, “Let’s break it open and see.” Others said, “We should not even touch it.” A few greedy people tried to take the box, but the guards stopped them.
By evening, most people had left. Then a poor woodcutter passed through the market. He saw the box. He thought, “This must be someone’s lost belonging.” He sat down there. He waited for several hours, hoping the owner would come. When no one came, he picked up the box and brought it straight to the emperor’s court.
In the court, he said, “Your Majesty, this box was lying in the market. I did not open it because it does not belong to me. Please return it to its rightful owner.”
Birbal smiled and opened the box. Inside there was only a piece of paper that said: “The man who has brought this box here without opening it is the most honest man in the world.”
Akbar and the entire court clapped. Akbar rewarded the woodcutter and said, “Son, your honesty is heavier than gold.”
The woodcutter smiled shyly and returned home.
Moral: True honesty is the honesty we practise even when no one is watching us.