Dark Skinned Birbal Emperor Akbar many times felt himself proud that his skin was the fairest. But most of his people had dark complexioned skins. Most of us conceive in us vanity of birth, vanity of place, of beauty, of riches, etc., are all the vices that a man should eschew. However, they stick deep in a fool; and they are the last "Infirmities" of the noble minds. Fair in colour was, so to say, "the last weakness" of emperor Akbar.
One day, the court was discussing a general topic on the complexion that men have in their minds. Everyone in the court started singing in praise of Akbar and his fair complexion. Birbal was silent all through this discussion. Emperor Akbar thought that he had a better edge to outwit Birbal this time. He opened his teasing dialogue: "How is it, you are silent, Birbal? Don't you like this discussion on the colour of the skin people have and their mind?" | 