Akbar the great Mughal emperor was very particular about his daily prayers. During one of his trip, he found himself at a village at his prayer time. He stopped there to offer his last prayer of the day. While kneeling on the ground to pray, a young girl dashed into him but in her haste he did not get time to respond to this act of her. She vanished in the darknesso of the dusk leaving the angry emperor wondering who could this be girl to not have noticed him. He asked for her to be searched and brought before him. When she was caught and presented before the emperor he questioned her action, of bumping into him while he was in his prayers.
She did not seem to recollect the incident at all, so Akbar reminded her of the happenings. REalising her mistake of dashing into a praying man, especially the emporer she got apologetic of her act but also confidently explained the context. Her lover was returning after a long period of separation due to his work. The news of his arrival forced her to run towards him to greet and meet him at the earliest possible. She attributed the mistake to the haste of her love. She clarified that this justifaction was not for sympathy and forgiveness but for empathy towards her situation, while she was ready to face the due punishment.
But she also asked a candid question to the great emperor, “Although you were in prayer you got disturbed by my push while I did not feel you at all. The disturbance should have been mutual. I honestly do not remember anything hence I am wondering if my love for my beloved is more engrossing than your prayer of the Almighty?"
Akbar mentions in his autobiography, ‘AkbarNama’ that he had to ask forgiveness from that village girl. She had helped him understand love and prayer with one simple question.
I share this story not only for its moral but with respect for Akbar - a great emperor, who had the courage to accept his mistake and ask for forgiveness of a young village girl. Most importantly, it shows that we may not be born with greatness inside us but our willingness to embrace a virtue makes us great.
She did not seem to recollect the incident at all, so Akbar reminded her of the happenings. REalising her mistake of dashing into a praying man, especially the emporer she got apologetic of her act but also confidently explained the context. Her lover was returning after a long period of separation due to his work. The news of his arrival forced her to run towards him to greet and meet him at the earliest possible. She attributed the mistake to the haste of her love. She clarified that this justifaction was not for sympathy and forgiveness but for empathy towards her situation, while she was ready to face the due punishment.
But she also asked a candid question to the great emperor, “Although you were in prayer you got disturbed by my push while I did not feel you at all. The disturbance should have been mutual. I honestly do not remember anything hence I am wondering if my love for my beloved is more engrossing than your prayer of the Almighty?"
Akbar mentions in his autobiography, ‘AkbarNama’ that he had to ask forgiveness from that village girl. She had helped him understand love and prayer with one simple question.
I share this story not only for its moral but with respect for Akbar - a great emperor, who had the courage to accept his mistake and ask for forgiveness of a young village girl. Most importantly, it shows that we may not be born with greatness inside us but our willingness to embrace a virtue makes us great.
