A Lesson in the Garden

One morning, Akbar and Birbal were strolling in the royal garden. Many fruit trees, flowering plants and shrubs grew in the garden. The fragrance of the flowers pervaded the air. Akbar and Birbal were talking to each other and walked into the part of the garden where the gardener was at work. They watched him as he dug a trench around the trees. Then he watered the plants and the trees. He then plucked the weeds that grew all around the garden. Akbar asked Birbal, “The gardener takes care of many plants in the garden. These will wither and die if uncared for. However, there are thrice as many weeds that spring all around the garden even though the gardener doesn’t care for them. How is it possible?” Birbal said, “God takes care of the weeds in the garden. But all other plants planted by human hands depend on us for nourishment.”