In a village lived two neighbours, Sudhir and Raju. Between their houses stood a magnificent mango tree, heavy every summer with the sweetest fruit in the district. Sudhir had planted it as a boy and tended it for years — watering it, guarding it from goats, wrapping its trunk in winter. Raju had never so much as pulled a weed near it. But when the tree finally fruited in golden abundance, Raju declared, “The tree stands on my side of the boundary. It is mine!”
The quarrel grew louder every day, until the two men carried it all the way to Emperor Akbar's court. Each swore the tree was his. Each brought friends who mumbled support. The papers of the land were old and unclear. Akbar turned to Birbal, who was watching the two men closely.
Birbal said, “Such a small matter needs no court. Go home. Tonight I will send guards to examine the tree, and tomorrow I shall give my verdict.” That night, Birbal sent a soldier to each man's house with the same urgent message: “Thieves are stripping the mango tree this very moment! Come quickly!”
Raju, yawning, told the soldier, “What can I do at this hour? Let them take a few mangoes; we'll settle it tomorrow.” And he went back to sleep. But Sudhir leapt from his bed, snatched up his stick, and ran barefoot through the dark to save the tree — where he found no thieves, only the quiet stars.
Next morning in court, Birbal announced his judgment: “The tree cannot be divided while both claims stand. So pluck every mango and share the fruit equally. Then cut the tree down and split the wood between the two men, half and half.”
“Perfectly fair!” said Raju at once, rubbing his hands. But Sudhir's eyes filled with tears. “No, huzoor, I beg you! Do not cut the tree. I raised it like a child. Give it whole to Raju if you must — but let it live.”
Birbal turned to Akbar. “There is our answer, Your Majesty. Last night one man slept while 'thieves' robbed the tree; the other ran barefoot to save it. And today, one is happy to see it cut, while the other would rather lose it than harm it.” The tree was given to Sudhir, and Raju was made to work in Sudhir's orchard for a season as a lesson in honesty.