It is said that once upon a time the great Emperor Akbar had a discussion with his advisor Birbal about the character of his ministers.

Birbal was blunt in his evaluation. “Your ministers are not honest,” he said. “You should be careful. They will tell you whatever they think you want to hear.”

“Can you prove this?” Akbar demanded.

“In one month,” Birbal said, “the ministers themselves will bring you the proof. Bid them to assemble tomorrow.”

The next day, the ministers gathered in the throne room, and Birbal presented himself before Akbar with a number of plant pots and small packets of seeds. “Majesty,” he said, “you have said you wish to test the character of your ministers. These are packets of seeds, and I suggest you ask each minister to plant the seeds and care for them for a month. What grows in each pot will show you clearly the character of the minister.”

Then Birbal gave the packets to Akbar to distribute, but as he did so he whispered something in the emperor’s ear, and as he listened, Akbar had to suppress a smile.

A month later, the ministers were summoned to the throne to present their pots, and each one was full of lush, thriving greenery. Only Birbal’s pot was bare.

Akbar looked at all the pots, and then said to the ministers, “And how did you manage to grow such greenery when the seeds you were given had been boiled? Only Birbal’s pot is honest.”