The Farmer and the Well

One day, a farmer was looking for a source of water for his field when he bought
a well from his neighbor. However, the neighbor was clever. The next day when
the farmer came to draw water from his well, the neighbor refused to take water
from him.

When the farmer asked why, the neighbor replied, “I sold you the well, no water,”
and left. Distraught, the farmer went to the emperor to plead for justice. He
explained what had happened.

The emperor met Birbal, one of his nine and most intelligent, courtiers. Birbal
asked the neighbor, “Why don’t you let the farmer draw water from the well? You
sold the well to the farmer?”

The neighbor replied, “Birbal, I sold the well to the farmer, but there is no water
inside it. He has no right to draw water from the well.”

Birbal said, “Look, since you have sold the well, you have no right to keep water in
the farmer’s well. Either you pay rent to the farmer, or withdraw immediately.
Realizing that his plan had failed, the neighbor apologized and went home.

Moral – Cheating will not get you anything. If you cheat, you’ll pay soon enough.