Once there was a dispute between two women over a baby. Each of them claimed to be its real mother. They had no witness. So both of them went before a wise judge and asked for justice.
“My lord,” said the first woman, “This baby is mine. This woman took it away in my absence.”
The second woman said, “It’s a lie, my lord. This baby is mine, and not hers.”
The judge heard the women and found both of them equally strong in their claims. He thought over the matter for some time and then said, “Well, the law will take its course and the punishment for the liar will be hard.” But the women remained silent.
The judge then summoned the executioner and ordered, “Cut the baby into two and give one part to each of the women.”
Hearing this, one of the women fainted away, while the other was unmoved. The former, after regaining consciousness, said in a piteous tone, “My lord, for God’s sake, please do not cut the baby. Better give it to the other woman.”
The judge then gave the baby to her and sent the other woman into prison.
Moral: A mother loves her child more than her own self.
“My lord,” said the first woman, “This baby is mine. This woman took it away in my absence.”
The second woman said, “It’s a lie, my lord. This baby is mine, and not hers.”
The judge heard the women and found both of them equally strong in their claims. He thought over the matter for some time and then said, “Well, the law will take its course and the punishment for the liar will be hard.” But the women remained silent.
The judge then summoned the executioner and ordered, “Cut the baby into two and give one part to each of the women.”
Hearing this, one of the women fainted away, while the other was unmoved. The former, after regaining consciousness, said in a piteous tone, “My lord, for God’s sake, please do not cut the baby. Better give it to the other woman.”
The judge then gave the baby to her and sent the other woman into prison.
Moral: A mother loves her child more than her own self.
