All are equal in the eyes of the law

Emperor Jahangir hung a bell at the entrance of his palace. Drummers went round, telling the people, "Have you any complaint? Come and ring the bell at the entrance of the palace. The emperor shall hear you and do justice."

The news went round. The people hailed the emperor.

One day. Nur Jahan was practising archery. She shot arrows at chosen targets. Before closing the day's session, she sent an arrow, whizzing through space, towards the river bed, which lay close by. Then she walked back to the harem.

A little later, someone rang the bell. The sentry found a washerwoman, sobbing with grief. In her hand she held an arrow. "I want justice." She wailed. The sentry led her to the emperor.

The woman bowed. She placed the arrow down on the carpet and said between sobs, "Someone killed my husband with this arrow. Who will now look after me and my children?"

The emperor picked up the arrow. It had the royal stamp. Someone from the palace had caused the tragedy. The emperor sent the sentry to find out who had practised archery, on that day. The sentry came back, soon enough. He hesitated. The emperor pressed. Almost in a whisper, the sentry named Nur Jahan, the queen, as the guilty.

The emperor sentfor Nur Jahan. She appeared, soon enough. The emperor pulled out a dagger from his belt and held it out to the woman. "The empress made you a widow. Kill me with the dagger. That will meet the demand of justice."

The woman shied away, "Oh, no, Bad hshah. I can never do

that." The emperor granted her a pension. She thanked him and left. He turned to Nur Jahan who sulked, "You took a grave risk. What if the woman had carried out your command!"

The emperor replied, "I would have died. Butjustice would have been done. For all are equal in the eyes of the law. Be careful in future," said the emperor.

  

 

Meaning:         The law is supreme. It treats all as equals. It applies to the rich and the poor, the ruler and the ruled alike. Nobody is outside the law.

Alternatives: The law takes its own course.

Nobody is beyond the law.