Tenali Rama And The Arabian Horse Trader

Introduction :

Tenali Rama teaches the King an important lesson about trusting strangers.

About Tenali Rama :

Tenali Ramakrishna was a poet and advisor to King Krishnadevaraya. Tenali Ramakrishna did not receive any formal education during his childhood, but became a great scholar, due to his thirst for knowledge. Tenali Ramakrishna held an important position in King Krishnadevaraya's court. He was known for his amazing wit, humour, and extraordinary intelligence. He was a minister in the court and was also one of the eight poets.

There are hundreds of stories which talk about his witty encounters and how he teaches people a lesson when they try to do something wrong. This story is called as “Tenali Raman and the Horse Trader”. I hope you will enjoy it.

King Krishnadevaraya :

King Krishnadevaraya was the greatest and the most famous emperor of the Vijayanagara Empire. He took the empire to its zenith and is therefore regarded as an icon by the people of India. Krishnadevaraya’s rule is remembered as a glorious chapter in the history of Vijayanagara Empire.

Tenali Rama And The Arabian Horse Trader :

King Krishnadevaraya loved horses and had a collection of some of the best breed of horses in his stable. One day, A merchant of Arab region came to sell horses in the court of King Krishnadeva Raya. Merchant came with two horses. The horses are in outside of the court. So, Merchant of Arab invited the King to see the horse that he had brought with him and told him that if he liked it, he would send for the other horses too.

He narrated his horses and persuaded Maharaja Krishnadeva Raya to buy all the horses. Arabian horses earliest improved breed of horse, valued for its speed, stamina, beauty, intelligence, and gentleness. It has strong legs and fine hooves. The coat, tail, and mane are of fine, silky hair. King Krishnadevaraya likes the Arabian horse .The King Krishnadevaraya paid him Five Thousand (5000) gold coins as an advance, and the trader promised that he would return with the other horses in two days before leaving.

Two days passed by, then two weeks and still, the trader did not return. The King got more and more anxious. Months passed, but there was no sign of the trader. This began to trouble the king. To ease his mind, he went on a walk in the royal gardens. There, he spotted Tenali Rama sitting under a tree and scribbling something on a piece of paper. The curious king asked Rama what he was writing. He did not get an answer. The King further quizzed him. Tenali then looked up and told the King that he was writing down the names of the biggest fools of the Vijayanagar Kingdom.

It was a list of names with the king’s name (Krishnadevaraya) at the top. On the top of the list was written “List of the Biggest Fools in Vijayanagara Kingdom.” The king became furious and asked Rama for an explanation. Tenali replied that any man who gives away 5000 gold coins to a total stranger is a fool. The King then asked Tenali Raman what if he returned with the horses; to which Tenali Raman said then, in that case, that man would be a fool. He would then write down the trader’s name instead of the king’s.

The king Krishnadevaraya laughed at this witty remark and embraced Rama for easing his tension with his humor. King Krishandevaraya was very happy and awarded Tenali Raman with 500 gold coins.

MORAL OF THE STORY : Do not believe in strangers blindly.