Once upon a time, in the court of the great King Krishnadevaraya, there lived a wise minister named Tenali Raman. Known for his incredible wit and intelligence, Tenali Raman was one of the Navarathnas, or nine gems, in the king’s court.
One day, a merchant arrived from a foreign kingdom and presented a challenge to the courtiers. He brought three identical dolls to the king and claimed that they were different in some way. The merchant said, “If your ministers can find out the difference and the true meaning of these dolls, I will bow to their wisdom. But if they fail, I will assume there are no wise ministers in your court. I’ll return in thirty days for the answer.”
The king, curious and confident in his court’s abilities, accepted the challenge. He summoned all his ministers, except Tenali Raman, to figure out the mystery of the dolls. The ministers examined the dolls carefully, looking for any visible differences, but despite their best efforts, none of them could figure out what made the dolls different.
Worried and running out of options, the king finally turned to Tenali Raman. “Tenali,” he said, “you must find the difference between these dolls. None of the other ministers have succeeded, and I trust in your wisdom.”
Tenali Raman took the dolls home and studied them for hours. He observed every detail, trying to uncover the hidden differences. Finally, he laughed aloud, having discovered the secret. On the seventh day, he returned to the court with the three dolls, ready to reveal their mystery.
Before the entire court, Tenali Raman stood confidently and addressed the merchant. “Thank you, Punditji, for this beautiful question. These dolls represent different types of people.”
He then held up the first doll. “This doll is bad,” Tenali said. “When you pass a wire through its ear, it comes out of its mouth. This represents people who cannot keep a secret. Whatever they hear, they immediately speak out, betraying any confidence.”
Next, Tenali showed the second doll. “This doll is average,” he explained. “When you pass a wire through its ear, it comes out of the other ear. This represents people who do not understand or retain what is said to them. They hear things, but the information goes in one ear and out the other, making them harmless but not very wise.”
Finally, Tenali revealed the third doll. “This doll is good,” he declared. “When you pass a wire through its ear, it goes to the heart and does not come out. This represents people who keep secrets. They take what is told to them to heart and do not reveal it to anyone else.”
The merchant was amazed by Tenali’s explanation. He had not expected anyone to understand the true meaning of the dolls. The entire court applauded Tenali Raman’s cleverness, and the king was greatly pleased. “Tenali,” the king said, “once again, your wisdom has saved the day. Your ability to see beyond the surface and understand deeper meanings is truly remarkable.”
The merchant, true to his word, bowed to Tenali Raman’s wisdom. “I am honored to have met such a wise man,” he said. “You have truly proven that the court of King Krishnadevaraya is filled with wisdom and intelligence.”
The story of the three dolls and Tenali Raman’s clever solution spread throughout the kingdom. People admired Tenali’s ability to think deeply and explain complex ideas in simple ways. The king’s faith in Tenali Raman grew even stronger, and he continued to rely on Tenali for advice and counsel.
From that day on, the lesson of the three dolls became a valuable teaching in the kingdom. It reminded everyone of the different types of people and the importance of being someone who can be trusted with secrets. Tenali Raman’s wisdom and wit were celebrated by all, and his stories were passed down through generations.
And so, Tenali Raman’s reputation as the wisest and most clever of the Navarathnas in King Krishnadevaraya’s court was firmly established, continuing to inspire and entertain for years to come.
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