Tenali Rama And The Greedy Tricksters

In the city of Vijayanagara, King Krishnadevaraya was known for his generosity. One day, a group of greedy Brahmins came to the court, pretending to be holy men. They wore saffron robes and spoke in gentle tones.

“Your Majesty,” said their leader, “we have come from a distant land. We are on a pilgrimage and need your help to perform a sacred ritual. We require gold, grains and clothes.”

The king, moved by their words, ordered his ministers to give them whatever they asked.

Tenali Rama, who was quietly watching from a corner, raised an eyebrow. Something didn’t seem right.

That night, Rama followed the group secretly. Instead of performing any rituals, the Brahmins were feasting, laughing and dividing the king’s gifts among themselves. Rama quietly returned home with a plan.

The next morning, Tenali Rama came to court disguised as a holy man. He told the king, “Your Majesty, I had a dream. The gods are pleased with you and they want you to offer one last gift — a pot full of gold coins, to be buried under a sacred tree. Only truly pious Brahmins can take part in this ritual.”

The king was surprised but agreed. A pot of gold was prepared and the greedy Brahmins were called again.

As part of the ritual, Tenali Rama handed them spades and asked them to dig the hole. “The gods want only the most honest and humble men to do this holy work,” he said.

The Brahmins were reluctant but didn’t want to lose the gold. So they began digging.

But as they dug, Rama’s hidden plan was revealed and under the soil were the same clothes, jewels and food they had received earlier was all buried there instead of used for rituals!

The king was furious. “So this is what you did with my offerings?”

The Brahmins fell at his feet, begging for mercy.

Rama stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, these were not true saints. They were greedy tricksters. True spirituality lies in honesty and simplicity, not in gold and lies.”

The king nodded and ordered the dishonest men to be punished and the wealth to be given to real temples and the poor.

Moral – Greed can wear many masks, but truth always finds a way to reveal itself.