Tenali Ramakrishna stories are like moral stories that teach us ways to deal with life challenges with humor, intelligence, strategy, dharma, and affection.

In the grand kingdom of Vijayanagara, King Krishnadevaraya was known far and wide for his wisdom and fair rule. Among the many scholars and courtiers who served him, none were as famous as Tenali Rama. Tenali, with his sharp wit and quick mind, was a man who could solve even the most challenging problems. Admired by the people and held in high regard by the king, he was always a prominent figure in the royal court.

One day, a great sorrow fell upon the kingdom. The queen’s mother, Krishnadevaraya’s own beloved mother, fell gravely ill. The entire court was in mourning as her condition worsened. As she neared the end of her life, she made a humble request: she wished that mangoes be donated to the Brahmins, the learned and holy men, as an offering for her soul’s peace after her passing.

The problem was that it wasn’t mango season, making it difficult to find any mangoes. The king’s servants searched far and wide, but by the time they could find any, it was too late. The queen’s mother had passed away, and her final wish remained unfulfilled.

King Krishnadevaraya was deeply troubled. He felt a sense of failure for not being able to fulfill his mother’s last desire. Seeking guidance, he turned to the royal priest.

The priest, after some thought, offered a solution. “Maharaja,” you don’t worry. Even though you cannot give real mangoes, you can still fulfill your mother’s wish. Instead of fruit, you can donate golden mangoes to the Brahmins. The gesture will hold even greater significance, and your mother’s soul will surely find peace.”

The king, relieved by this suggestion, agreed. He immediately ordered the royal goldsmith to create golden mangoes, sparing no expense. The goldsmith worked quickly, crafting hundreds of beautiful golden fruits.

On the day of the ceremony, the king, with a heavy heart, distributed these golden mangoes to the Brahmins, who accepted them with great joy. They offered prayers for the queen’s mother’s soul and went back to their homes, happy with their lavish gifts.

News of the golden mangoes soon reached Tenali Rama. Although the king’s intentions were pure, Tenali suspected that the royal priest and the Brahmins had taken advantage of the situation. He sensed greed in their eagerness to accept such a costly offering. Determined to teach them a lesson, Tenali devised a plan.

The very next day, Tenali sent word to all the Brahmins who had received the golden mangoes, inviting them to his house. He told them that he was holding a ceremony in honor of his own late mother, and he promised them a generous reward if they attended.

The Brahmins, lured by the prospect of another substantial gift, hurried to Tenali Rama’s home, expecting to profit once again.

When the Brahmins arrived at Tenali’s house, they were puzzled to find the door shut tight. From inside, they could hear strange sounds—the crackling of a fire and the clanging of metal. Curious and a little uneasy, they knocked on the door.

After a brief pause, Tenali’s voice called out from within. “Oh, wise Brahmins, please be patient. I am preparing for the ceremony, and it will begin shortly.”

The Brahmins waited, their curiosity growing by the minute. One of them shouted, “Tenali, what are you doing inside? We hear strange sounds. Open the door and let us start the rituals!”

Tenali responded calmly, “I am simply heating some iron rods for the ceremony. Please wait a little longer. Once they are red hot, we will begin.”

Hearing this, the Brahmins grew uneasy. “Iron rods? What kind of ceremony is this?” one of them asked in alarm.

A few moments later, Tenali Rama opened the door and invited the Brahmins inside. They were greeted by the sight of long iron rods glowing red hot in an oven. The Brahmins were now truly alarmed.

“Tenali, what is the meaning of this? Why are you heating iron rods for a ceremony?” one of the Brahmins demanded.

With a calm expression, Tenali replied, “You see before my mother passed away, she suffered greatly from joint pain. In her last moments, she asked me to heat iron rods and press them against her joints to relieve her pain. Unfortunately, she died before I could fulfill her request. So today, I plan to honor her final wish by branding all of you with these hot iron rods, just as the king gave golden mangoes to ensure his mother’s peace.”

The Brahmins were horrified. “What madness is this?” one of them shouted. “How can branding us bring peace to your mother’s soul?”

Tenali smiled. “Is it not the same? If donating golden mangoes can bring peace to the queen mother’s soul, then surely branding you with iron rods will fulfill my mother’s last wish.”

At that moment, the Brahmins understood what Tenali Rama was trying to do. He was exposing their greed and showing them the absurdity of their actions. Realizing that they had been outwitted, they panicked.

“Please, Tenali! There’s no need for this ceremony. We will return the golden mangoes we received from the king,” one of the Brahmins pleaded.

True to their word, the Brahmins rushed back to their homes, gathered the golden mangoes, and returned them to Tenali Rama. With their greed exposed, they wanted nothing more to do with the lavish gifts. Tenali, satisfied that his lesson had been learned, accepted the mangoes with a knowing smile.

Of course, the Brahmins did not want to suffer alone. They went to King Krishnadevaraya and complained about Tenali Rama, hoping the king would punish him. The king summoned Tenali to explain his actions.

When Tenali appeared before the king, Krishnadevaraya asked, “Rama, why did you frighten the Brahmins in such a manner? What wrong did they don’t do this?”

Tenali Rama, as always, had a clever answer. “Maharaja, I did not force the Brahmins to return the golden mangoes. They chose to do so themselves when they realized the absurdity of their greed. Just as they accepted golden mangoes for the queen’s mother’s peace, I thought it only fair that they accept the hot iron rods for my mother’s peace. It was their own realization of greed that led them to return the mangoes.”

Hearing this, the king understood the wisdom behind Tenali’s actions. He smiled and praised Tenali for teaching the Brahmins an important lesson in humility. Instead of punishment, Tenali was rewarded for his cleverness and moral insight.

Moral of the Story:

Greed can lead to trouble. The Brahmins were greedy for more money and tried to trick Ramakrishna. This led to their punishment. It’s important to be honest and fair in all our dealings.