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

Once upon a time in the grand kingdom of Vijayanagar, ruled by the mighty King Krishnadevaraya, there lived a clever and witty poet named Tenali Ramakrishna. The king admired Ramakrishna’s intelligence and often rewarded him for his sharp wit and wise counsel. One day, as a token of appreciation for Ramakrishna’s services, the king presented him with a very unusual gift—five large elephants.

At first, Ramakrishna was overwhelmed by the king’s generosity. However, he soon realized that he had a serious problem. Unlike gold or jewels, elephants required a great deal of care, food, and space. Ramakrishna lived a simple life in a modest home and had no resources to properly care for such enormous animals. Despite this, he couldn’t refuse the king’s gift, as doing so might insult his ruler.

When Ramakrishna brought the elephants home, his wife was shocked. The sight of the five towering creatures standing outside their small house left her speechless for a moment. Then she exclaimed, “Dear husband, have you lost your mind? Why did you accept these elephants? Where will we keep them? How will we feed them? If the king had gifted us five cows instead, we could have at least used the milk to feed our children. But what use are these elephants to us?”

Ramakrishna was just as puzzled as his wife. He knew she was right, but he also didn’t want to insult the king by asking for cows in exchange for the elephants. He thought for a long time before coming up with a plan.

The next day, Ramakrishna decided to dedicate the elephants to their family deity, Goddess Kali. He carefully wrote on the foreheads of the elephants in large letters: “This elephant is an offering to Goddess Kali.” Then, he set the elephants free to wander around the streets of Vijayanagar.

The elephants roamed through the city, attracting the attention of passersby. Since the people of Vijayanagar were kind-hearted and deeply devoted to the goddess, many offered food to the elephants. Some even prayed to them, thinking that feeding these “divine offerings” would bring blessings.

Before long, news of the wandering elephants reached King Krishnadevaraya. The king was puzzled and somewhat annoyed. Why had Tenali Ramakrishna, who was known for his cleverness, allowed the elephants to beg in the streets? Was this his way of disrespecting the royal gift? The king immediately summoned Ramakrishna to his court.

When Ramakrishna arrived at the palace, he brought the elephants with him. The king looked at the poet sternly and asked, “Ramakrishna, I gifted you these elephants with great respect and affection. But now, they are roaming the streets like beggars. What is the meaning of this?”

Ramakrishna folded his hands and replied humbly, “Oh, great king, please hear me out. You gave me these elephants with the best of intentions, and I am deeply grateful for your generosity. However, I am a poor man with a small home and limited means. Taking care of my family comes first. Feeding five elephants is beyond my capacity. If I were to hire caretakers for the elephants, their wages alone would cost more than my monthly income. I had no other choice but to dedicate them to Goddess Kali. The people of the city have been kind enough to feed them as they wander.”

The king listened carefully and began to understand Ramakrishna’s predicament. Ramakrishna continued, “My lord, if you truly wish to help me, I humbly request that you exchange the elephants for five cows. Cows are much easier to care for, and they provide milk. With the milk, I can feed my children and take care of my family. This way, your gift will continue to bless us every day.”

King Krishnadevaraya was impressed by Ramakrishna’s reasoning. He realized that his gift, though well-meaning, was not practical for someone like Ramakrishna. Smiling, the king said, “You are right, Ramakrishna. I should have thought more carefully about what would be useful to you. I will grant you five cows instead. But tell me this—what if I see those cows wandering the streets like the elephants?”

Ramakrishna chuckled and replied, “Oh, no, my lord. That will never happen. Cows are sacred animals, and it is said that gods and goddesses reside in them. I will take good care of them. Every day, my children will drink their milk and grow strong. And each time we drink the milk, we will remember your kindness and blessings.”

The king was pleased with Ramakrishna’s reply and ordered his attendants to bring five healthy cows from the royal dairy to Ramakrishna’s home. Ramakrishna bowed deeply in gratitude and returned home with the cows, feeling relieved and happy.

From that day on, Ramakrishna’s family enjoyed the benefits of the cows. They had fresh milk every day, which not only nourished his children but also brought joy and comfort to their household. Ramakrishna’s wife was especially pleased, and she praised her husband’s cleverness in turning a difficult situation into a blessing.

And so, Tenali Ramakrishna once again proved his wisdom and quick thinking, earning not only the respect of the king but also the admiration of everyone in the kingdom.