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

There lived a poor man in a village belonging to the Vijayanagar kingdom. He had a daughter Kamala. Kamala had lost her mother at a young age. The poor man brought her up. He worked hard to keep safe Kamala.

Kamala was a nice girl. She was looking beautiful. Many youths wished to marry her. Such was her beauty.

One fine day Kamala went up to a well to bring a pot full of water. It was afternoon. There was no public. A wicked person who passed on the way met Kamala nearby. He gave her sweet meat and took her to his house. He had kidnapped her. He kept Kamala in a room locked from the outside.

The poor man waited for his daughter. Kamala didn’t return even after four hours. The poor man himself went up to the well. There he searched for his daughter. She was not there. He returned home helpless. He didn’t take food for 2 days. He was worried.

Kamala was given daily fruits and sweet meat by the wicked person. He also gave her good clothes. Kamala was now looking still beautiful. Then he took her to the capital and sold her to the old lady. He got good money.

The old lady thought to dance to Kamala and sent for a stage performance. The old lady earns money, she is taking care of Kamala like a daughter.  Kamala is also happy in her house.

Once a rich man performed his son’s marriage. He arranged public music and dance programs. Many reputed people and relatives of the rich man attended the program. Incidentally, the poor man was also present. Kamala gave a good dance performance. The poor man recognized his daughter. There was a black mole on her chin. With that, the poor man recognized her easily. But he didn’t speak.

Few audience asked the old lady “Who is Kamala”

She informed them Kamala is her daughter.

The audience praised Kamala for her excellent performance. The poor man couldn’t speak to Kamala. He returned home.

The next day he went to Ramakrishna’s house. He informed him of his fate. “Sir I have lost my daughter Kamala. Now Kamala is a dancer. She is giving a public performance. Please help me to get back my daughter.”

Ramakrishna heard his pathetic story and he took him to the king. The king was informed about the plight of the poor man. The king also felt sorry. He ordered his servants to bring the old lady and her daughter to the palace.

The old lady doubted to go. But one should not disobey the king. So he went to the palace with Kamala whom she presumed was her daughter.

The king stared at them and told Ramakrishna to start an inquiry. The poor man was not there.

“Oh Lady! This is court. You must tell me the truth. Be careful” said Ramakrishna.

“Yes Sir” the lady replied.

“Who is this girl? What is her relation with you?”

“Sir, she is my daughter. Her name is Tunga”

“Is she your daughter or …?”

“No sir, She is not my daughter. I have brought up her.”

“Then who is her father? Do you know?”

“My Lord, her father is a barber. He sold her to me”

Ramakrishna turned towards Kamala and asked:

“Sister, what she is telling, is it true?”

“Sir, I don’t know who is my father. I have not seen my mother also. But she safeguarded me carefully. She showed love and affection. So I have treated her as my mother” Kamala replied.

Ramakrishna asked them to go to their house. But he insisted them to come whenever summoned.

Then he called the poor man.

“Oh! Poor man! What was your daughter’s name?”

 I was just calling her Kalama by name, that’s all. She’s going by the name of Tunga now. That Kamala was your daughter, what’s the proof of that?

 If I call her Kamala, she will come to me wherever she is. Her chin is having a dark mole. These are the two identifications.”

“Ok.  I will arrange for her to go with you if it’s true that Kamala is your daughter. Tomorrow morning Kamala will come here. After some time you call her. Let us see what will happen. Then I will give the verdict. Now you go home” Ramakrishna said.

The next day the old Lady and Kamala were summoned. The inquiry case was curious. The court was full of people. The courtroom had very little space.

The poor man was also standing there. The inquiry was yet to start. The poor man shouted 2 times Kamala, Kamala.

Kamala recognized her father’s call and turned towards him. The old lady learned this and told Tunga(Kamala) to keep quiet. Both the king and Ramakrishna were observing the situation. Again the poor man called his daughter Kamala to come near him.

Kamala could not stand there. She came running towards him. She called him father. The old Lady was perturbed and signed to Tunga to come back.

Ramakrishna asked Kamala “Sister, at least could you recognize your father now? But yesterday you told me that you don’t know your parents and the old lady who brought you up is your mother. How could you recognize your father? Then both of you told a lie yesterday. It is proved.”

“Sir, excuse me. I made a mistake. I was forced to tell a lie. This lady had asked me not to reveal anything. He is my father. I have no mother. He showed love to me and brought me up. This old lady protected me to satisfy her needs and desires. Please help me to go with my father” Kamala replied.

Ramakrishna told the lady. “Did you hear what the girl said? At least tell the truth, otherwise, you will be punished.”

The lady accepted her mistake and asked excuse.

Kamala was handed over to her father.

Ramakrishna told to poor man to perform her daughter’s marriage early otherwise problems would come.

The King punished the lady and the wicked person.

Kamala and her father thanked Ramakrishna and the king. They returned to their village.