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

In the kingdom of Vijayanagara ruled by the wise and powerful King Krishnadevaraya, there lived a skilled barber. This barber was an expert in his craft and had been specially appointed by the king to attend to his grooming needs. The king was very pleased with the barber’s exceptional work, as he always ensured the king’s appearance was impeccable.

One morning, King Krishnadevaraya summoned the barber to shave his face. However, the barber was delayed and did not arrive on time. The king, having waited for a while, grew tired and decided to take a short nap. Meanwhile, the barber finally reached the palace and, upon entering the king’s chamber, saw the king fast asleep.

Rather than waking the king, the barber decided to proceed with the shave while the king was still asleep. With his steady hands and a sharp razor, he carefully shaved the king’s face to perfection, ensuring he caused no discomfort to the sleeping monarch.

When the king woke up, he found the barber standing beside him. Surprised, he asked, “Why are you here now? I waited for you and fell asleep. Come on, shave my face quickly!”

The barber bowed respectfully and said, “My Lord, please forgive me for my delay. But to ensure your day begins cheerfully, I have already shaved your face while you were asleep. If you wish, you may look in the mirror.”

The king looked into the mirror and was amazed to see how beautifully his face had been shaved. Delighted by the barber’s skill and quick thinking, the king showered him with praise and rewarded him with fine gifts.

News of this extraordinary incident spread throughout the kingdom like wildfire. While most people admired the barber’s ingenuity, some of the courtiers, who were jealous of Tenali Ramakrishna, the royal jester, saw an opportunity to create trouble. They began plotting against Tenali Ramakrishna, hoping to discredit him in the king’s eyes.

These courtiers approached the barber and said, “You are truly talented, and even the king has acknowledged your skills. Why settle for being just a barber? You should ask the king to appoint you as the court jester, just like Tenali Ramakrishna.”

The barber, being humble and content with his position, politely declined, saying, “I am already satisfied with the king’s favor and the recognition he has given me.”

However, the courtiers were relentless. They continued to pressure and persuade the barber until he finally agreed to make the request, although reluctantly.

The next time the barber went to the palace to shave the king’s face, he completed his work as usual and then hesitantly said, “Maharaja, I have a request. I am growing weary of my duties as a barber. I wish to serve you in a different capacity. Kindly appoint me as the court jester.”

Without giving the matter much thought, King Krishnadevaraya agreed. The barber, overjoyed, left the palace brimming with excitement, unaware of the storm brewing in the background.

When Tenali Ramakrishna heard about this unusual decision, he did not react immediately. Instead, he devised a clever plan to make the king realize the absurdity of appointing the barber as the court jester.

Tenali Ramakrishna went out into the streets of the capital and found a black dog. He took the dog to a nearby water tank, which was located in a busy part of the city. There, he began dipping the dog into the water and rubbing its body with sand as though he was trying to change its color.

Passersby stopped to watch this bizarre scene, unable to comprehend what Tenali Ramakrishna was doing. Curious, one of them asked, “What are you doing, Ramakrishna? Why are you rubbing sand on this black dog?”

With a serious expression, Tenali replied, “I am trying to turn this black dog white.”

The crowd burst into laughter. Another person said, “What kind of foolishness is this? A black dog can never turn white, no matter how much you rub it!”

Tenali Ramakrishna shrugged and said, “Why not? In this kingdom, impossible things are becoming possible. If a barber can become a court jester, why can’t a black dog turn white?”

The people immediately understood that Tenali Ramakrishna was making a point. Word of his peculiar activity and sharp words quickly reached King Krishnadevaraya.

The king, intrigued, came to the tank in his royal chariot to see what was happening. There, he found Tenali Ramakrishna still rubbing the dog with sand.

“Ramakrishna, what are you doing? Have you lost your senses? People say you are trying to turn a black dog white. Is this true?” the king asked.

Tenali Ramakrishna stopped what he was doing, stood up, and said, “Why not, my Lord? If it is possible for a barber to become the royal jester, surely it is possible for a black dog to turn white.”

Hearing this, the king immediately realized his mistake. He understood that Tenali Ramakrishna’s clever demonstration was meant to highlight the folly of appointing the barber as a court jester without considering his actual abilities.

King Krishnadevaraya ordered that the barber should continue in his role as the royal barber, a position he was well-suited for, and not take up the role of the court jester.

The barber, too, was relieved, as he had never truly desired the position in the first place. As for the jealous courtiers, their plan to humiliate Tenali Ramakrishna backfired, leaving them disheartened. From that day onward, they dared not meddle with the clever and witty Tenali Ramakrishna again.

Thus, Tenali Ramakrishna once again proved his brilliance and ensured that merit and reason prevailed in the kingdom of Vijayanagara. The king was grateful for his wisdom and continued to hold him in high esteem, while the people marveled at his sharp mind and sense of justice.

The moral from the Tenali Ramakrishna stories:

Every person is best suited for the role they are skilled in. Assigning responsibilities without considering someone’s abilities can lead to poor decisions and unnecessary complications.

It also teaches that:

Contentment in one’s rightful position leads to happiness, while unnecessary ambition driven by others’ influence can lead to trouble.