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PROMPT November 9th You are having a very realistic dream. In this dream, you are approaching a castle. What unusual reason do you have to be at this castle? What do you say to the two guards standing outside it to gain entrance?  For every Indian child, this is going to bring to mind the story of how TENALI RAMAN entered the court of King Krishnadeva Raya of the Vijayanagar empire. I'm going to take bloggers' license again and narrate this well-known story. Tenali Raman was a clever wastrel, who wanted to get through life without doing much work. He knew if he could get a job in the palace, he'd be on velvet. So he went to the palace gates. The big, burly guard there said "HALT" and demanded an explanation for his presence. He had something to say to the King and the King alone, Tenali Raman replied. He was sure the King would reward him for it. The guard promptly asked for 50% of the reward as a bribe for letting Tenali Raman in. Tenali Raman entered the first gate, to be met by another guard at the door. A similar exchange followed, and he found himself in the King's Durbar (court). There, he challenged the King's Ministers to enter in to a dare. He dared them to do with their eyes open something he would do with his eyes closed. Laughing secretly at this simpleton, as they thought him, the Ministers agreed. Tenali Raman then proceeded to take a handful of sand from his pocket. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and put the sand on his eyelids. He then told the Ministers that they must now perform this trick with their eyes open. They had to admit defeat. The King was intrigued and amused. He appointed Tenali Raman as his court jester. He also said he'd give him a reward - anything Tenali Raman wanted, as he had outwitted the Ministers. Tenali Raman asked for his reward. He wanted to be lashed a hundred times with the King's biggest whip, he said. Everyone was aghast at this. How could a man choose pain as a reward? Tenali Raman was adamant, and the King gave in and the torturer entered with the whip. As he was about to strike, Tenali Raman shouted for him to stop. Then, Tenali Raman told the King about the guards. He had promised each of them fifty per cent of his reward. The King gave Tenali Raman a bag of gold and the guards received fifty lashes each. I hope you enjoyed my re-telling of an ancient tale! |
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