Tenali Raman’s Ingenious Punishment Trick

After the chaos caused by Tenali Raman at the Kuchipudi troupe’s performance, the king called him to account for his antics. Raman, as usual, stood his ground. When questioned about disrupting the play, he replied calmly, “If my actions were wrong, punish me. But I insist on dictating my own penalty—tie me to a pillar and give me 24 blows.”

The king was baffled. “Why ask for such a punishment when I intend to reward you instead?” he asked. However, Raman persisted, and the king reluctantly agreed. Soldiers were summoned to carry out the bizarre request.

Before the first blow could land, Raman raised his voice. “Wait, Your Majesty! This reward of 24 blows isn’t mine alone. I had promised to share my prize equally with the two soldiers who allowed me to enter the palace against your orders. Please ensure they each receive 12 blows as their share.”

The king’s curiosity turned to fury. The corrupt soldiers, caught red-handed by Raman’s clever maneuver, were ordered to receive 50 lashes each as punishment for their disobedience and greed. As for Raman, the king laughed heartily at his wit and ingenuity, rewarding him with a hefty sum of gold coins instead.

Moral of the Story:
Deception and greed often lead to one’s downfall, while wit and honesty always find a way to triumph.