Tenali Raman Outsmarts an Assassin with Wit

The glorious Vijayanagara Empire had its share of enemies, envious of its prosperity. Among them was a spy from Nalgonda, sent on a dangerous mission to assassinate King Krishnadevaraya. By a twist of fate, the spy found lodging at Tenali Raman’s house, unbeknownst to Raman.

Seizing an opportunity, the spy, in Raman’s absence, sent a fabricated invitation to the king, requesting his presence at Raman’s residence. King Krishnadevaraya, trusting his witty court jester, assumed there must be an urgent matter. Without hesitation, he accepted the invitation.

As soon as the king arrived at Raman’s house, the spy leapt forward with a dagger, aiming to assassinate him. Luckily, the king’s attendants intervened just in time, thwarting the attempt on his life. The incident left everyone stunned and suspicious. How could Raman allow such a thing?

During the subsequent trial, Raman admitted the spy had stayed at his house but maintained that he was completely unaware of the man’s intentions. The minister Appaji, however, viewed this as negligence and sentenced Raman to death. The people were aghast, protesting vehemently, but the verdict stood.

In an unexpected twist, Appaji granted Raman a small concession: he could choose the manner of his death. Raman, ever the master of wit, addressed the court, “I am grateful to be allowed to decide how I will die. After much thought, I have made my decision—I choose to die of old age!”

The clever response drew laughter and cheers from the gathered crowd. The king, amused and impressed by Raman’s ingenuity, reconsidered the harsh sentence. Understanding that Raman had no ill intent or knowledge of the spy’s plot, he overturned the verdict.

Once again, Tenali Raman turned a dire situation in his favor with his unmatched cleverness.

Moral of the Story:
Quick wit and wisdom can transform even the gravest challenges into triumphs. Always think before you act or speak!