Tenali Raman Outsmarts a Boastful Wrestler

In the magnificent palace of King Krishnadevarayar, there was a distinct contrast between the personalities of two notable figures: Tenali Raman and the court priest Tathachary. Tathachary, ever the opportunist, would flatter the king excessively, always seeking personal gain. In contrast, Raman was known for his candid nature, never afraid to speak the truth, even when it meant criticizing the king.

One day, the king hosted a lavish feast for his courtiers. The meal was abundant and extravagant, and everyone was enjoying the sumptuous dishes. Tathachary, ever the sycophant, praised the king’s generosity to the skies, going as far as to say, “Is there anything in the world that the king cannot provide? Surely, he is the most powerful and magnificent ruler.” His words were laced with flattery, but Raman, unimpressed, merely listened quietly.

When the meal concluded, the king called upon the wise Raman for a different reason. A renowned wrestler had come to the palace, claiming to be undefeatable. Tathachary, eager to please, had already expressed his admiration for the wrestler, even before a match had taken place. But Raman, who saw through Tathachary’s pandering, was skeptical.

The wrestler, brimming with confidence, boasted of his prowess, ready to face any challenger in a display of strength. But Raman, ever the strategist, asked him, “Do you know the tricks of numerology?” The wrestler was taken aback, confused by the question. He stammered, unsure of what Raman was referring to.

Raman, recognizing the wrestler’s ignorance of such matters, used the confusion to his advantage. He spun a tale about a special wrestling technique that involved numerology, claiming it would guarantee victory if done correctly. Intrigued but puzzled, the wrestler asked more questions, growing anxious. The more he heard about this “numerology wrestling,” the more uncertain he became.

Soon, the wrestler, feeling overwhelmed and out of his depth, decided to leave the kingdom rather than risk embarrassment. He disguised himself as a woodcutter and sneaked away under the cover of night, escaping from Vijayanagaram without ever stepping into the wrestling arena.

The next day, the king was pleased to hear that the boastful wrestler had fled, and asked Raman how he had managed to retain the glory of the kingdom. Raman, with a sly smile, explained his method of using the wrestler’s own confusion to drive him out.

As a reward for his cleverness and for saving the kingdom from humiliation, the king presented Raman with 1000 gold coins, much to the dismay of Tathachary, who had failed to see through the wrestler’s false bravado.

Moral:

Flattery can sometimes mask the truth, but honesty and wisdom always shine through, even in the face of deceit.