Tenali Raman Outsmarts Tathachary’s Revenge Plot

The head priest Tathachary, along with other priests, harbored a deep grudge against Tenali Raman for burning them with a hot ladle, and they were now plotting their revenge. They devised a plan to disgrace Raman in front of the king and get rid of him once and for all. Tathachary approached Raman with an offer that seemed innocent at first, hoping to lure him into their trap.

“I have become old,” Tathachary said. “I need to find a successor to take over my position. I think you are the right person to succeed me. You must accept me as your guru, and I will train you in the art of tantrik poojas. Under my guidance, you will become an exponent in the rituals.”

Raman, ever wise, felt something was amiss but did not turn down the offer. He sensed the priests had ulterior motives, but he couldn’t yet fully understand their plan. Raman had befriended one of the priests, Somayajalu, who was poor and simple. Sensing an opportunity to uncover the plot, Raman gave Somayajalu 10 gold coins to gain his trust. Soon, Raman learned from Somayajalu the details of the priests’ conspiracy.

The priests planned to humiliate Raman during the ceremony. They had arranged for a hot ladle to be used on him. Raman would be asked to present 100 gold coins at the start of the ceremony, after which a symbol would be burned onto his body. Then, one of the priests would raise a question: “Raman is not a Brahmin priest. He is a ‘Niyogi’ Brahmin. Such persons are not qualified to perform poojas or become a priest.” The other priests would back this claim, allowing them to burn Raman and send him away.

Raman, now aware of their plan, decided to turn the tables on them. The day of the ceremony arrived, and Tathachary began the rituals early in the morning. The other priests were ready with the hot ladle, prepared to carry out their cruel plan. However, Raman, ever the strategist, was prepared.

As the ceremony progressed, Raman raised a question of his own to Tathachary: “Can a Niyogi Brahmin become a royal priest? Does Vedic science permit this?” The priests were caught off guard by this unexpected question. They had not anticipated Raman would challenge them so boldly.

The priests were now in a dilemma. If they answered that a Niyogi Brahmin could not become a royal priest, their plan to burn Raman would fail, as they would no longer have a reason to punish him. On the other hand, if they accepted Raman’s eligibility, they would lose the chance to execute their conspiracy. Unable to decide, they became silent.

Raman, with his sharp wit, seized the moment and exposed their scheme. “You conspired to disgrace me and burn me in the name of ritual, but it’s your own dishonesty that has been exposed,” he said. The priests were left speechless and humiliated.

The king, having witnessed the entire episode, realized what had transpired. He understood that it was Raman’s intelligence that had saved him from a terrible fate. As a reward for his cleverness, the king presented Raman with a generous gift and ensured that the priests were punished for their deceit.

Moral:

Even in the face of betrayal, intelligence and wit can turn the tide in your favor.