Tenali Raman’s Sweet Trick with Sugar Crystals

King Krishnadevaraya had a special fondness for a unique kind of sugar crystal, prepared exclusively for him. One day, as the sugar was left to dry in the palace courtyard, Tenali Raman happened to pass by and curiously asked the king, “What is this, my lord?”

The mischievous king, wanting to trick Raman, replied, “Oh, this is just some sand.” When Raman appeared doubtful, the king added, “It’s a special type of sand, nothing more.”

Raman remained silent, and the king thought he had successfully fooled him. Amused by his own cleverness, the king returned to his quarters and shared the tale with the queens, who joined him in laughter.

However, Raman had other plans. Later that day, he returned to the courtyard with his son. They began eating the sugar crystals enthusiastically, much to the astonishment of the palace guards.

When the king returned and saw them, he exclaimed, “Raman! What on earth are you doing?”

Without missing a beat, Raman replied, “Oh, my lord, our beloved cow has died, and we are heartbroken. To console ourselves, we decided to eat this ‘special sand’ you mentioned.” Both father and son continued munching on the sugar as if nothing were amiss.

The king, realizing his prank had backfired, laughed heartily but also ordered the remaining sugar to be collected and stored safely. He then admitted defeat, saying, “Raman, I can never outwit you!”

From that day forward, the king resolved never to underestimate Raman’s cleverness again.

Moral of the Story:
Truth and wit will always expose deceit, even in the cleverest of pranks.