Tenali Raman’s Clever Horse Challenge

One day, King Krishnadevaraya proudly showed off his prized horse, a magnificent and highly trained animal capable of performing extraordinary exercises. While the king demonstrated its abilities atop a bridge over the Tungabhadra River, Tenali Raman watched with his characteristic curiosity.

Raman, never one to miss a chance for mischief, remarked, “Your horse is indeed impressive, but can it perform all the exercises that my horse can?”

The king, irked by what seemed like an insult to his steed, retorted, “Bring your horse, and let us see!”

Raman soon arrived with a horse that was a sorry sight—a feeble creature, all skin and bones, looking as though it had endured years of hardship. Struggling to guide the frail animal, Raman led it to the middle of the bridge and, without warning, pushed it into the river below.

The poor horse swam feebly for a while but eventually succumbed to exhaustion and injuries. The king was outraged. “Raman, what have you done? You’ve killed the horse!”

Raman, calm as ever, replied, “Oh, great king, I did this to save your horse. Your noble steed doesn’t need to endure such a trial to prove its worth.”

The king, still fuming, demanded an explanation. Raman said with a wry smile, “A weak friend, much like a weak horse, serves no purpose. Sometimes, losing such a burden brings unexpected gain.”

The king, impressed by Raman’s wit and the philosophical twist in his argument, laughed heartily. Recognizing the humor and truth in Raman’s words, he rewarded him with a bag of gold.

Moral of the Story:
True strength and worth shine through without unnecessary trials, and sometimes, letting go of what no longer serves a purpose can lead to greater rewards.