Tenali Rama - The Biggest Fool

Dadi: "Guddu! Come quickly, I have a funny Tenali Rama story for you tonight!"

Guddu: "Yes! I love Tenali Rama! He's so clever and funny!"

Dadi: "This one is about a list, beta. A very special list called 'The Biggest Fools in Vijayanagara Kingdom.'"

Guddu: "*giggling* A list of fools? Who made such a list?"

Dadi: "Tenali Raman himself! But let me tell you how it happened. King Krishnadevaraya was famous for his love of fine horses. He had the best breeds from all over the world in his royal stables."

Guddu: "Like a horse collection?"

Dadi: "Exactly! Now one day, a merchant came to the court. He brought with him the most beautiful Arabian horse the king had ever seen. Tall, muscular, with a coat that shone like silk!"

Guddu: "The king wanted it?"

Dadi: "Wanted it? He was enchanted, beta! The trader said, 'Your Majesty, I have two more horses exactly like this one back in Arabia. Pay me now, and I'll bring them within two days.'"

Guddu: "Did the king pay?"

Dadi: "He gave the trader five thousand gold coins! Right there, without any guarantee, without any proof that the other horses even existed."

Guddu: "Five thousand? That's so much money!"

Dadi: "And then, beta, the days passed. Two days, three days, a week, two weeks. No trader. No horses. The money was gone."

Guddu: "Oh no! He ran away with the king's money!"

Dadi: "It seemed so. Now one evening, the king was walking in his garden feeling foolish and sad. He came upon Tenali Raman sitting under a tree, writing something on a long parchment."

Guddu: "What was he writing?"

Dadi: "The king demanded to see it. Tenali tried to hide it, but the king insisted. When he looked, there at the very top was written: 'The Biggest Fools in Vijayanagara Kingdom.' And guess whose name was first on the list?"

Guddu: "*gasping* The king's name?"

Dadi: "Yes! The king was furious! 'How dare you call your king a fool!' he shouted."

Guddu: "What did Tenali say?"

Dadi: "Very calmly, Tenali explained. 'Your Majesty, you gave five thousand gold coins to a complete stranger. No contract, no security, just trust in someone you'd never met. If that's not foolish, what is?'"

Guddu: "Tenali was brave to say that!"

Dadi: "The king grumbled. 'What if the trader returns with the horses? Then I won't be a fool!'"

Guddu: "Then he could remove his name?"

Dadi: "*smiling* Here comes the funny part. Tenali stroked his chin and said, 'Your Majesty, if that trader returns after taking five thousand gold coins when he could have kept them forever... then HE would be the bigger fool! I'll simply cross out your name and write his!'"

Guddu: "*laughing hard* So either way, someone stays on the fool list!"

Dadi: "*laughing too* The king couldn't even be angry because Tenali was absolutely right! Whether the trader returned or not, someone was definitely a fool in this story."

Guddu: "Dadi, what happened to the money?"

Dadi: "The trader never came back, beta. The king learned an expensive lesson about trusting strangers with his gold."

Guddu: "Did the king stay on the fool list?"

Dadi: "History doesn't say. But I think the king became much more careful after that! The lesson here is important for you too, Guddu."

Guddu: "Don't give money to strangers?"

Dadi: "Don't trust too easily, especially with important things. Whether it's money, secrets, or your heart, make sure you know someone well first. Even kings can be fooled by smooth talkers."

Guddu: "I'll remember that! But Dadi, would you be on a fool list?"

Dadi: "*pretending to think* Hmm, probably. I keep giving extra sweets to a certain grandson who doesn't finish his vegetables!"

Guddu: "*laughing* That's not foolish, that's love!"

Dadi: "Ah, there's the real wisdom. Now off to bed, my little Tenali."