KIDS STORIES

 TENALIRAMA'S WIT

THE RED PEACOCK  

 

The King was very fond of collecting unique objects. All his courtiers always looked for such wonderful things, that they could present to the king to please him.

Once to impress the king, one of the courtiers got a peacock painted in bright red colour. He took it to king krishnadev Rai’s court and said, “Your Majesty! I have brought this wonderful red peacock for you from the jungles of you from the jungles of Central India. Please accept it.”

 The King was very delighted to receive the wonderful peacock. With his eyes wide open in surprise, he exclaimed, “This is indeed a rare bird! I haven’t seen any bird like this before. We’ll keep it in our royal garden. Tell me, how much did you pay for it

 

The courtier was thrilled to hear the praise from the king. “My Lord! I have spent nearly twenty five thousand rupees to get it,” he replied. The King ordered the treasure, “Let this gentleman be given twenty five thousand rupees from the state treasury.”

The courtier gave a cunning smile to Tenalirama, who was also present in the court. However, Tenalirama was clever enough to feel the smell of the paint. He understood that the King had been cheated by the courtier; but he just kept quiet.

He left the court and sent his men to search for the best painter in the town. He took four peacocks to him and got them painted in bright red colour.

Next day, Tenalirama went to the court with four red peacocks and presented them to the king. He said, “Your Highness! You had got one red-peacock for twenty five thousand rupees. I have bought four such birds of better variety for just ten thousand rupees.”

 

The king was surprised. Tenalirama’s birds were certainly better than the first one. The King was pleased and ordered, “All right, Tenali. You can have ten thousand rupees from the state treasury.”

Tenalirama pointed towards the man standing beside him and said, “Your Majesty! It is not me but this painter who deserves this reward. He has painted the peacocks so beautifully, that they look so real. He is a wonderful painter.”

 

 

The King was shocked to know the truth. He thanked Tenalirama and appreciated his intelligence to expose the wicked courtier. The painter was rewarded and the courtier was punished for cheating the King.