Tenali Raman, the courtier in King Krishnadeva Raya'scourt, was a sharp-witted and humorous man who never let any chance slip by without taking a dig at the other person. The king was aware of this quality or trait.
One day when Tenali Raman returned after being away for some days, the king asked him, ?Tenali Raman, can you tell me what is the difference between a donkey and you??
Tenali, looking down at the ground in front of him, thought for a moment, before replying, ?Your Majesty, the difference is about ten feet between the two.?
The king looked frowningly at Tenali Raman as he took time to think over what Tenali Raman meant by replying thus. Then the king burst out in loud laughter when the import of the words reached his brain ? the distance between Tenali Raman and the king was ten feet only.
