IN King Krishnadeva Raya’s kingdom, it was customary to release a list of the top 10 highest income-tax payers. Tenali Raman, a courtier like many others in the kingdom, was the highest tax-payer as he received more than his compatriots because of the awards given by the king every now and then for his sharp wit and intelligence.
Once, Tenali Raman went out of town for some urgent work. One week passed and he did not turn up at the court. The commander-in-chief along with a few others went to the king and complained, “Tenali Raman receives the same salary as any of us, then how is it that he is the highest income-tax payer? How can he have such a high income unless he is doing some other business on the sly?”
King Krishnadeva Raya was unhappy to hear his courtiers complain against his favourite Tenali Raman, but decided to listen to them. In his heart of hearts he knew that he himself had been giving many awards in cash and kind to Tenali Raman. However, to placate the courtiers, the king said to them, “Let Tenali Raman return to court and then I will talk to him.”
Tenali Raman was informed about the incident at the court on his return to town that evening. The next day, when he reached the court with a cock in a basket, the king asked him, “Tenali Raman, why are you carrying a cock in a basket?”
Tenali Raman went and stood before he king and said, “Your Majesty, this fat cock has been troubling me a lot by eating away all the grains of food that I throw before my hens.”
The king laughingly replied, “Oh, this cock must be very smart for doing this. I think he deserves double the amount of grain now.”
Tenali Raman put the cock away in the basket and turned to the king, “Your Majesty, I believe you have been looking for me to discuss something?”
The king replied, “I have heard that your income is larger than any of the other courtiers; how is it so?”
Tenali Raman replied mischievously, “Just as the cock eats up the share of the hens, I too eat up other men’s salary. Your Majesty, I am the lone cock among the hens.”
-MG
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