Manju Gupta
AS is the practice today, even during King Krishnadeva Raya’s time, people found ways and means to avoid paying taxes on their earnings. To put a curb on this practice, the king announced that whoever paid the highest amount of tax on his earnings would be provided additional benefits. “So far, only Tenali Raman has been paying the highest amount of tax and he shall be presented an award by me,” said the king.
The courtiers turned to each other to whisper, “How is it that Tenali always manages to pay the highest amount of tax? It could only mean that he has some side business running because of which he makes more money and thus pays a higher tax than any of us.”
For one whole week Tenali Raman remained missing from the court, so a few of the courtiers went to the king to complain against him. They said, “Your Majesty, Tenali Raman has not been attending the court since the past one week. We feel certain that he is doing some other business apart from attending the court.”
Meanwhile word had spread that Tenali Raman would be reprimanded when he joined court again. Tenali Raman too had come to hear of it. The next day he went to the court with a cock clasped under his arm. The king was angry on seeing such a sight and said to him, “Tenali Raman, where have you been? You have not been coming to the court since the past one week and what is more, who gave you the permission to bring a cock to court?”
Tenali Raman replied, “Your Majesty, I was away from court as my wife had gone to her parental home for a week. Today she has come back but I had to bring this cock with me because whatever grain I throw to the five or six hens that I keep, this cock eats up not only his own share, but that of the hen too.”
The king was pleased at the smartness of the cock and said in an appreciative tone, “Your cock must be very smart to do so. Anyway, I have come to know that you are carrying on some side business. Is it true?”
Tenali Raman replied, “Your Majesty, this is because of the gifts and awards that you keep giving me from time to time. Just as this cock eats away the share of the grain that belongs to the hen, I too take up the awards and gifts which could cover the expenses of two to three more persons. It seems I am the only cock among the hens.”
The king was pleased with the reply and awarded him a bag of gold coins.
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