King
Krishnadevaraya’s mother was a very orthodox woman. She had visited many holy
places and had performed religious rites, she had given much in charity. Once
she wanted to give fruit in charity and informed so to her son. The king who
had great respect for his mother immediately got delicious mangoes from
Ratnagiri. But on the auspicious day when she was to present those fruits to
Brahmins, the king’s mother died.
image source: google images
The
religious rites connected with her death went on for several days. Meanwhile
the king called a few Brahmins and said, “My mother’s last wish was to offer
mangoes to Brahmins. But she died before the wish could be fulfilled. What
should I do now that she might earn the merit for giving away the fruits?”
The
greedy Brahmins replied, “You Majesty, only if you offer mangoes made of gold
to Brahmins, your mother’s soul will rest in peace.”
Tenali
Raman came to know about this. The next day Tenali Raman went to the houses of
those Brahmins, and asked them to come to his house to perform his mother’s
ceremony. The Brahmins came to Tenali Ramans house after receiving the gold
mangoes from the king. Ramans servants closed all the doors of the house. They
brought red-hot iron bars and stood before the Brahmins. They were shocked to
see this.
Then
Tenali Raman told them that his mother had knee pains and as remedy wanted
Tenali Raman to burn her with red-hot iron bars. But she died before he could
do it. So he now wanted to execute her wish. Then the Brahmins said it was
unjust toward them. Tenali Raman said, “There’s nothing unjust toward them,
because they had just taken golden mangoes from the king.” Then the Brahmins
understood their folly and left the golden mangoes at Raman’s house .
Later
when the King asked Tenali Raman why he had behaved like that with the
Brahmins, Raman said the palace treasury should not be exploited by these
selfish people. It is not there to feed lazy people, it’s there to serve the
people of the Kingdom.
The End
