Tenali Raman Tales - Tenali and the Golden Mangoes (Episode 216)
Tenali Raman was a learned scholar and a poet in the court of King Krishnadevaraya. He was a minister in the court and was also one of the eight poets. He was famous for his wit and quick thinking.
On the Story Prism podcast, Tenali Raman tales are a collection of some of those stories.
Today's story, 'Tenali and the Golden Mangoes is about how Tenali teaches a lesson to an arrogant scholar.
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Transcript
In the grand court of Emperor Krishnadevaraya, ruler of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire, wisdom glittered brighter than gold… and sometimes, so did foolishness.
And where there was foolishness—
There was Tenali Raman.
It was the season of mangoes.
Children, can you tell me the taste of the mangoes?
Yes! Indeed, they are sweet and juicy!
The air was thick with their perfume—sweet, sun-warmed, irresistible.
Golden mangoes arrived in baskets from across the kingdom, each one glowing like a captured sunset.
Now, the emperor had recently lost his beloved mother.
Before her passing, she had whispered a simple wish:
“If only I could taste one more mango…”
But it was not mango season then.
The wish lingered in the king’s heart like an unfinished prayer.
The greedy Rajguru convinced the king to give golden mangoes to Brahmins to please her soul.
So when mango season finally arrived, the emperor (did what grief often makes us do—he tried to fill the ache with grandeur.)
ordered that golden mangoes be crafted—solid gold, studded with precious gems—and gifted to learned Brahmins in his mother’s memory.
The court priests nodded solemnly.
The goldsmiths worked tirelessly.
The treasury… quietly trembled.
One by one, richly dressed priests came forward and received a golden mango each.
But among the courtiers stood Tenali Raman, who watching the greed of the brahmins (sparkle brighter than devotion.)
,Tenali that evening invited the same Brahmins to his humble home.
They arrived eagerly. After all, Tenali was known to be close to the king. So they thought perhaps there would be more gifts?
Inside, a large iron rod lay in the fireplace, heating slowly… steadily… glowing red.
Children, can you guess what was on Tenali Raman’s mind?
Let’s listen ahead.
The Brahmins shifted uneasily.
Tenali folded his hands and said gently,
“My mother, too, had a final wish before she passed away. She longed for relief from her knee pain. The healer had advised a hot iron branding, meaning touching with hot iron to leave a mark—If my mother had a chance to get a hot iron branding it would have cured her.”
He paused.
“Alas, she passed away before we could fulfill that wish. So today, in her memory, I shall brand each of you… to complete her unfulfilled desire.”
The Brahmins gasped.
“Brand us?!”
“This is madness!”
“We will complain to the king!”
Tenali smiled calmly.
“But did you not just accept golden mangoes to fulfil the emperor’s mother’s last wish? If that act brings peace to her soul… surely this will bring peace to mine.”
Silence fell.
Ashamed, the Brahmins rushed back to the palace and returned the golden mangoes.
When the king heard what had happened, he summoned Tenali.
“Was this necessary?” the emperor asked, though a smile tugged at his lips.
Tenali bowed.
“Your Majesty, true devotion does not weigh itself in gold.
A mango given in love is worth more than a hundred made of metal.”
The king looked at the returned treasures… and then at his wise jester.
The king recognises the folly of the scheme and rewards Tenali for his quick wit and honesty.
And that day, in the court of Vijayanagara, wisdom ripened sweeter than mangoes.
