My dress was not ready hence I am late. Please allow me to go inside."
The guard refused him entry. Raman was quickwitted. He came up with another idea. He persistantly told the guard, "Sir, Please let me in. You know the king is a great lover of art and is very generous. We are going to perform before him. He will generously gift me. I will give you half of whatever I get." The guard was greedy. He cunningly smiled. Now, he readily allowed Raman to go inside.
Once inside, he saw the splendour and vastness of the palace which confused him. Tenali Raman also lost track of the artistes. He roamed around trying to open the doors and going through the corridors. Suddenly, he stepped where the troupe of artistes was performing on stage.
'Ramlila' was being performed and it was the scene of 'Bharat Milap'. At that moment, Tenali Raman made his entry. He was standing between Rama and Bharat. At first, all got confused with the entry of the boy between Rama and Bharat. The truth then slowly began to sink in the minds of the artistes and the audience, and they began to laugh. But the disruption angered the king. The guards caught Tenali Raman and brought him in front of the king.
"Who are you? Why did you disrupt the drama?" King Krishnadevaraya asked him.
"My Lord! My name is Raman. I have come from the village of Tenali to serve you, " Tenali Raman said fearlessly. "Who sent you?" the king angrily asked.
"Your Majesty! Mother Goddess Kali sent me here. She blessed me and instructed me to meet Your Highness. She told me that you will make me your court jester," Tenali said innocently.
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Krishnadevaraya felt annoyed at Tenali Raman's reply. He angrily decided to punish this foolish fellow. He ordered the guards to lash him a hundred times.
Krishnadevaraya felt annoyed at Tenali Raman's reply. He angrily decided to punish this foolish fellow. He ordered the guards to lash him a hundred times.
was not perturbed. He Goddess Kalikamba and had been for the worst. He bowed
I shall happily receive
But
King Krishnadevaraya was very intelligent and wise.
His anger also vanished. Now, he took keen interest in Tenali Raman. He noticed that Tenali Raman was a very talented boy.
To test him further, the king pretended to be angry. He said, "Tenali Raman, bribing is also a punishable offence. Therefore, I hereby order that your head be cut off tomorrow morning. "
The king wanted to know how he would save the situation so he did not mention anything to anyone.
Everyone at the court was shocked to hear about the execution. They thought this was too severe a punishment for so ordinary a crime. The courtiers felt sorry for the boy.
The guards took him away and kept him in prison. Next morning, the guards took him to the gallows to behead him. They also felt that the punishment was too harsh for such a young child.
In fact, they were surprised to see that Tenali Raman was not disturbed. Tenali Raman was not worried about what was going to happen. He was busy thinking of a plan to save himself from the difficult situation. He told the guards that it was his habit to take a bath and perform religious rituals in the morning. The guards gave him permission to do so. He then took a bath and performed his morning rituals. Then, they brought and gave him plenty of food and some fruits to eat. They took pity on this innocent boy.
Tenali Raman was tired and hungry after the rituals and ate a hearty meal. Then, he lied down and went to sleep. The guards could not do anything for it is against nature to kill a man while he is sleeping, and Tenali Raman was just a little boy.
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They waited for Raman to wake up. When Tenali Raman opened his eyes, he saw that the guards were not eager to kill him. He told them, "Guards, you allowed me to do my rituals and even fed me. I know that you have to do your duty and obey the king. I know that you don't want to kill me. "
"Yes, dear boy. We do not want to kill you. You are just like our own son," the guards said.
"O my elders! I have a plan wherein you do your duty and I will escape death," Tenali Raman said.
"O son! If you have a plan, tell us. We will accept it. The plan should be such that it will free you from death without our disobeying the king's orders," the guards said.
"O my dear ones, I won't mislead you. My plan is very simple. I shall stand in neck-deep water and when I say, 'Jai Kalikamba' , you swing your swords to chop off my head, " said Tenali Raman .
The guards could not understand his words. But they agreed to carry out his plan. Tenali Raman again went into the waters of the Tungabhadra river. He stood in neckdeep water and closed his eyes. The guards had prepared themselves for the final act. They drew up their swords and kept them ready in their hands. Now they were waiting for Tenali Raman to utter, "Jai Kalikamba".
Tenali Raman was smart. As soon as he said, "Jai Kalikamba", he ducked his head underwater before the guards swung their swords. The guards were swift but not fast enough to cut off Tenali Raman's head. He ducked deep and swam away. He came out at some distance and was swimming on the surface. The guards were wondering and searching for him. They didn't understand what had happened. Now Raman called out to them. They saw him
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alive and thought it was a miracle.
Tenali Raman came to them and said, "You did your duty. You drew your sword on me to chop my head. But I, who am blessed by Goddess Kali escaped it. Now take me back to the king and we will explain it to him."
The guards took him to the king. The king patiently heard the story. He thought that this boy was very clever
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and Goddess Kalikamba might have really blessed him. He wanted to test him further. So he said, "Tenali Raman, you somehow have managed to escape this time. But it will not happen again." Then the king turned to his guards and said, "This time be more careful. Take him outside the town. Bury him neck-deep under the ground so he cannot duck or dive. Then trample his head with an elephant. Now, quickly do your duty and see that he does not escape again."
Despite giving such strict orders, King Krishnadevaraya was sure that Tenali Raman would somehow manage to survive. The king liked him very much and wanted to appoint him as a minister.
Tenali Raman was this time in a very tight corner. The guards took him to the end of the town. They dug a deep hole in the ground and buried him up to his neck. They filled the pit completely so Tenali Raman was unable to move at all. He was only able to see them. Thus making sure of this, the guards left him in the afternoon sun and went to fetch an elephant. Tenali was praying to Goddess Kalikamba.
Then came his escape. The pit was on the route of a palace launderer. He was passing by with heavy loads of laundry. The launderer was hunchbacked due to carrying heavy bundles of clothes on his back everyday. Tenali Raman observed the situation. The launderer also saw that the boy was buried up to the neck in the pit under the hot sun. He came nearer. Out of curiosity, he asked, "Why are you buried here?" That was what Tenali Raman wanted.
"O dear launderer, I had a back more hunched than yours. By sheer good luck, I found this great doctor. He suggested this secret treatment...." Now Raman stopped