Tenali Ramakrishna and the King's Test - Tenali Ramakrishna stories

Tenali Ramakrishna was a clever and witty poet who served as an advisor to King Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagar. The king was impressed by his intelligence and humour, but he also wanted to test his loyalty and honesty.

One day, the king called Tenali Ramakrishna to his court and said, "Ramakrishna, I have heard that you are very good at writing poems. I want you to write a poem praising me and my kingdom. But there is a catch. You have to write the poem in such a way that every word in the poem starts with the letter 'V'. Can you do it?"

Tenali Ramakrishna was surprised by this strange request. He knew that it was very difficult to write a poem with such a constraint. He also knew that the king was testing him. If he wrote a poem that was too flattering, the king would think that he was dishonest and sycophantic. If he wrote a poem that was too critical, the king would think that he was disloyal and disrespectful.

He thought for a while and then said, "Your Majesty, I accept your challenge. But I need some time to write the poem. Can you give me a week?"

The king agreed and gave him a week's time. He also warned him not to tell anyone about the challenge or seek anyone's help.

Tenali Ramakrishna went home and started thinking of how to write the poem. He tried many combinations of words starting with 'V', but none of them made sense or sounded good. He was worried that he would fail the king's test and lose his favour.

He decided to seek the help of Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of learning and wisdom. He prayed to her sincerely and asked her to guide him.

The next day, he had a dream in which Goddess Saraswati appeared before him and said, "Ramakrishna, I have heard your prayer. I will help you write the poem, but you have to follow my instructions carefully."

She then gave him a list of words starting with 'V' and told him how to arrange them in a poem. She also told him the meaning of each word and how they related to the king and his kingdom.

Tenali Ramakrishna woke up from his dream and thanked Goddess Saraswati. He wrote down the words and arranged them in a poem as she had instructed him.

The poem was:

Vidya vinayam vijayam vishwam vijayanagaram

Vishnu vishesham vimalam vibhushanam vidhuram

Vikramam vikhyatam vidhata vishwadharam

Vishwabharanam vishwakaranam vishweshwaram

The meaning of the poem was:

Knowledge and humility lead to victory in the world

Vijayanagar is the special, pure and splendid ornament of Vishnu

The brave and famous king is the creator and supporter of the world

He is the protector, maker and lord of the world

Tenali Ramakrishna was amazed by the beauty and wisdom of the poem. He memorized it and waited for the day when he had to present it to the king.

On the appointed day, he went to the court and recited the poem before the king and his ministers.

The king was stunned by the poem. He could not believe that Tenali Ramakrishna had written such a wonderful poem with only words starting with 'V'. He praised him for his talent and skill.

He also understood the hidden meaning of the poem. He realized that Tenali Ramakrishna had not only praised him and his kingdom, but also reminded him of his duties and responsibilities as a ruler. He appreciated his honesty and loyalty.

He rewarded Tenali Ramakrishna with a bag of gold coins and a silk robe. He also declared him as his favourite poet and advisor.

Tenali Ramakrishna thanked the king for his generosity and grace. He also thanked Goddess Saraswati for her help.

He went home happily with his gifts, knowing that he had passed the king's test with flying colours.