Tenali Raman and the Mysterious Thief

Long ago, in the grand kingdom of Vijayanagara, there lived a witty and intelligent court jester named Tenali Raman. He was known for his cleverness, humor, and ability to solve even the trickiest of problems. King Krishnadevaraya often relied on him to handle difficult situations.

One day, the people of Vijayanagara came to the king with a serious problem. “Your Majesty,” they said, “a cunning thief has been robbing homes at night, but no one has been able to catch him!” The king, troubled by this, promised a huge reward to anyone who could capture the thief.

Hearing this, Tenali Raman smiled and assured the king, “Your Majesty, allow me to handle this. I will catch the thief soon.”

That night, Tenali Raman spread a rumor across the city that he had found a way to protect his wealth. He loudly told his wife, “Since thieves are everywhere, I will hide all our gold in a pot filled with rice grains. No one will suspect it!” He then left the pot in his backyard, near the well.

As expected, the cunning thief heard the rumor and decided to steal the gold. Late at night, he sneaked into Tenali Raman’s house and rushed to the backyard. Seeing the large pot filled with rice, he eagerly dug his hands into it, searching for the treasure. But as he did, he suddenly screamed in pain—the pot was filled with red-hot chili powder!

The clever Tenali Raman, who had been hiding nearby, rushed in with guards. The thief, his hands burning, was caught red-handed. The next morning, he was presented before the king, who was amazed at Tenali Raman’s clever trick.

The king laughed heartily and said, “Tenali, you have once again proven that wisdom is mightier than strength. You shall be rewarded handsomely!”

Thus, the thief was punished, and the city of Vijayanagara remained safe, all thanks to Tenali Raman’s intelligence and quick thinking.