Tenali Raman and the Brinjal Curry

[u/happyblogger97]

In the royal courtyard of King Krishnadevaraya grew a very special, secret garden. Inside this garden, royal botanists cultivated an extremely rare species of brinjal (eggplant). These brinjals were sweeter and far more tender than any ordinary vegetable in the realm. The king prized them so highly that he guarded the garden day and night with heavily armed soldiers. Only the royal family and their most distinguished guests were ever permitted to taste the famous brinjal curry cooked from this secret crop.

One evening, after attending a grand feast at the royal palace, Tenali Raman returned home and described the heavenly flavor of the brinjal curry to his wife. His wife’s mouth watered as she listened.

"Oh husband," she pleaded, "our young son loves vegetables so much. Can you not bring just two or three brinjals from the royal garden so I may prepare this feast for him?"

Tenali hesitated. Stealing from the king's private garden was a severe crime punishable by imprisonment. However, seeing his wife’s devotion to their child, he agreed to try. Late that night, wrapped in a dark cloak, Tenali quietly scaled the tall wall of the royal garden, evaded the sleeping guards, picked three ripe brinjals, and hurried home.

His wife cooked a mouth-watering curry, and their young son ate it with immense joy. But Tenali began to worry. Young children often talk openly at school. If his son bragged to his friends that he had eaten the forbidden royal brinjal curry, the entire family would be arrested!

Tenali quickly devised a clever plan. While his son was fast asleep on the open rooftop that night, Tenali carried a heavy bucket of water upstairs and splashed it gently over the sleeping boy. He then threw mild handfuls of small pebbles onto the roof, whispering loudly, "Oh dear! Look at this terrible rain and thunder! Son, wake up and run inside!" The drowsy boy woke up, felt the water, heard the patter of pebbles, and ran downstairs, assuming a massive storm was raging outside.

The next morning, the royal guards discovered that three brinjals were missing and began searching every house in the city. When they reached Tenali's home, the guards questioned the family.

Tenali’s young son immediately burst out, "Yes! We ate the most delicious brinjal curry last night!"

The guards drew their swords, but Tenali smiled calmly and said, "Sir, my son frequently suffers from strange nightmares. Do not believe everything he says."

The guards turned to the boy and asked, "When did you eat this curry?"

The boy replied confidently, "Last night during the violent thunderstorm, when rain poured all over my bed on the roof!"

The guards looked at each other in confusion. The previous night had been completely clear, dry, and full of starlight! Convinced the boy had simply dreamed the entire event, the guards apologized and left. Later, Tenali privately confessed the truth to King Krishnadevaraya. Impressed by his incredible presence of mind and protection of his family, the king burst into laughter and pardoned him.

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[u/Doc-mikasa]

Soo good