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Tenali Rama was a courtier to Emperor Sri Krishnadevaraya, who ruled the mighty kingdom of Vijayanagara in South India. Here is a folklore of Tenali Rama and golden mangoes where Rama used his wit, intelligence, and humor to hint the emperor about his hasty decision.
Once, the royal mother fell sick and was bedridden. Sri Krishnadevaraya summoned doctors from all over the kingdom to nurse his mother back to health. However, after examining her, the doctors said that the chances of her survival were slim as she was old, and her body was not responding to the medications.
One day, the mother called out to her son and said, “My dear son, it is time for me to leave this material world. I do not have any hope or wish to live in this body anymore. But I have one last wish, would you fulfill it before I die?
The teary-eyed king asked her what she wished for and promised that he would fulfill it. The mother smiled faintly, and, with difficulty, spoke, “Son, I want to eat one ripe mango before I leave this world forever.”
The son immediately summoned his courtiers and guards and ordered them to scan the whole kingdom and get a basket full of ripe mangoes for his mother to enjoy the sweetness of the fruit one last time. Everyone was surprised as spring had just begun, and the mango trees only started to flower. So, it would take some time for the trees to bear fruits.
They were not sure if the royal mother would be able to survive that long. But they did not dare to speak about it to the grief-stricken king.
After a few days, the soldiers managed to get a basket full of ripe mangoes. Sri Krishnadeveraya was extremely happy and rushed to her mother, holding the basket in his hands, but, just when he was about to place the basket near her bedside, his mother took her last breath.
This incident made the king deeply sad; he cursed himself for not being able to fulfill his mother’s last wish. He sunk in guilt and started neglecting his royal duties. One day, he invited his guru, Thathacharya, to his chambers, explained his struggles, and asked for a solution.
Thathacharya thought for some time and said, “Your Majesty, your mother was always fond of giving alms to Brahmins, why don’t you give golden mangoes to all the Brahmins in the kingdom? Maybe then, her soul might rest in peace?”
The king agreed to this solution and ordered to make these golden, delicious mangoes and distribute them to the Brahmins in the country. Soon, the news of the gold fruit spread across the kingdom, and hundreds of Brahmins came to the royal palace to collect them. The gold reserves in the royal treasury started to melt. Although Appaji, the Chief Minister, cautioned the king about this, he did not pay heed to it, and the distribution of golden mangoes continued.
Appaji was extremely worried about the future of the Vijayanagara kingdom and approached Tenali Rama to help him solve this issue with his cleverness and wisdom. Tenali Rama assured Appaji that he would take care of it. The next day, he visited the treasury, where the Brahmins were waiting in a long queue to receive their golden mango.
Rama went inside a nearby empty tent, sat there, and called out the guards standing outside. When the guards came in, he said, “Guards! Send the Brahmins to me before they go to collect the golden mango.” As Tenali Rama was a special advisor to the king, they assumed that this was as per the Majesty’s order and said that they would do so.
One by one, the Brahmins started to enter Rama’s tent. Inside, Rama told them that there was an amendment in the rules, which was that every Brahmin should take one hot-rod burn on the back to be eligible to get the golden mango. The Brahmins agreed and took one burn each before collecting the golden mango.
This continued until one Brahmin asked Rama if he could take two burns and get two golden mangoes. Rama said yes and gave him two burns. But when the Brahmin went to collect the produce, the guards gave him only one mango. The Brahmin started to argue that he had to get two mangoes as he took two burns. Perplexed, the guards took him to the king’s court.
When the king asked the Brahmin what the issue was, the Brahmin said, “Your Majesty, the guards are denying me two golden mangoes even after Tenali Rama promised me to give two mangoes for two burns.”
Saying this, he showed his burnt back to the king. The king became furious and summoned Tenali Rama.
Once Rama was in court, the king demanded an explanation. Rama bowed to the king and said, “I am extremely sorry, your Majesty. But I had no other choice.
“My mother passed away due to a deadly disease. The doctor advised that she could be saved if we gave her a burn on her back with a hot rod. But before I could administer it, she passed away.”
With tears in his tears, he continued, “While on her deathbed, my mother requested to administer this cure to Brahmins so that her soul could rest in peace. However, being a poor Brahmin, I could never gather all these Brahmins. I thought, why not use those who came to your royal court.”
After hearing what Rama said, the king was lost in thought. He dismissed the court and started to ponder over what Rama said. He realized his mistake and asked the guards to stop the distribution of golden mangoes to Brahmins.
Key Pointers
- The story of Golden Mangoes from the Tenali Rama collection is a wonderful story for children, teaching them about wise thinking.
- King Krishnadevaraya gets upset when he is unable to fulfill the last wish of his mother on her deathbed.
- He makes a hasty decision to donate gold mangoes to Brahmins in his mother’s honor.
- Tenali Rama, the King’s advisor, intervenes when the treasury is depleted and tricks the King to teach him a lesson.
- The story beautifully portrays the King has love for his mother but also teaches the importance of being practical.
Moral of the story
Never make hasty decisions blinded by your emotions.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can parents and educators use storytelling to teach children about different cultures and traditions?
You may narrate stories associated with certain cultures and traditions to acquaint them with the child. Share stories that help children connect with their cultural roots, including memories of your childhood and how you celebrated festivals.
2. Can the story of the golden mangoes be used to teach children important life lessons?
Children can learn from the tale of the golden mangoes the value of making wise decisions and seeking advice when necessary.
3. Are there any other famous stories or fables featuring Tenali Rama?
Yes. Stories like Tenali Rama and the Foolish Thieves, Tenali Rama and Brinjal Curry, and Tenali Rama And Bragging Soldiers are examples of the cleverness and intelligence of Tenali Rama who often used his wit to outsmart others in the tales. This has made him a beloved character in traditional folklore.
4. What is the plot of the story of Tenali Rama and the golden mangoes?
In the story, Tenali Rama and the Golden Mangoes, King Krishnadevaraya’s mother falls ill, and her dying wish is to eat a mango. The king sends his servants to find a mango but fails to fulfill his mother’s wish before she passes away. Overwhelmed with sadness, the king becomes despondent until his adviser suggests giving mangoes and gold to the poor in his mother’s memory. As the distribution continues, the king’s finances are strained, and Tenali Rama comes up with a plan to teach the king a lesson about his actions. By pretending that he will give extra gold to those with a burn mark, Tenali Rama makes the king realize the importance of thoughtful decision-making and the consequences of his generosity.
5. What is the significance of the golden mangoes in the story?
The golden mangoes in the story “Tenali Rama and the Golden Mangoes” are special because they represent the king’s efforts to make his mother happy even after her death. They show how generous the king is, but also teach him that his actions have consequences and that he should think carefully before making decisions.
6. How does the story of Tenali Rama and the golden mangoes reflect the cultural values and beliefs of the time?
The story of Tenali Rama and the Golden Mangoes shows how people at that time believed it was important to fulfill their parents’ wishes and honor their memory. It also teaches about being kind and understanding towards others and thinking carefully about the outcomes of our choices.
Illustration: Tenali Rama Story: The Golden Mangoes
Image: Stable Diffusion/MomJunction Design Team
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