MORAL STORY OF TENALI RAMAN AND AKBAR & BIRBAL

*********Tenali Raman: Tenali Raman And Two Thieves




Tenali Raman Stories | 3-12 yrs | Reading PodLeave a ReplyFavourite      
Here’s another great story about Tenali Raman.
One summer night, when Tenaliram and his wife were about to sleep, when he heard the sound of rustling of leaves coming from outside. There was not even the slightest breeze blowing at that time, so he presumed that there were some thieves hiding in the bushes. He understood that they must be planning to rob his house in the night.                    

He thought of a plan said loudly to his wife, “My dear, I have heard that some notorious thieves are on the loose in our neighborhood. So let’s hide all the jewellery and money that we have in the well.”

A little later, Tenaliram and his wife came out of the house carrying a big trunk, and dropped it into the well. Then they went back inside the house, and pretended to go off to sleep.

The thieves waited for a while and then started drawing water from the well. They hoped to empty the well and get the treasure. The thieves kept drawing out water the entire night. Towards daybreak, they managed to pull out the trunk, and when they opened it, they were extremely shocked and disappointed to see only some big stones in it. They understood that it was Tenaliram’s plan to outsmart them. Just then, Tenaliram came out of his house and said, “Thank you friends, for watering my plants. I must pay you for your labour.”

Hearing this, the thieves fell at Tenali’s feet for forgiveness. Tenali let them go when they promised not to steal or rob anyone ever again.

Moral- Keeping cool and using your wit in dire situations can help you get out of them.

***********Tenali Raman: Tenali Raman’s Entry Into Bhuvana Vijayam
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Here’s another great story about Tenali Raman.
Tenali Raman or Tenali Ramalingam was a minister in the court of the king of Vijaynagar, Krishnadeva Rai. Tenali Rama was a great scholar of several languages that included Marathi, Tamil and Kannada. He was popular all over the country for his wit and great sense of humour. Stories about Tenali Raman and his practical jokes on everyone around him including distinguished fellow poets and the emperor himself,are very famous all over the southern part of India.

Tenali Raman was very mischievous in his childhood. One day, the provincial ruler happened to visit Tenali’s academic institution for the annual inspection. He questioned the children in Tenali’s classroom, “Who among you is the most intelligent?”

There was pin drop silence in the classroom. None of the children could muster up the courage to answer the king’s question. Meanwhile, Tenali sprung up from his seat and answered with confidence, “Sir, I am the most intelligent student in the class!” The king was extremely impressed with the little child’s self confidence and blessed him saying, “You will go places my child!”
And it indeed happened so! When Tenali grew up, he made his presence felt in history by the virtue of his wit and sharp intellect.

Coming back to the story, young Tenali garnered advanced knowledge of several languages. He was proficient in the art of poetry and had a sound knowledge of the ancient texts. He wanted to be a part of Raja Krsihnadeva Rai’s royal court. Thus, one day he approached the royal priest Thathacharya and exhibited his skills before him. Thathacharya promised Tenali that he would introduce him to the King Rayalu, but did not keep his word.

Tenali was disappointed, but started looking for other ways to gain entry into the court. He met another scholar from the king’s royal court, Nandi Thimmana and displayed his talent in spontaneous poetry before him. Thimmana was highly impressed and felicitated Tenali by presenting him with a Kashmiri pashmina shawl, which was presented to him by King Rayalu.

The next day, Tenali adorning the Kashmiri shawl on his shoulders, walked into the royal court. King Rayalu surprised to see a stranger carrying the priceless shawl that he had gifted to Thimmana couple of days before.

The king asked Tenali, “From where did you get this shawl?”
Tenali Raman bowed down before the king and politely replied, “His Highness! Thimmana has satisfied you with his talent and expertise in his field. I was fortunate enough to please that great personality with my poetry and receive this priceless shawl as a reward. I am wearing this shawl to exhibit my competence.”

Sri Krishnadeva Rayalu was impressed by the way Tenali presented himself in the court and granted him a permanent place in the royal court. This is how Tenali entered Bhuvana Vijayam.  *********



**************Akbar Birbal: Fear Is The Key
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One day, Emperor Akbar said to Birbal, “Birbal, my people love me very much and that is why they are ready to carry out every order of mine willingly.”
Birbal smiled and said, “This is true, but they fear you too, Jahanpanah.” Akbar did not agree with Birbal on this and that is why it was decided that Birbal’s statement should be tested.
Next day, according to Birbal’s instructions, it was announced that the Emperor would be going for hunting, and people should pour a pot of milk in a tub kept in the courtyard. The people thought that the Emperor is out and would not come to see the tub himself, so all they poured in the tub, was some water. Next day, when Akbar returned from hunting, he found that there was not even a single drop of milk in the tub, instead there was just some water.

Akbar got very disappointed when he saw this and asked Birbal about his next move.

Birbal said, “Jahanpanah, once again announce that you are going for hunting and this time you will see the tub yourself after coming back.”

The Emperor did as Birbal said. Once again, the tub was kept in the courtyard. This time, when the king returned from hunting, he was pleasantly surprised to see the tub overflowing with milk.

Birbal said, “This proves the truthfulness of my statement, Huzoor! It is your fear which makes the people obey you. The first time there was no one to check the tub, so people poured the water, but the second time, they knew that you would check it yourself, that is why they brought the milk.”

Akbar understood that it is indeed fear that keeps people disciplined.


**************Akbar Birbal: Birbal Solves The Problem
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Once, Emperor Akbar was looking for a suitable candidate for the post of his royal advisor. Several courtiers coveted the prestigious post and requested the Emperor to give them a chance. The number of the contenders for the post was increasing day by day and thus, the Emperor decided to test them for their intellectual abilities and wit. He announced, “I want all those who wish to be my royal advisor to appear for a test. The one who would pass the test will be appointed my advisor.” They agreed.
Akbar unfastened his waist cloth and lay down on the floor, and asked the candidates to cover him with that cloth from head to toe. All the courtiers were perplexed by the Emperor’s strange test. They tried their best to cover the Emperor’s body with the waist cloth, but since it was very small in size, it could not cover the whole body. When the courtiers covered the Emperor’s head, his feet remained uncovered, and when they tried to cover his feet, then his head remained open.

Just then Birbal entered the court, the king asked Birbal also to try to cover him with that cloth from head to toe. Birbal took a moment, and then asked the Emperor politely, “Huzoor, Could you pull up your knees a little bit?” The Emperor curled his legs up, and Birbal easily covered him from head to toe with that cloth.

All the courtiers realized that they were not worth the appointment of the royal advisor and withdrew their claims.


******************Akbar Birbal: Protection From The Footmark of An Elephant
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Once, Emperor Akbar had a serious tiff with Birbal over some issue. He removed Birbal from the post of Deewan and appointed his wife’s brother in Birbal’s place. Birbal started living in a nearby village, while hiding his identity.
One day, the Emperor decided to visit a Dargah. While returning from there, he saw the footmark of an elephant. He decided to gauge his brother-in-law’s intelligence. He asked him to protect that mark for three days. The Emperor then went back to his palace and left behind his brother-in-law to protect the footmark.

The first day passed, the new Deewan could not get any food, the second day also passed without any food. He was starving by the third day and had grown really very weak. The fourth day, he somehow dragged himself to the Emperor and said, “Look Jahanpanah, I did protect the elephant’s footmark as per your instructions.”

The Emperor could see clearly that his new deewan lacked innovativeness and was not as able or quick witted as Birbal. So, he found a way to get him back. He announced that all the Zameendars of the nearby villages should come to him with their wells, or else they would have to pay a fine of Rs. 10,000 each.

All the Zameendars were astonished to hear this strange order and wondered that how they could make an inanimate thing like a well move and go with them to the Emperor’s court.

The Emperor’s order was also heard in the village in which Birbal lived. Birbal thought of a plan and told the Zameendar of his village to act according to it. The Zameendar went to meet the Emperor along with some other villagers, but did not enter his capital. They stayed outside the city and sent a messenger to the king, “Huzoor, as per your orders we are here with our wells, now you send your wells to welcome them.”

When Akbar heard this, he understood that it could be only Birbal’s brainchild. He promptly sent his people to find and bring Birbal back. When Birbal arrived in the court, the Emperor warmly welcomed Birbal and reinstated him as his Deewan.

And then, the Emperor asked Birbal to protect that footmark of the elephant. Birbal promised to get the job done and left the court. He fixed an iron bar near the footmark and tied a 50-yard rope to it. Then he told the villagers that the houses that will come inside the circumference of that rope would be demolished to protect that footmark.

People requested him not to do so and offered him money to not demolish their houses. They also promised to protect the footmark of the elephant day and night. Within no time, Birbal managed to collect Rs. 1 Lakh. He deposited that money in the royal treasury and told the king that the work is done and Rs. 100,000 had been deposited in his treasury.

The Emperor then called his brother-in-law and told him, “You were hungry for three days and gained nothing, but Birbal managed to protect the footmark as well as earn a lakh of rupees in one day only.” The brother-in-law accepted the fact that Birbal was indeed the worthiest candidate for the post of the Deewan.

Moral: Thinking creatively and motivating others to accomplish your goal can help you succeed, even if the task seems impossible.


**************Akbar Birbal: Birbal The Child
Akbar Birbal Stories | 7-14 yrs | Reading PodLeave a ReplyFavourite
Akbar came to the court to attend a function and Birbal was not present.
Akbar asked, “where is Birbal?”
“He has not come yet, Huzoor.” said a courtier.
“Not yet?” said Akbar.

After few minutes Birbal arrived at the court and apologized for being late.
“I am extremely sorry, Huzoor” “My child was crying” “I had to placate him” he explained.
Akbar felt very disappointed. He said “Birbal! You do not know how to manage a child!” “Let me show you how to do it”.

He further said “Today I would act as your father and you become my child.” “You ask me for whatever your child have asked to you”.
Birbal replied “I want a Cow”
“Cow? Okay” “Bring a cow for him” ordered Akbar. A cow was brought to the court.
Birbal imitated the voice of his child and said “I want its milk”.
The cow was milked by the servants. Birbal drank little of it and handed the bowl with rest of the milk to Akbar.
Then he said “now put the milk back to the cow”.
“What are you saying Birbal?” asked Akbar.
Birbal said repeatedly “put the milk back to the cow please!……Please!”
Akbar could not found any answer and left the place quietly.


***********Akbar Birbal: Birbal’s Khichdi
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Once Akbar asked Birbal, “Tell me Birbal! Will a man do anything for money?” Birbal said, “Yes, Jahanpanah! It is possible for a man to do anything in return of some money.” The Emperor ordered him to prove it.[PL3                                                        

The next day, Birbal came to the court along with a poor brahmin. The brahmin had no money and his family had nothing to eat. Birbal told the Emperor that the brahmin was ready to do anything for the sake of money.

It was the peak of winter season and the water was freezing cold that time. The Emperor ordered the brahmin to stand inside the frozen pond all through the night if he wanted money. The poor brahmin agreed and kept standing the whole night inside the pond, shivering badly. Next morning, he came to the durbar to receive his reward.

The Emperor asked, “Tell me something! How could you stand in the freezing cold water all through the night?” The innocent brahmin replied, “Huzoor, I could see a faintly glowing light coming from your palace, a kilometre away. Looking at that light gave me imaginary warmth and strength to keep standing in the water.”

Akbar declined to pay the brahmin his reward saying that he had got warmth from the light and this was cheating. The poor brahmin went away disappointed and empty handed.

Birbal tried to say something in the favour of the poor brahmin but the Emperor refused to listen to him. Soon after, Birbal stopped coming to the durbar and sent a messenge to the king stating that he would come to the court only after he has cooked his khichdi.

When Birbal did not come to the court for five days, the Emperor himself went to Birbal’s house to see what he was doing. Birbal had lit the fire and kept the pot of khichdi one metre away from it. Akbar asked him “How will the khichdi get cooked with the fire one metre away? Are you in your senses, Birbal?” Birbal replied, “O’ Jahapanah! If it is possible for a person to receive warmth from a light that was a kilometre away, then it is also possible for me to cook this khichdi a metre away from the fire.” Akbar understood his mistake. He called back the poor brahmin and rewarded him with gold  coins.


***Akbar Birbal: Fast Horse
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The story is of the time when Raja Birbal did not have a personal horse or a carriage to bring him from his home to the Emperor’s court. One day, Akbar saw him coming on foot and promised to give him the fastest horse from his royal stable. Accordingly, he instructed the in-charge of the royal stable to give a horse to Birbal. But, just to have some harmless fun with Birbal and see his reaction, Akbar asked the stable man to select a weak and sick horse for Birbal. The stable man carried out the Emperor’s orders and delivered an old and sick horse at Birbal’s house. The horse was in such a bad shape that it died on the same night that it was delivered.
Next day When Akbar saw Birbal coming on foot again, he asked in a surprised tone, “What happened to the horse that was arranged for you from the royal stable? It was our fastest horse! Were you afraid of riding it?”

Birbal bowed and replied, “Jahapanah, it indeed was the fastest horse of all. He was in fact, so fast that he crossed the distance from earth to heaven in one night.”

Akbar smiled at Birbal’s witty reply, and got a healthy horse arranged from the royal stable for Birbal.