Sahil Gupta

A wandering youth Keshav once met Bholu, an illiterate villager, who knew how to perform a miracle. Every day Bholu would go into the forest, stand under a mango tree and utter a charm. The tree would immediately become heavy with fruit. Keshav the youth fell at Bholu’s feet, and begged him to teach him […]

Tenali Raman had a dream. A man knocked at his door and asked if he could spend the night in his house. He said he would pay 10 gold coins for the privilege. Tenali Raman agreed and showed him to his room. The next morning, the man thanked Tenali Raman and began taking out gold

Tenali Raman took his donkey to the market place and sold it for 30 dinars. The man who bought it immediately put it up for auction. “Look at this fine animal!” he shouted to passers-by, “Have you ever seen a better specimen of a donkey? See how clean and strong it is!”And he went on

Tenali Raman once lived in a rented house. The building was old and whenever there was a strong wind, its rafters would creak and squeak. One day when the landlord came to collect the rent, Tenali Raman told him about the alarming noises the building was making. “Don’t let that worry you,” said the landlord,

Tenali Raman, deep in thought, was walking down a road near the palace when he bumped into a man. The man got very angry and began to curse and shout at Tenali Raman. “Do you know who I am?” he screamed, “I am the king’s Advisor!” “That is nice,” said Tenali Raman, “As for me

One day, Tenali met an acquaintance in the street. The man looked worried and Tenali asked him what was troubling him. “I have this terrible dream,” said the man, “Every night I dream there’s a monster hiding under the bed. When I get up and look there’s no one but I can’t sleep afterwards. I

One day, Raman’s neighbour asked him to write a letter for him. “To whom do you want to write?” asked Raman. “To my friend in Baghdad,” said the man. “Sorry,” said Raman, “I have no time to go to Baghdad.” “Who is asking you to go to Baghdad?” asked his neighbour. “All I want you

One evening, Tenali Raman’s wife saw her husband walking up and down the verandah in great anxiety. “What’s the matter?” she asked him. “I borrowed a hundred dinars from our neighbour last month and I promised to return the money on the last day of this month,” explained Raman, “Tomorrow is the last day and

One day, two men came running to Raman’s house. “What’s the matter?” asked Raman. “A man resembling you was knocked down by a cart in the market,” they said,“We thought it was you and came to inform your wife.” “Was he of my height?” asked Raman . “Yes,” said the men. “Did he have a

Tenali Raman had a buffalo whose horns were set wide apart. Raman often felt an urge to sit on the animal’s head between the horns, but never dared try it. One day the animal came and sat down very near him. Raman threw caution to the winds and seizing the horns swung himself into the

Tenali Raman went to a tailor with a piece of cloth and asked the tailor to stitch him a shirt. The tailor took his measurements. “When will it be ready?” Tenali asked the tailor.“God willing, it’ll be ready in a week’s time,” said the man. Raman could hardly wait for the week to pass. On

Tenali Raman ferrying a scholar across a river said something ungrammatical to him. “Have you never studied grammar?” asked the scholar. “No,” said Raman. “Then half your life has been wasted,” said the scholar looking scornfully at him. Sometime later Raman turned to his passenger. He said to him that the river was in spate.

King Krishnadeva Raya was very fond of jewellery. His favourite ring was the one with a large diamond at the centre and pearls around. At the emperor’s palace, there were eight servants who looked after his clothes and jewellery. They also helped him get ready to go to the court. No one else was allowed

Tenali Raman had grown a huge papaya in his garden. It was the biggest papaya anybody had ever seen and Tenali was very proud of it. One day, the king of the country who was touring the country in disguise, arrived there and was fascinated by the papaya. “Will you give it to me?” the

A barber borrowed a large sum of money from Tenali. One day, Raman went to the barber’s house when he was entertaining guests and demanded the money. The barber, embarrassed, promised to come to his place the next day with the money. Next day, the barber way laid Tenali on a deserted stretch of road