One day, Tenali Raman was going to his sister’s house in another village when he ran into a gang of dacoits. “Who are you?” asked the dacoit chief, glowering at him. “I’m a school teacher,” said the Raman.“A school teacher?” sneered the chief. “And do you test your students regularly?” “Yes,” said Raman.“Well,” said the chief, “it’s time somebody tested you.” He picked up a large pumpkin and gave it to Raman.“Guess its weight,” he told Raman.
“The exact weight, mind you! We’ll weigh it afterwards. If you’re right, I’ll let you go unharmed. If you’re wrong you’ll get a hundred lashes with the whip!” “This pumpkin weighs exactly as much your head, sir,” said Raman, quietly, and gave the pumpkin back to him.
Some of the chief dacoit’s men seemed keen to find out if the teacher was right. This was possible if the dacoit’s head was removed from his body. The chief laughed uproari-ously to show that it was all a joke. He let Raman go unharmed.
