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 to list the many qualities of the animal.
At the end of his sales talk a man said he would give 40 dinars for it. Another man offered 50. A third offered 55. Tenali Raman who was watching was amazed at the interest everyone was showing in the donkey. “What a fool I was to think it an ordinary animal!” thought Tenali Raman, “It is an incomparable beast, one in a million.”
He suddenly realised that the owner had received a good offer and was about to close the bidding. “75 dinars one…” said the man, “75 dinars two.”
“80 dinars!” said Tenali Raman. At last Tenali had realized the importance of his beast. He bought it for 80 dinars and never decided to sell it off again.
