When Tenali Raman grew up as a fine young man, he set out to meet Krishnadeva Raya. He wanted to enter the gate, but the guard stopped him from entering the gate. He showed Krishnadeva’s official Seal to the guard.
So the guard said to Tenali, “You can go in on one condition.”
He went inside. A man of simple elegance was sitting. Krishnadeva smiled and asked him, “What is your heart’s desire?” Raman asked the king to punish the guard with one hundred slashes. The king was surprised to hear that. After the fiftieth whip, he suddenly shouted, “Stop now.” The king asked, “Why? What happened?” Tenali said, “Sir, when I was coming here, your guard did not allow me to come inside the palace, unless I promised him to give half of my share of whatever I will get from you.” The king said, “You are as brave as you were when you were a child. From now on, on the basis of your wisdom, you shall be called ‘Tenali Raman’ and you will stay by my side as my advisor.”
Tenali’s Meeting with the King
