Tenali Rama and the Golden Mangoes

The kingdom of Vijayanagara was flourishing under the reign of Emperor Krishna Deva Raya. While the land was prosperous, a shadow of grief fell upon the royal palace. The King’s elderly mother fell critically ill. On her deathbed, she expressed a final wish: she craved to eat sweet mangoes. The King immediately ordered the finest mangoes to be brought, but fate was cruel. Before the fruit could reach her lips, the Queen Mother breathed her last. The King was devastated, consumed by the guilt that his mother’s final wish remained unfulfilled. He feared her soul would wander in unrest. Sensing the King's emotional vulnerability, a group of greedy court priests conspired to exploit the situation. They approached the mourning King and said, 'O King, since your mother died with an unfulfilled desire, her soul shall never find peace. To ensure her salvation, you must perform a grand ritual and donate mangoes made of pure gold to one hundred and eight learned Brahmins.' Blinded by grief and devotion, the King agreed without hesitation. News spread that the treasury would be drained to provide golden mangoes. When Tenali Rama heard of this, he immediately recognized the priests' avarice. He decided to protect the state's wealth and teach the hypocrites a lesson. On the day of the donation, the priests gleefully accepted the golden mangoes. As they were leaving, Tenali Rama intercepted them. He said with a somber face, 'Wait! My mother also passed away recently with an unfulfilled wish. She suffered from chronic rheumatism and wanted a specific heat treatment. To grant her soul peace, I request you to accept a small offering at my house.' Thinking Tenali might give them more gold, the greedy priests rushed to his home. Once they were inside, Tenali bolted the doors and ordered his servants to bring red-hot iron rods. The priests were terrified. Tenali explained, 'My mother wanted these hot rods applied to her joints to cure her pain, but she died before it could happen. Now, I must apply them to you to satisfy her soul.' The priests screamed and fled to the King, complaining about Tenali’s 'cruelty.' When the King demanded an explanation, Tenali calmly replied, 'Your Majesty, if your mother’s soul finds peace through golden mangoes, why shouldn't my mother’s soul find peace through the heat treatment she desired?' The King realized his folly. He understood that spiritual peace cannot be bought with gold and that the priests were merely exploiting his emotions. He ordered the priests to return the golden mangoes and once again marveled at Tenali Rama’s wit.