Tenali Rama and the Unseen Horse

The empire of Vijayanagara reached its zenith under the reign of King Krishnadevaraya. Among the eight great poets in his court, Tenali Rama was renowned for his extraordinary wit and intellect. One day, a famous artist arrived at the court of Vijayanagara and presented several of his masterpieces. One particular painting featured a stunning landscape where some people and animals were only partially visible, appearing as if they were moving out of the frame or hidden behind trees. King Krishnadevaraya was deeply impressed by the artistry. He praised the painter and rewarded him with precious gems. However, Tenali Rama, sitting in the court, had a sarcastic smile on his face. The King noticed and asked, 'Tenali, do you not like this painting?' Tenali replied, 'Your Majesty, the artist is undoubtedly talented, but this painting is incomplete. I can only see the arms and legs on one side of the people. Where is the other side? This feels unfinished.' The King was amused but disagreed. He laughed and said, 'You fool, in art, imagination is paramount. What is not visible must be seen through the mind's eye. If you think you know so much, why don't you paint a better picture yourself? I give you one month, all the art supplies you need, and gold coins. If you fail to produce a superior work, you shall be punished.' Tenali accepted the challenge. For an entire month, he did not show up at the court. Everyone thought Tenali was finally in trouble. After a month, Tenali arrived with a large canvas covered by a cloth. The King asked excitedly, 'Show us your masterpiece!' Tenali unveiled the canvas. It was mostly blank, with only a few black strokes in the corner that resembled a horse's tail. The King was furious and shouted, 'What is this? There is nothing here!' Tenali calmly replied, 'Your Majesty, this is my horse. He is magnificent and incredibly fast.' The King roared, 'But where is the horse?' Tenali smiled and said, 'Your Majesty, have you forgotten? You told me that what is not visible must be imagined. My horse has wandered outside the frame to graze in the lush meadows. You can only see his tail; the rest of the horse must be visualized using your vast imagination.' The King remembered his own words and was delighted by Tenali's sharp wit. He rewarded Tenali handsomely.