Tenali Rama and the Weaver's Invisible Garment

The kingdom of Vijayanagara was renowned for its prosperity and King Krishnadevaraya's love for art. One day, two foreign weavers arrived at the royal court claiming they could weave the world's most exquisite and 'divine' silk. However, they placed a strange condition. They said, 'Your Majesty, this fabric is so subtle and superior that it is visible only to those who are truly wise and worthy of their positions. To anyone who is sinful or a fool, this cloth remains completely invisible.' Intrigued, the King provided them with vast amounts of gold and precious materials to begin their work. After a few weeks, the King sent his senior-most minister to check the progress. When the minister entered the room, he saw the weavers moving their hands in the air over an empty loom. There was no cloth. But the minister panicked, thinking, 'If I say I see nothing, everyone will call me a fool or unworthy.' So, he returned and praised the non-existent fabric's beauty. One by one, several ministers were sent, and each lied to protect their reputation. Finally, the weavers announced the garment was ready. They pretended to help the King 'wear' the invisible clothes. The King could see nothing either, but he didn't want to appear foolish. He decided to lead a royal procession in that state. The entire populace remained silent, for though they saw nothing, no one dared to speak up. It was then that Tenali Rama stepped forward and said with a smile, 'Your Majesty, these weavers are truly great artists, for they have given you a garment so light that it doesn't even exist!' Tenali stood the King before a mirror and asked why, if the cloth was so superior, it had no weight or texture. The King realized his folly. Tenali caught the weavers and exposed their fraud. The King praised Tenali's wit and reprimanded the ministers for their dishonesty and fear of judgment.