Looking for the Roots

The royal court of King Krishnadevaraya was a place of great learning. Scholars from distant lands often came to test their knowledge against the King’s famous eight poets, the Astadiggajas.

One day, a very arrogant scholar arrived. He wore long silk robes and carried dozens of scrolls. He walked to the center of the court and announced loudly, “I have mastered the study of nature. I know every plant, every tree, and every herb on this earth. And I have concluded that many plants are simply useless weeds! I challenge anyone to prove me wrong. If you cannot, you must accept that my knowledge is superior to yours.”

The King looked at his ministers. Tenali Raman, who was always ready for a challenge, stepped forward. “I accept your challenge, learned scholar,” surely there is no such thing as a useless creation. “Give me one week, and I will bring you a plant that has absolutely no use.”

The scholar smirked. “Good luck,” he said. “You will need it.”

Tenali took the task seriously. Early the next morning, he set out into the dense forest surrounding the kingdom. He saw tall teak trees used for building ships. He saw sandalwood trees used for fragrance. He saw creepers used for medicine.

“I need something useless,” he muttered.

He looked down at the grass. “Ah, grass! What use is this?” Just then, a cow wandered by and began grazing happily. “Okay, food for cattle,” Tenali noted.

He walked further and found a prickly bush with nasty thorns. “This must be useless!” he thought. But safe inside the thorny branches, he saw a nest of small birds, chirping away, protected from snakes and hawks. “Shelter for the weak,” Tenali sighed.

He found a ugly, foul-smelling weed growing near a swamp. He tugged at it. An old village healer walking by stopped him. “Be careful with that!” the healer warned. “The roots of that plant are the only cure for a terrible stomach fever.”

Day after day, Tenali searched. He pulled up plants, examined their leaves, smellled their flowers, and dug up their roots. He asked farmers, shepherds, and doctors. Every time he thought he had found a useless weed, he discovered a purpose for it. Its seeds fed the ants; its roots held the soil together; its leaves healed wounds.

Seven days passed. The court assembled again. The arrogant scholar stood waiting with a smug smile. “Well, Tenali Raman?” he sneered. “Have you brought the useless plant?”

Tenali Raman stood empty-handed. He bowed to the King and then to the scholar.

“I have failed in one way, but succeeded in another,” Tenali said. “I searched the forests and the fields. I looked at the tallest trees and the smallest mosses. I dug for the roots of every weed I could find. But I could not bring you a useless plant.”

“Aha!” cried the scholar. “So you admit defeat!”

“I admit that I could not find what does not exist,” Tenali corrected gently. “I discovered that every single plant has a purpose. Some are food, some are medicine, some utilize the sun, and some protect the soil. There is nothing in nature that is without value. If we think something is useless, it is only because we do not yet know its use.”

The court fell silent. The scholar’s smile faded. He realized that Tenali had taught him a lesson far greater than botany.

“You are right,” the scholar humbled himself. “My knowledge was incomplete because it lacked wisdom. Everything has a purpose.”

King Krishnadevaraya beamed with pride at his favorite minister.

Moral of the Story: Everything in nature contributes to the circle of life. Nothing is without value.

Moral of the Story: Everything in nature contributes to the circle of life. Nothing is without value.