Tenali Raman and the Horse Trader – Tenali Raman Story for Kids
King Krishnadevaraya loved horses. One day, a foreign Arab trader came to the court. He brought a magnificent black stallion. “Your Majesty,” said the trader. “This is the finest horse in Arabia. I have 100 more like this one. If you pay me 10,000 gold coins in advance, I will bring them all to you in two days.”
The King was impressed by the stallion. Without thinking, he gave the trader the gold. The trader took the money and left. Two days passed. Then a week. Then a month. The trader never returned.
The King was worried. “Where is the trader?” he asked his courtiers. Tenali Raman was drawing on a piece of paper. “What are you drawing, Tenali?” asked the King. “I am making a list of the biggest fools in the Vijayanagara Empire,” said Tenali. “Let me see,” said the King.
He looked at the paper. To his shock, the name at the top of the list was “King Krishnadevaraya.” The King was furious! “How dare you call me a fool!” he roared. “Your Majesty,” said Tenali calmly. “You gave 10,000 gold coins to a stranger with no address and no guarantee. Only a fool would do that.”
“But what if he comes back?” asked the King. Tenali smiled. “If he comes back, I will cross out your name and write his name there instead!”
The King realized his mistake. But Tenali had a plan. He traveled to the trader’s camp in disguise. He saw the trader boasting about cheating the King. Tenali set up a small tent nearby. He put a sign: “Tiger-Eating Cat for Sale.” Curious, the trader went to look. Inside, he saw a small cat. “This eats tigers?” laughed the trader. “Oh yes,” said Tenali. “It is very fierce.”
Just then, Tenali released a mouse. The cat pounced on it. The trader laughed so hard he fell off his chair. “It eats mice, not tigers!” Tenali threw off his disguise. “And you sell lies, not horses! You took the King’s gold!” The King’s guards, who were hiding nearby, arrested the trader and recovered the gold.
Moral of the Story: Do not trust strangers blindly. Wit can recover what foolishness loses.
Parent Companion
💬 Talk About It
- • Why did the King get mad at Tenali Raman's drawing?
- • How did Tenali prove the Arabian trader was cheating?
- • Why is it important to be careful with people you just met?
📚 New Words
- • Trader: Someone who buys and sells things.
- • Cheated: To act dishonestly to gain an advantage.
- • Magnificent: Extremely beautiful or impressive.
✨ Try This
Draw the 'Tiger-Eating Cat' from the story — what do you think it looks like?
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