The Yard of Smoke – Tenali Raman Story for Kids

In the bustling city of Vijayanagara, the streets were always filled with noise and color. Merchants shouted their wares, carts rattled, and delicious smells wafted from the food stalls. One particularly greedy shopkeeper named Lalchand had a sweet shop. He made the most delicious jalebis, laddoos, and gulab jamuns. The smell of ghee and sugar syrups was so strong that it made people’s mouths water just by walking past. However, Lalchand was a miser. He hated it when people stood outside his shop just to smell the sweets without buying anything. “Move along!” he would shout. “This smell is not for free!”

One day, a poor Traveler came to the city. He was very tired and hungry. He had only a dry piece of roti (bread) in his pocket. he couldn’t afford any curry or vegetables. He sat down on a stone bench near Lalchand’s shop to eat his dry bread. As he chewed, he took deep breaths of the wonderful aroma drifting from the shop. “Ah,” he thought. “If I cannot eat the sweets, at least I can enjoy the smell with my bread. It makes the dry bread taste a little better.” Lalchand saw this. He stormed out of his shop. “Hey you!” he yelled. “Pay me!” The Traveler was confused. “Pay you? For what? I didn’t buy anything.” “You are smelling my sweets!” shouted Lalchand. “You are using the smell to enjoy your food. That smell belongs to me! You must pay for it!” A crowd gathered. “That’s ridiculous,” they whispered. But Lalchand was rich and powerful, so they were afraid to speak up. “I have no money for smells,” said the poor Traveler. “Then I will take you to the King’s court!” declared Lalchand.

He dragged the poor man to the court of King Krishnadevaraya. The witty minister Tenali Raman was present. Lalchand explained his case. “Your Majesty, this man consumed the smell of my sweets without paying. The smell is part of the product. He must pay!” The King looked puzzled. It was a strange case. He looked at Tenali. “Tenali, what do you say?” Tenali Raman smiled. He looked at the trembling Traveler. “Do you have any money at all?” asked Tenali. “Only two small coins, sir,” said the Traveler. “It is all I have to get home.” “Give them to me,” said Tenali. The Traveler gave the coins to Tenali. Lalchand’s eyes glittered. He thought he was going to get the money.

Tenali Raman cupped his hands with the coins inside. He walked over to Lalchand. He shook his hands close to Lalchand’s ear. Clink, Clink, Jingle! He did it again. Clink, Clink! “Did you hear that, Lalchand?” asked Tenali. “Yes, I heard it,” said the greedy man. “Now give me the coins.” “Oh no,” said Tenali, giving the coins back to the Traveler. “The debt is paid.” “Paid?” cried Lalchand. “I got nothing!” “The Traveler enjoyed the smell of your sweets,” declared Tenali Raman. “And you have enjoyed the sound of his money. Surely, the price of a smell is the sound of a coin. It is a fair trade.”

The whole court burst into laughter. King Krishnadevaraya clapped his hands. “Brilliant, Tenali!” Lalchand hung his head in shame and walked away. The Traveler thanked Tenali and went on his way happily.

Moral of the Story: Wit and wisdom can solve even the strangest problems. Tit for tat!