Once, in the kingdom of Vijayanagara, there was a renowned horse trader known for his cunning and deceitful ways. He would often sell inferior horses to unsuspecting buyers at exorbitant prices, making a handsome profit. The king, being fond of horses, sought to acquire the finest steed for his royal stable.
Hearing of the king’s intentions, the trader decided to take advantage of the opportunity. He presented the king with a magnificent-looking horse, boasting of its unmatched speed and strength. Impressed by the horse’s appearance, the king agreed to purchase it at a high price.
However, Tenali Raman, the witty court jester, smelled a rat. He suspected that the trader was trying to deceive the king with a subpar horse. Determined to expose the trader’s trickery, Tenali devised a clever plan.
He approached the trader and expressed his interest in buying the same horse for his personal use. However, Tenali pretended to be ignorant about horses and requested the trader’s assistance in selecting the best one. Sensing an opportunity for another sale, the trader eagerly agreed.
As they inspected the horses together, Tenali secretly observed the trader’s actions. To his amusement, he noticed the trader discreetly tapping each horse’s leg with a small stick. Confused by this peculiar behavior, Tenali questioned the trader about his actions.
The trader, caught off guard, quickly invented an excuse, claiming that he was checking the horses for strength and vitality. Unconvinced, Tenali decided to test the trader’s honesty.
Pretending to be impressed by the trader’s explanation, Tenali expressed his desire to purchase the horse immediately. However, he insisted on paying only after witnessing a demonstration of the horse’s speed and endurance.
Unwilling to reveal his deception, the trader reluctantly agreed to Tenali’s request. He mounted the horse and spurred it into a gallop, expecting to impress Tenali with its speed.
But much to the trader’s dismay, the horse struggled to maintain its pace and soon faltered, revealing its true inferiority. Tenali and the onlookers burst into laughter, realizing the trader’s deceitful tactics.
Humiliated and exposed, the trader confessed to his dishonesty, begging for mercy from the king. Impressed by Tenali’s wit and integrity, the king praised him for his vigilance and honesty.
As a reward for his cleverness, the king ordered the trader to refund the full amount to him and banished him from the kingdom. From that day forth, the king entrusted Tenali Raman with all matters concerning horses, knowing that he could always rely on his wisdom and discernment.
And thus, Tenali Raman’s quick thinking and sharp wit once again saved the kingdom from deceit and fraud, earning him the admiration and respect of all.
IMPORTANT VOCABULARY:
- Renowned: Widely known or famous for something.
- Cunning: Cleverness or skill in deceiving others.
- Deceitful: Dishonest or misleading; intending to deceive.
- Inferior: Lower in quality, rank, or status.
- Unsuspecting: Not aware of or expecting something, often used in the context of being deceived.
- Exorbitant: Unreasonably high or excessive, especially in price.
- Steed: A horse, especially one that is ridden or used for riding.
- Royal stable: A building or structure where horses belonging to royalty are kept.
- Magnificent: Impressively beautiful, grand, or splendid.
- Boasting: Bragging or speaking with excessive pride about one’s abilities or achievements.
- Suspected: Believed or thought to be true without certain proof.
- Deceive: To trick or mislead someone into believing something that is not true.
- Subpar: Below standard or less than satisfactory in quality or performance.
- Devised: Created or planned, especially through careful thought or ingenuity.
- Pretended: Acted as if something is true when it is not, often for the purpose of deceiving others.
- Discreetly: In a careful or cautious manner, so as not to attract attention.
- Off guard: Not prepared or aware of a potential threat or deception.
- Vitality: Energy or liveliness; the state of being strong and active.
- Endurance: The ability to withstand hardship or fatigue; stamina.
- Reluctantly: With hesitation or unwillingness, often due to reluctance or resistance.
- Mounted: Got on top of or climbed onto something, usually a horse.
- Spurred: Urged or encouraged someone to do something, often by providing motivation or incentive.
- Gallop: A fast, bounding stride of a horse, typically faster than a trot.
- Dismay: A feeling of disappointment, distress, or alarm.
- Faltered: Lost strength or momentum; hesitated or stumbled.
- Inferiority: The state of being lower in quality or status than others.
- Tactics: Strategies or methods used to achieve a particular goal or objective.
- Vigilance: Alertness or watchfulness, especially in detecting and preventing danger or deception.
- Banished: Forced to leave a place or community, often as a punishment.
- Entrusted: Given responsibility for something or someone, often with confidence in their abilities.
- Discernment: The ability to judge or understand things clearly, often with insight or wisdom.
