The Detective Jester: The Story of Tenali Raman

The Detective Jester: The Story of Tenali Raman

The Detective Jester: The Story of Tenali Raman

Once upon a time, long ago in India, there was a great and powerful kingdom called Vijayanagara. The kingdom was rich, beautiful, and full of happy people. The king of this kingdom was King Krishnadevaraya. He was a wise and kind ruler, and his people loved him very much.

In the king’s court, there lived a very special man named Tenali Raman. He was known as the court jester, but he was not an ordinary joker. Tenali Raman was very clever, intelligent, and wise. He could solve difficult problems using his sharp mind. The king trusted Tenali Raman and often asked for his advice.

One day, a rich merchant came running to the palace. He looked very worried and sad. He bowed before the king and said,
“Oh King Krishnadevaraya, please help me. My most precious diamond has been stolen!”

The king was shocked.
“A diamond stolen? That is very serious,” said the king. “Tell me everything.”

The merchant explained, “This diamond has been in my family for many years. I kept it safely in my house, but last night it disappeared. I do not know who took it.”

The king felt sorry for the merchant. He wanted to help him, but the guards had no clues. Then the king smiled and said,
“Do not worry. I know exactly who can solve this problem.”

The king called for Tenali Raman at once.

Tenali Raman came to the court and bowed respectfully.
“My king, you called for me?”

“Yes, Tenali,” said the king. “A merchant’s diamond has been stolen. I want you to find the thief.”

Tenali Raman smiled gently and replied,
“My king, I will do my best. Please give me some time.”

Tenali Raman first went to the merchant’s house. He spoke to the servants, guards, and helpers. Everyone said the same thing.
“We saw nothing strange,” they said. “We heard no noise.”

Tenali Raman did not get angry. He carefully looked around the house. He checked the doors and windows. Soon, he noticed something important.

“One window is unlocked,” he thought. “This must be the way the thief entered.”

Tenali Raman went outside the house and looked at the ground below the window. There, he saw footprints. Some were big, some were small. But one set of footprints caught his attention.

“These footprints are small and light,” he said to himself. “They do not belong to a strong man.”

He followed the footprints slowly. They led him through the street and finally stopped near a temple.

At the temple, Tenali Raman saw a young dancer. She was famous for her beautiful dance and graceful movements. Many people admired her.

Tenali Raman thought carefully and said to himself,
“These footprints match her feet. I must be careful and clever.”

Tenali Raman went back to the palace and met the king.

“My king,” he said, “I believe I have found the thief.”

The king looked surprised.
“So soon? Who is it?”

Tenali Raman replied,
“The diamond is with a dancer from the temple.”

The king frowned.
“A dancer? That is a serious claim. Can you prove it?”

“Yes, my king,” said Tenali Raman. “Please call the dancer to the court tomorrow. I will prove the truth without force.”

The king agreed.

The next day, the royal court was full. The dancer came and bowed before the king.

Tenali Raman smiled and said kindly,
“Do not be afraid. Please dance for our king.”

The dancer danced beautifully. Everyone clapped.

Then Tenali Raman quietly dropped a small diamond on the floor.

He said,
“Dear dancer, please pick up this diamond without looking at it.”

The dancer tried to pick it up using her toes. She tried again and again, but she failed.

She then said, without thinking,
“This diamond is too small to pick up with my feet.”

The court became silent.

Tenali Raman looked at the king and said,
“My king, she has just told us the truth.”

The king asked the dancer,
“How did you know the diamond was small? You were not looking at it.”

The dancer realized her mistake. She lowered her head and said,
“I am sorry, my king. I stole the diamond.”

The king was amazed by Tenali Raman’s intelligence.
“Well done, Tenali Raman!” he said proudly. “Your clever mind has saved justice.”

The merchant was overjoyed when his diamond was returned.
“Thank you, Tenali Raman,” he said. “I will never forget your help.”

The dancer was punished, but the king showed kindness and gave her a chance to change her ways.

THE END

Moral of the Story

From that day onward, Tenali Raman became famous as the smart problem solver of Vijayanagara. People from far and wide came to him for help.

Intelligence, observation, and calm thinking can solve even the hardest problems.

Comprehension Questions and Answers

1. Who was Tenali Raman?

Answer: Tenali Raman was a clever and wise court jester in the kingdom of Vijayanagara.

2. Who was the king of Vijayanagara?

Answer: The king of Vijayanagara was King Krishnadevaraya.

3. What problem did the merchant bring to the king?

Answer: The merchant said that his valuable diamond had been stolen.

4. Why did the king call Tenali Raman?

Answer: The king called Tenali Raman because he was very intelligent and good at solving problems.

5. How did Tenali Raman begin his investigation?

Answer: He visited the merchant’s house and spoke to the servants and workers.

6. What important thing did Tenali Raman notice in the house?

Answer: He noticed that one window was unlocked.

7. What clue did Tenali Raman find outside the window?

Answer: He found small and delicate footprints on the ground.

8. Where did the footprints lead Tenali Raman?

Answer: The footprints led him to a nearby temple.

9. Who did Tenali Raman suspect as the thief?

Answer: He suspected a young dancer from the temple.

10. How did Tenali Raman test the dancer in the court?

Answer: He asked her to pick up a diamond without looking at it.

11. What mistake did the dancer make?

Answer: She said the diamond was too small without seeing it.

12. Why did that prove she was the thief?

Answer: Only the thief knew the size of the stolen diamond.

13. What did the dancer do after that?

Answer: She confessed that she had stolen the diamond.

14. How did the king feel about Tenali Raman?

Answer: The king was very pleased and praised Tenali Raman for his cleverness.

15. What happened to the merchant?

Answer: The merchant got his diamond back and was very happy.

Moral and Thinking Questions (For Values & Learning)

16. What is the moral of the story?

Answer: The moral of the story is that intelligence and smart thinking help solve problems.

17. What qualities of Tenali Raman do you like the most?

Answer: He was intelligent, calm, observant, and clever.

18. Why is it important to tell the truth?

Answer: Telling the truth builds trust and avoids bigger problems.

19. What would you do if you found something that does not belong to you?

Answer: I would return it to the owner or tell an adult.

20. How can being observant help us in daily life?

Answer: Being observant helps us notice small details and make better decisions.

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