When Tenali Raman was just a boy his neighbour took him to a very powerful and rich landlord to whom he introduced Raman as a prodigy.
He added that Raman had answers to everything that was asked of him and was very witty. Furthermore, he was the only child that he thought was very intelligent and promising. Since the landlord was haughty and proud of his own intelligence, he was not pleased to hear Tenali’s praises.
He said that he thought Tenali was an ordinary boy and would become dullard when he became a man. He also humiliated Tenali saying evil words about him. Seeing Tenali silent the landlord again hauling evil words at Tenali.
Raman listened to all of this carefully and then replied that the landlord if that was true, must have been more intelligent as a boy than Raman looking at the standard of the wit and intelligence he now possessed.
