Tenali Raman could help people with his wise solutions to their problems. But he was also capable of being thoroughly irritating with his pranks and tricks! And he played his pranks on Krishnadeva Raya too, often forgetting that he was the King!
Once he went too far and the King was really annoyed. So, Krishnadeva Raya ordered that Tenali Raman was exiled from his kingdom forever. The dejected Tenali Raman left the court while some of the courtiers, who had always envied him, hid their smiles behind their hands.
Life continued much as usual at BhuvanaVijayam, the Court. But there was no Tenali Raman to provoke laughter or to settle cases in his own wise and witty manner. The King decided to ride out one day to break the boredom of the days.
The King and his entourage set off and soon came to a thicket where coconut trees grew in a cluster near a forest. They were all tired as they had ridden a long way, so they stopped to rest for a while. Fresh coconut water and fruits were brought for the King and everyone sat around talking and laughing.
Suddenly, the King looked up and saw a man climbing up a coconut tree. He watched and thought the figure looked like Tenali Raman! What was he doing here, climbing up a tree, when he had been exiled? The King ordered his men to bring him down.
Tenali Raman stood before the king shortly, with his head bowed.
“I ordered you to leave my kingdom forever, Tenali Raman. What are you doing climbing up trees here and disobeying my order? You know I can punish you for this, don’t you?” demanded the King.
“Yes, Sir. I was trying to get out of your kingdom,” said Tenali Raman.
“By climbing up that tree?” said the amused King.
“Yes, Sir. You see; I have travelled far and wide across the country. Wherever I went, I was told that it was a part of your great empire. The rivers, the mountains, even the caves, belonged to you, Sir. So, I decided that only in heaven can I find a place not owned by you. I was trying to get closer to heaven by climbing up that tree,” he explained.
The King burst out laughing, “You are a very mischievous fellow, Tenali Raman! You deserve to be sent away. But my court is so dull without you. So, stop trying to go to heaven and come back with me.” And Tenali Raman happily returned with the King.
