A Costly Chicken

There was a big crowd outside the poultry shop. They raised voices which could be heard. “There seems to be some fight going on there,” thought Tenali Raman who was walking through the market on his way to the court. He decided to take a look and pushed his way to the centre. The owner of the poultry shop was yelling at a poor peasant who was constantly repeating, “It was only an accident, sir.”
Tenali Raman asked someone and learnt that the peasant was carrying a heavy sack of oats. It slipped and fell on a chicken, which was crushed to death. The owner now demanded fifty varahas for the dead chicken from the peasant.


“But it costs only five varahas, sir,” pleaded the peasant.
“In two years my chicken would have grown into a fine bird. It would have fetched me fifty varahas. You killed it!” screamed the owner, grabbing the peasant by the collar.
Suddenly someone in the crowd recognized Tenali Raman. He asked him to come forward and settle the case. Tenali Raman agreed and the two men repeated their stories to him.
“I think you should pay this man fifty varahas. After all it was your carelessness that caused his chicken’s death,” said Tenali Raman finally.


The poultry owner was delighted. He rubbed his hands together and the poor peasant looked miserable. The crowd was amazed. How could Tenali Raman give such a decision?
Just then, Tenali Raman spoke again. “How much grain does your chicken eat in one year?” he asked the owner. “At least half a sack, sir,” replied the poultry owner.
“Hmm… that means in two years your chicken would have eaten one sack of grain at least. Good Gracious! Then you give this peasant one sack of grain which he has saved for you. And he will give you fifty varahas for the chicken.”
The smile on the face of the owner vanished. One sack of grain! It cost much more than fifty varahas! He knew he had been caught trying to cheat the poor peasant.


The crowd looked very happy. This was justice indeed. The peasant paid five varahas to the poultry owner, who took it quietly with no more argument. Tenali Raman went on his way to the court.

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