Tenali Raman had a friend, Tirumala, who owned an inn at Hampi. He had inherited it from his father. It was called Deccan Suryam. Tirumala was having trouble because the inn was not making enough money. He was always struggling to make both ends meet. All his efforts seemed to fail.
One day when he met Tenali Raman, he shared his problem with him. He really was at his wit’s end and was wondering if he should sell off the inn. The thought of selling it made him miserable. Tenali Raman listened to him patiently.
“No,” he said, “You won’t have to sell it.”
“But how can I keep it and make a living?” wondered Tirumala.
“Change the name of your inn. Then it will do well.”
“No, no!” protested Tirumala, “This name has been there for years. My father and his father before him, all used the same name for it. How can it be changed?”
“You want the inn or only its name?” asked Tenali Raman.
“The inn, of course! Without it what purpose will the name serve?”
“Good. Then you rename your inn Panch Vani, which means five sounds, and hang six large bells outside. Your inn will prosper,” said Tenali Raman and he went off.
“Five sounds and six bells?” wondered Tirumala, “This doesn’t make any sense!” Though he was thoroughly puzzled by this funny advice yet Tirumala decided to follow it. The next day, people passing through the market saw the inn called Panch Vani and then counted six bells outside.
“This innkeeper must either be foolish or uneducated. He calls it Panch Vani and hangs six bells outside. I must go and correct him,” thought one of the persons who saw it. He went into the inn. He would tell Tirumala about the mistake and drink some coffee or eat something there. As a result, Tirumala began to get more customers as more people came to correct him. And business at the inn grew briskly.
He realized the wisdom of Tenali Raman’s advice. People love to point out others’ mistakes, and Tenali Raman’s trick had worked. They came to correct Tirumala and stayed to enjoy the food! Tirumala’s inn was saved! He blessed Tenali Raman as he went to his house to thank him.
