The king’s mother once asked him to get fruit for charity and, hence, he immediately got mangoes from Ratnagiri.
But on the pious day of charity she died. During the religious rites connected with her death the king told the Brahmins about his mother’s last wish of charity but wanted to know how, she would get the credit of the same.
The greedy Brahmins told him to give away golden mangoes to help her soul. This made the king suspicious. He discussed with Tenali how to teach them a lesson. So when the Brahmins came to collect the golden mangoes, he closed all the gates.
Afterwards, he brought red hot iron bars saying that he would hit them in the knees to cure the mother’s knee pain too.
On revolting, the king answered that when the Brahmins had taken the golden mangoes, it was justified that the beating of rods would help the mother in heaven. The Brahmins were taught a lesson when they confessed being greedy to the king.
