Tatthacharya was the Rajaguru at the court. He was respected and liked. But not all his views were very sensible. Sometimes he said things which were quite foolish.
One day he said, “The rich are more honest than the poor who need money. So, they steal and commit crimes more often.” None argued with him. But Tenali Raman, listening to him, quietly decided that he would prove to the Rajaguru that he was mistaken.
Tenali Raman requested the King to give him two pouches containing fifty varahas each. The King was always ready to help Tenali Raman because he knew that the man was not dishonest. And there was a sound reason for whatever he did. So, he gave him the two pouches of gold coins.
There was a forest close by through which travellers had to pass to reach Hampi. The next evening, Tenali Raman dropped one pouch on the path and hid behind a tree to see what happened.
After a while, a rich merchant came along the path. He saw the pouch and picked it up. Quickly, he looked around and, seeing that he was alone, he slipped it into his bag. Then he went along on his way back home.
The evening after that, Tenali Raman put the second pouch on the path and again waited to see what happened. This time, he saw a wood-cutter returning home. He carried a small bundle of wood on his head.
Suddenly, the man stumbled on the pouch and dropped his bundle. Stooping, he picked his bundle up and saw the pouch. He picked it up and opened it. He looked around and called out, “Hello! Is anyone here? Whose is this money pouch?” But there was no reply. So, he took it and went to the treasury. He deposited it there explaining where he had found it.
Tenali Raman told the King all about it. The two men were summoned to the King’s court for questioning them.
“There was no one around, Your Majesty. So, I took the money and invested it in my business so that it might increase,” he replied.
“And what about you, my good man?” the King asked the poor wood-cutter. “Your Majesty, I did not see anyone there either. But the money was not mine, so I deposited it in the treasury so that it might be returned to the one who lost it.”
The Rajaguru recognized the wisdom of Tenali Raman’s action: the rich were not always honest, nor the poor always dishonest!
