Vijayanagara was a great centre for trade and commerce. Merchants came from many countries to carry on their businesses and also settle down in the prosperous kingdom of King Krishnadeva Raya. Often, they brought rare and costly gifts also for the King. Once the King received a very rare plant from a Persian merchant.
He was fascinated with the plant and its beautiful flowers. He ordered that it be planted right outside his bedroom window so that he might see its blooms and enjoy them. The gardener carried out the King’s orders. The plant flourished and the King was very pleased.
Unfortunately, one day the gardener’s goat got loose and ended up in the King’s garden. It chewed up a lot of plants and then, wandering around, it ate up the King’s favourite plant too!
The next morning, the King looked out of his window and there was no sign of his plant! He flew into a rage and asked the guard and others to enquire into it. When he reached the court, the gardener was produced before him.
“It was my goat that ate the plant, Your Majesty,” admitted the poor gardener, “I am so sorry.”
But the King was not in a mood to forgive the gardener. He was responsible, so the King ordered the death penalty for him. The gardener’s wife came running to the court when she heard of it and begged for mercy, but the King refused to change his orders.
In despair, she went to Tenali Raman whose wisdom was widely known. He heard her story and gave her some advice, telling her to do exactly as he had said.
Next day, there was a big crowd on the road outside the palace. A goat was tied to a tree and was being thrashed by the gardener’s wife with a stout stick. The goat bleated loudly and the lady shouted at it.
The noise reached the court and the king asked an adhikari to find out what the uproar was. Seeing the woman beating the goat, he took her to the King’s court. “This woman was beating a goat, Your Majesty,” explained the adhikari.
The King wanted to know the reason. The woman said, “I am the gardener’s wife, Your Majesty. This wretched goat’s action is causing my husband’s death. It is responsible for making me a widow and my children orphans. My husband is paying for the goat’s mistake. The goat must pay for killing my husband.”
The King realized he was wrong and pardoned the gardener, whose family silently blessed Tenali Raman.
