A trader from Arabia once gifted King Krishnadevaraya a splendid horse.
He claimed to have two more just like it and asked for 5,000 gold coins in advance. Tempted, the king paid. The trader left — and never returned.
Days later, the worried king found Tenali Raman in the garden, writing on a scroll.
“What are you writing?” the king asked.
“A list of the biggest fools in the kingdom,” Tenali replied. On top was the king’s own name.
Furious, the king demanded why.
“Because only a fool gives 5,000 gold coins to a stranger and waits for him to return,” Tenali said calmly.
The king retorted, “And if the trader does return?”
“Then, Your Majesty,” Tenali smiled, “The trader will be an even bigger fool. I will erase your name… and write his at the very top.”
The king burst into laughter, his anger gone.
And so, Tenali’s wit turned folly into wisdom, leaving behind a lesson in trust and prudence.