The Dispute!

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Vijayanagaram, King Krishna Devaraya was having a meeting with his ministers. The court was fully in tension. The king was worried and not knowing what to do and how to solve the current situation.

Two poor peasants were there claiming that a particular cow was theirs. This was a case of ownership, both of them claiming that it was their cow and that the other person is trying to steal the cow.

Peasant No.1, "O kind King, this cow is mine. I take it out to graze every day and after that, it comes back with me. This guy is falsely claiming it to be his when I have bought it with my own hard-earned money."

Peasant No.2, "But O King, this cow is mine and I take it to graze out every day without fail. This guy is lying. Dear kind-hearted King, you are my only savior. My whole life and earnings depend on this one cow. I'm very poor and what should I do if my rightful right is taken away from me. Please help me and do justice."

The King was in complete jeopardy and didn't know what to do. His wisest minister Tenali Rama had not yet reached the court that day. The King was sure that he would find the solution to it immediately.....but what could he do now?

How was he supposed to take the right decision?

As the King was thinking, one of the peasants started wailing and the other was kindly fondling the said cow with complete love.

Both the scenes created even more confusion in the minds of the King and other courtiers.

The King decided to immediately call Tenali Rama to the court. He sent his Messenger for the same.

Tenali Rama arrived soon after and the King sighed with relief.

Tenali had one look at the court and understood what the matter was.

Anyway, the King ordered another minister to explain the whole problem to Tenali.

Once he heard it, Tenali smiled and addressed the King, "O King, what's the problem in this? It's a simple case that can be solved in a jiffy."

He told the King's assistant's to bring in a broad cauldron in which fire could be created.

The assistant came back with a huge cauldron that was brought to the center of the court by placing it on a vehicle on wheels. There was a small fire burning in it.

Tenali Rama thanked the assistant's and said that he had with him a secret ingredient that he would add to the fire.

He said, "As I add this magic stuff into the fire, it would burn stronger and stronger. O King, this is no normal stuff but has the power to catch the thief."

"Catch the thief with fire", wondered everyone including the King and the two peasants.

"Yes, my Lord," replied Tenali. "I'll also be pouring water around the cauldron. As the fire grows, it will emanate a special and distinct smell that can only be smelt by the thief in question. It will cause a certain nerve in his nose to expand that will be visible to us. And thus we will have our culprit."

"O kind King, I request to give me permission to continue," said Tenali.

The King was mighty impressed with this novel stuff that Tenali had with him. He granted him permission even though many in the court phoo-phooed the whole idea and started making fun of Tenali.

Tenali then added the secret ingredient into the cauldron that had a small fire burning. Soon, the fire burnt higher and higher with greater intensity. He then ordered the assistants to pour water around the cauldron slowly.

Now Tenali said, "Now the time is ready. The magic ingredient is going to start its effect and soon we will get to know who among the two peasants is lying."

The fire burnt stronger and stronger.

Tenali, the King, and all the other court had all their eyes on the two peasants' nose.

Soon, they observed peasant no.2 touch his nose suddenly to check if his nose had bulged and this was the moment Tenali was waiting for.

The other peasant no.1 was normally observing the burning fire.

Tenali bowed down to the King and said, "King, I would now request you to permit the cauldron to be taken away after extinguishing the fire as we have our culprit identified."

The King ordered the same. The other ministers and the two peasants' were surprised.

Once everything was cleared, Tenali Rama bowed to the King and said, "The thief here is the peasant no.2, O Majesty."

Peasant No.2 was surprised and started trembling and asked for forgiveness.

"Please forgive me, dear King. Please forgive me, dear King," he pleaded.

The King got angry and ordered him to be chained. He gave the cow to the peasant no.1 and asked him to go back home.

Peasant 2 thanked the King and praising him left the court.

Now, the King as well as the other ministers were very keen to know how Tenali solved the case and what the secret ingredient was.

Tenali replied, "O Majesty, I did nothing. It was the thief's own guilty conscience that helped us. He being guilty took his hand up to check if his nerve and nose had grown. It was obvious that he was the culprit. King, please forgive me for lying to you. In fact, I had no secret ingredient with me. It was a regular fire and I only added some sambrani to it."

Tenali Rama smiled and King Krishna Devaraya and other ministers burst out laughing.

The King appreciated Tenali for his wisdom and took out a pearl necklace from his neck and handed it over to him.