Tenali Raman · Sanskrit Story
Tenali and the King's Brinjals
तेनालिः राजस्य वृन्ताकाः च
Tenali Raman folk tradition · Vijayanagara court stories (c. 15th–16th century) · Beginner Sanskrit
Moral · नीतिः
बुद्धिमान् सेवकः स्वामिनं सेवते — विषयं नहि।
buddhimān sevakaḥ svāminaṃ sevate — viṣayaṃ nahi.
“A wise servant serves the master — not the subject of the master's opinion”
The King Loves Brinjals
एकदा राजा भोजनकाले वृन्ताकं खादति। सः वदति — वृन्ताकः सर्वोत्तमः। वृन्ताकात् श्रेष्ठं शाकं नास्ति। तेनालिः वदति — सत्यम् महाराज।
One day the king ate brinjal at mealtime. He said: "Brinjal is the greatest of all vegetables. There is no vegetable better than brinjal." Tenali said: "True, Your Majesty."
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