Tenali Raman’s gift...

One day, the King Krishnadevaraya told his court jester Tenali Raman: ”When we have plenty of wealth, we should gift a portion of it to the poor and needy. Raman, you have plenty of money, houses and landed property, you can donate something to some poor people. Why don’t you do it?”

Tenali Raman answered: “Yes, my lord, what you said is right. I will arrange to give the gift of a house tomorrow!“

The king was very happy with Raman’s reply. Tenali Raman went home thinking about his answer to his king’s inquiry.

Raman was not willing or interested in parting with anything he had amassed, but he had promised to the king that he would gift a portion of his wealth.

So, he placed a notice board in front of one of his houses, which read:

“ This house will be given to any person who is satisfied with what he has!”

All those who passed by the house read the notice, but for many days, nobody came forward to claim the gift.

Then, one day, one person came to Raman, requesting for the gift of house. He said:” Raman, you have decided to give away your house. If you give it to me, it will be a great help.“

“You have no house of your own?” Raman asked.

“I have a house, but it is very small. And very old! My family is not able to live in it,” he explained.

Raman asked him: “ Have you read the notice before this house?”

“Yes.”

“What is written there?”

“This house will be gifted to any person who is satisfied with what he has.”

“You are not satisfied with what you have?”

The person was unable to answer Raman’s question. Raman would not give the house if he said he was not satisfied. So he replied: ”I am satisfied with what I have!”

“So you are satisfied with the house you have?”

“Yes.”

“Then why did you come asking for my house?”

The person could not answer that direct question from Raman. He left, totally disappointed.

Next day Tenali Raman told the king that he could not give his house to some needy person as there was no one who was not satisfied with what he had.