TIT FOR TAT
The king was wandering on the portico of the palace. He saw a strange scene. The revered priest was carrying Rama on his shoulders, like a donkey. Rama was booing. The people assembled on either side of the road laughed at the unusual scene. The king was unable to tolerate this. “A respected priest like Tathachary cannot be treated like this”. The king called two of his soldiers and ordered, “See a man carrying another on his shoulders, you bring down the man on top and beat him, and bring the other man here.’
Rama saw the king’s gestures to the soldiers. He felt something wrong in it. He saw the soldiers coming from a distance. Suddenly Rama got down from Tathachary’s shoulders and touched his feet as a mark of respect. You have carried me on your shoulders till now. Sorry, I will carry you similarly as a part of my regret’, Rama said.
The foolish priest felt proud and agreed at once and climbed on Rama’s shoulders. Rama started walking. The two soldiers who reached the scene brought down the priest, and beat him. Tathachary could not understand what was happening. The priest remembered the scene in which his servants beating Rama, when the latter visited his house.
KING ORDERS EXECUTION
The soldiers brought Rama before the king instead of Tathachary. The soldiers didn’t know the trick played by Rama. The king couldn’t tolerate the arrogance of Rama. “He is a devil. I had ordered to beat Rama and bring the priest”, king said. It was the reverse that had happened.
The soldiers replied “We have done as per your order. When we reached the spot, we saw Rama carrying the priest on his shoulders, so we brought Rama here. We haven’t done any harm to him.” Rama was listening like a spectator.
The furious king said, “Rama has insulted a priest who is revered by whole citizens. This has, in effect, insulted me also. Take away this devil, and behead him. After that show the blood-stained sword to the army chief”, the king could not control himself. Rama didn’t utter a word. The soldiers took away Rama outside.
FAMILY PENSION
Rama, who escaped from the death sentence went directly to his home. He asked his mother and wife to plead before the King. They reached the palace and began to lament before the king. ‘Oh lord ! You had killed Rama. He was the only earning member of our house. I am a widow and who will look after me henceforth. How can I live ?’ Rama’s mother Lakshmamma cried before the King.
‘Oh lord! How cruel you are! I have also become a widow now. How will I look after my son?, Rama’s Denali Rama wife Mangamma also cried before the king. After hearing the two, the king felt sad. His heart filled with compassion. He consoled the two ladies. The king ordered to give 100 gold sovereigns each to them. Krishnadevarayar also issued orders to grant 20 sovereigns as monthly pension to the family. Lakshmamma and Mangamma returned home and handed over the gold coins to Rama. Rama burst into laughter. ‘The amount paid as bribe to soldiers to escape from the death sentence has now been regained’. The mother and wife also joined Rama in laughter.
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