King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire was known for his magnificent cavalry. He took great pride in the strength and spirit of his horses. One afternoon, a wealthy merchant from a distant land arrived at the palace. He boasted about the exotic horses he had brought on his ships, claiming they were the fastest and most graceful in the entire world.
To provoke the King, the merchant added, "Your local horses are sturdy, but they are far too heavy and slow. They look like common donkeys compared to my Arabian stallions!"
The King’s pride was wounded. He immediately challenged the merchant, "Let us hold a grand race in one month. If your horses win, I shall give you a new ship and a chest of gold. But if my horses win, you must leave your horses here and return home empty-handed."
The King ordered his commanders to select the strongest horses and feed them the finest grains to make them muscular and powerful. Everyone worked hard to ensure their horses were ready for battle and speed.
However, the clever Tenali Raman had a different plan. When the day of the race arrived, everyone gathered at the arena. While the other horses looked grand and heavy, Tenali’s horse looked pitiful. It was thin, bony, and seemed too weak to even stand up. The crowd burst into laughter, and the King turned to Tenali in anger, "Tenali! Why have you neglected your horse? It looks like it hasn't eaten in weeks!"
Tenali calmly replied, "Your Majesty, a strong horse is needed for war, but a light horse is needed for a race. If a horse carries too much muscle and weight, it cannot run with lightning speed."
As the race began, the heavy horses struggled to gain momentum. Tenali, however, held a long stick with a small bundle of fresh grass tied to the very end. He waved the grass just out of the horse's reach. Driven by hunger and the desire to reach the grass, the thin horse sprinted with incredible speed, leaving the others far behind. Tenali’s horse crossed the finish line first!
The King laughed with joy, realizing Tenali’s brilliance. The defeated merchant had to leave his prized horses behind as promised.
Moral
Intelligence and adapting to the specific goal are more important than brute strength.
