The royal court of Vijayanagara was buzzing with an intense debate. The ministers were arguing about which animal possessed the highest level of obedience and intelligence. After much discussion, they concluded that cats were the most disciplined pets for humans.
Intrigued by this, King Krishnadevaraya decided to hold a grand competition. "I shall award a magnificent prize to the owner whose cat follows instructions with the most precision and patience," the King announced.
On the day of the contest, the palace courtyard was filled with people and their various cats. To test their discipline, the Chief Minister set a unique rule. "We will place a bowl of fresh milk in front of each cat. Any cat that rushes to drink the milk before we give the command will be disqualified. Only the cat that waits patiently will be declared the winner."
As the milk was placed, most cats, driven by their natural instincts, immediately rushed toward the bowls and began lapping up the milk. They were all disqualified. However, Tenali Raman's cat remained perfectly still, sitting calmly in a corner, watching the commotion without moving an inch toward the milk.
The King was delighted. "Tenali Raman's cat is undoubtedly the winner!" he proclaimed, presenting him with a heavy bag of gold coins.
Curious onlookers asked, "Tenali, how did you train your cat to be so incredibly disciplined?"
Tenali Raman smiled and replied, "It was not magic, Your Majesty. A few days ago, when my cat was very hungry, I served her a bowl of milk that was far too hot. In her haste to drink, she burned her tongue. Since that day, she has learned to wait patiently for my permission before touching any food."
The court admired Tenali Raman's cleverness and the practical lesson he had taught his pet.
Moral
Consistent training and patience lead to great discipline.
