One chilly morning, Tenali Raman woke up with a very bad cold. His nose wouldn't stop running, and his head felt heavy. Every few minutes, he had to reach for his handkerchief to wipe his nose. He sighed to himself, "If only I had four arms! I could wipe my nose with one hand and keep working with the others."
His kind wife saw his struggle and prepared a bowl of warm water infused with medicinal herbs. She helped him breathe in the soothing steam, which made him feel a little better, but the sneezing continued.
Determined to seek blessings for a quick recovery, Raman decided to visit the local Goddess temple. His wife, knowing his playful nature, warned him, "Please, Raman, go and pray sincerely. Don't try to be funny with the Goddess and come back empty-handed by losing something!"
Raman walked to the temple as evening approached. The temple was quiet and peaceful. He knelt before the idol of the Goddess and prayed fervently for his health. Suddenly, a bright light filled the room, and the Goddess appeared right before his eyes!
As he looked at her magnificent form and her many arms, Raman didn't tremble in fear. Instead, he burst into laughter. The Goddess, surprised and slightly annoyed, asked, "Why are you laughing in my presence, Tenali Raman? Do you not respect my divinity?"
Raman smiled gently and replied, "Oh, Great Mother, I am not laughing at you. I was just thinking about how lucky you are! I am struggling here with just two hands to manage this cold, but you have so many arms. If you ever catch a cold, you could wipe your nose a hundred times a second without even stopping your work!"
The Goddess couldn't help but laugh at his witty observation. Her anger melted away. "You are truly a handful, Raman! But your wit has brought a smile to my face. Since you have lightened my mood, take this special silk handkerchief."
She handed him a shimmering, soft cloth. "This cloth will always remain clean and soft, no matter how much you use it," she said before vanishing. Raman took the magical gift and headed home, feeling much better already.
Moral
A sense of humor can turn even a difficult moment into a joyful one.
