The kingdom of Vijayanagara was peaceful, but inside the royal palace, King Krishnadevaraya was having a restless morning. As the sun rose, a young servant entered the chamber to tidy up the lamps. When the King woke up and saw the servant standing right in front of him, he felt a sudden wave of irritation. He didn't say anything at the time, but he felt that the servant's presence was an unlucky omen.
As the day progressed, things began to go wrong. Important meetings were delayed, and messages were lost. The King became convinced, 'It is because I saw that servant's face this morning that my entire day is cursed!'
In his haste to reach the council chamber, the King accidentally bumped his leg hard against a heavy wooden chair. He winced in pain, his face turning red with fury. 'This is all because of that servant!' he roared. 'He has brought bad luck to my palace. Guards, take him away and punish him immediately!'
The guards moved to obey, but Tenali Raman, who was standing nearby, let out a soft chuckle. The King turned to him, eyes flashing with anger. 'Why are you laughing, Tenali Raman? Do you not see my suffering?'
Tenali Raman bowed respectfully and said, 'Your Majesty, I am laughing at the logic, not your pain. This morning, the servant's face merely interrupted your sleep. Now, because you saw his face, you are ready to take his very life for a bump on your leg. If a face is truly an unlucky omen, then the servant is a great danger to the whole kingdom! Is it the face that is unlucky, or your sudden anger?'
The King froze. He realized how foolish he had been to blame a person for a series of coincidences. He felt a sense of regret for his impulsive reaction. 'You have enlightened me once again, Tenali,' the King said with a smile. Instead of punishing the servant, the King called him forward and rewarded him with gold coins for his hard work, teaching himself to stay calm in difficult times.
Moral
Do not let temporary anger lead to permanent mistakes.
