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Long before cartoons and comic books, Indian children grew up laughing at the clever tricks of one man: Tenali Raman, the witty poet of King Krishnadevaraya's court in Vijayanagara. For more than five hundred years, Tenali Raman stories have been told by grandparents, read in schools and acted out in school plays, and they are as fresh and funny today as ever.

In this guide you will find seven famous Tenali Raman stories in English, each retold simply and short enough to read aloud in a few minutes. Every story comes with its moral and a question to talk about with your child. At the end you will find the best Tenali Raman story books and other Indian wisdom tales to read next.

Who was Tenali Raman?

Tenali Ramakrishna, known to most of us as Tenali Raman or Tenali Rama, was a Telugu poet who lived in the early sixteenth century. He served at the court of Krishnadevaraya, one of the greatest kings of the Vijayanagara empire, and was one of the eight famous poets of the court, known as the Ashtadiggajas.

History remembers him as a fine poet, but folk tales remember him as the cleverest man in the kingdom. In the stories he outwits greedy courtiers, proud scholars, thieves and sometimes even the king himself, always with a smile. That mix of humour and good sense is why Tenali Raman stories remain so popular with children and adults alike.

7 famous Tenali Raman stories in English

These Tenali Raman stories for kids work best when read with expression. Pause before the clever twist and let your child guess what Tenali will do.

1. Tenali Raman and the Goddess Kali

As a young man, Tenali was poor and had no teacher. One day a holy man told him to pray to the goddess Kali. Tenali prayed so sincerely that the goddess appeared before him, holding two bowls. "One bowl holds milk that will give you wealth," she said. "The other holds curd that will give you wisdom. You may drink one."

Tenali thought for a moment. Then he took both bowls, poured them together and drank the lot. The goddess was surprised, but she laughed at his quick thinking. "You will have both," she said, "but you will use your wit to make people laugh and think." And so Tenali set off for the king's court.

Moral: A quick mind finds a way when others see only two choices. Ask your child: Which bowl would you have chosen?

2. The Thieves and the Well

One summer night Tenali saw two thieves hiding near his house. Instead of shouting, he spoke loudly to his wife. "There are thieves about. Let us put all our gold and jewels in this trunk and drop it into the well, where no one will find it."

He filled a heavy trunk with stones and threw it into the well with a great splash. The thieves waited until the house was dark, then began drawing water from the well to reach the treasure. They worked all night, bucket after bucket, and every bucket went straight onto Tenali's dry garden. At dawn they found only stones. Tenali came out, thanked them for watering his plants and called the guards.

Moral: Brains beat force every time. Ask your child: Why did Tenali not just chase the thieves away?

3. The Cat That Hated Milk

The king once gave every courtier a cat and a cow, so the cats could drink milk and keep the palace free of rats. Tenali, however, gave his cat a bowl of boiling hot milk on the first day. The cat burnt its tongue and never touched milk again. Tenali drank the milk himself.

Months later the king inspected the cats. All were fat except Tenali's, which was thin. "You have starved this poor cat!" said the king. Tenali placed a bowl of milk in front of it, and the cat ran away. "Your Majesty," said Tenali, "my cat refuses milk. How can I make it drink?" The whole court burst out laughing, and even the king could not stay angry.

Moral: Look beyond the surface before you judge. Ask your child: Was Tenali fair to the cat? What would you have done?

4. The Unlucky Man

There was a man in the city whom everyone called unlucky. People said that if you saw his face first thing in the morning, your day would go badly. The king did not believe it, so he asked the man to sleep in the palace and saw his face first thing the next morning.

That day the king was so busy that he missed his lunch. Furious, he ordered the man to be punished for bringing bad luck. Tenali whispered to the man, who then said to the king, "Your Majesty, you saw my face and missed one meal. But I saw your face first this morning, and now I am to lose my life. Whose face is truly unlucky?" The king understood his mistake at once and set the man free with a reward.

Moral: Superstition can make good people unfair. Ask your child: Do you think a face can be lucky or unlucky?

5. The Royal Brinjals

The king had a special garden of brinjals, and no one was allowed to pick them. Tenali's wife longed to taste them, so one night Tenali secretly picked a few and she cooked a delicious curry. Worried that their young son might tell someone, Tenali woke the boy, poured water over him as if it were raining and fed him the curry.

Next day the king heard rumours and asked the boy if he had eaten brinjals. "Yes," said the boy, "last night, in the heavy rain." But there had been no rain at all, so the king thought the child must have dreamt it. Later Tenali confessed with a laugh, and the king, amused by the trick, forgave him.

Moral: Clever tricks may work for a while, but honesty is always the better path. Ask your child: Why do you think Tenali confessed in the end?

6. The Proud Scholar

A famous scholar arrived at court and challenged everyone to a debate. He boasted that he had read every book in the world. The courtiers were afraid, but Tenali agreed to debate him. He came carrying a large bundle wrapped in silk. "We shall debate on this great book," he said. "It is called Tilakashta Mahisha Bandhanam."

The scholar had never heard of it. He asked for a day to prepare, and then another, and finally left the city in the night. When the king opened the bundle, he found only some sesame sticks tied together with a rope for buffaloes. That is exactly what the long title meant. The scholar had been beaten by his own pride.

Moral: No one knows everything, so never boast. Ask your child: What should the scholar have said when he did not know the book?

7. The Painter and the Portraits

A court painter painted the palace walls with portraits, but every face was shown from one side only. The king loved them. Tenali looked at one and asked, "Where is the other half of this man?" The painter replied, "You must imagine it."

A few days later Tenali announced that he too had become a painter. The king came to see his work and found only a hand here, a foot there and an eye in the corner. "Where are the rest of the people?" asked the king. "Your Majesty," said Tenali with a bow, "you must imagine them." The king laughed and the painter learned his lesson.

Moral: Do not dismiss a fair question with a clever excuse. Ask your child: What was Tenali trying to teach the painter?

Why children love Tenali Raman stories

• They are funny. Children remember stories that make them laugh, and every one of these short stories for kids has a twist at the end.
• The hero wins with his head. Tenali never fights. He thinks. That is a powerful idea for a child to grow up with.
• They are Indian. Kings, courts, brinjals and wells feel familiar, which helps children connect with the story.
• They start conversations. Was Tenali right? Was it fair? These questions build reasoning and values far better than a lecture.

Best Tenali Raman story books

Reading the stories from a well illustrated book makes them even more fun, and it gives your child something to pick up and read alone. These are the books we recommend if you want to buy books online for a young reader who loves clever tales.

• The Illustrated Stories of Tenali Raman: Classic Tales From India, a colourful collection of the best known Tenali Raman stories, ideal for ages 5 and up.
• The Illustrated Wisdom Tales from India for Children (Boxed Set of 3), with Tenali Rama, Akbar and Birbal and Mulla Nasruddin in one set. A lovely gift for birthdays.

If your child loves Tenali, try these next

Children who enjoy Tenali Raman usually enjoy every kind of Indian wisdom tale. Here are the natural next reads.

• The Illustrated Stories of Akbar and Birbal. Birbal is the Tenali of the Mughal court, and many stories are just as funny. Read our guide to Akbar Birbal stories for more.
• 101 Witty Stories of Akbar and Birbal, a big collection for children who want a new story every night.
• Akbar aur Birbal ki 101 Rochak Kathaye, the same stories in Hindi.
• The Illustrated Stories of Mullah Nasruddin, gentle and funny tales of a wise fool.
• Vikram and Betal: Life Lessons for Our Times, the famous riddle stories for older children.
• The Illustrated Jataka Tales and 108 Illustrated Panchatantra Stories, for animal fables with a moral.

You can browse more story books for kids on our site, from Panchatantra sets to Indian mythology.

Frequently asked questions

Was Tenali Raman a real person? Yes. Tenali Ramakrishna was a real Telugu poet at the court of King Krishnadevaraya in the sixteenth century. Many of the funny stories about him are folk tales added over time.

What age are Tenali Raman stories for? Most children enjoy them from about five years old when read aloud, and can read them alone from around seven or eight.

What is the difference between Tenali Raman and Akbar Birbal stories? Both are about a clever courtier and a king. Tenali Raman stories come from the Vijayanagara empire in the south, while Akbar Birbal stories come from the Mughal court in the north. The style of humour is very similar.

Are Tenali Raman stories available in Hindi? Yes, they are widely told in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and Kannada. For English readers, the illustrated collections above are the easiest place to start.

Where can I buy Tenali Raman books? You can buy books online at BooksFactory with cash on delivery, along with Akbar Birbal, Panchatantra and other story books for children.

Read one tonight

Pick your favourite of these seven Tenali Raman stories in English and read it aloud tonight. Stop just before the twist and ask your child how Tenali will get out of trouble. You may be surprised how clever their answers are. When you want more, buy books online from our collection of Tenali Raman stories and Indian wisdom tales, and let your child grow up with the wittiest man in Vijayanagara. Happy reading.