The Ancestral Wealth
One day,
when the Royal Court was being held,
a trader
presented himself in the Court.
He had a large metal box with him.
Your Majesty,
I am here to seek help from you.
Oh King.
I am a trader.
I have planned to go on a pilgrimage to North India.
I have all my ancestral wealth inside this box here.
I request you to have this under your
safe custody your Majesty.
Okay, done.
Who's there?
Weigh this metal box,
and bring it back to me.
Okay.
We'll take care of your property.
My wishes for your peaceful and happy journey.
Ten cages your Majesty.
Who's there.
Keep this in the Royal Treasury.
Your Majesty,
the law says that,
only the Royal Wealth must be kept in the Royal Treasury.
hence,
you may give this box to our
trustworthy Tenali Raman
to keep it safely in his house your Majesty.
I think that's good.
Tenali Rama,
is that ok with you?
As you please your Majesty.
After a month,
the trader came to the Royal Court.
Your Majesty,
I am back from my pilgrimage.
The trip was good.
I am now here again,
to receive my box your Majesty.
Tenali,
get the box back
and hand it over to him.
Yes your Majesty.
Tenali Raman Went home to get the box.
When he reached home and lifted the metal box,
He was shocked.
the box weighed very less
than its weight when it was weighed for the first time.
Tenali understood now,
that the trader had tried to cheat the king
Hehehehe
Tenali observed the metal box carefully
for some minutes.
Then he hurriedly reached the Royal Court.
Your Majesty
The ancestors of this trader,
have entered my house.
They are not allowing me to bring this box here
your Majesty.
What?
my ancestors?
You bloody cheat.
Don't play tricks.
Your Majesty.
Tenali Raman is cleverly trying to cheat me
of my wealth.
Yes your Majesty.
he's trying to cheat us all.
Tenali.
All of us will go to your house right now.
if you are proved a liar,
you will have to face severe punishment.
yes your Majesty.
So the King and the courtiers,
the trader all went to Tenali's house.
the King saw that ants were going in and
out of the box.
Open the box Tenali.
Oh.
What is this?
it is only sugar?
Trader!
is this your ancestral wealth?
lock him up in prison for cheating me.
Forgive me your Majesty.
These two ministers here,
asked me to play this dirty trick
to get Tenali punished.
Lock these two also in prison.
Please forgive us your Majesty.
Don't punish us.
Please don't.
Tenali Rama,
How did you figure out that that is only sugar in that box?
Tell me your secret.
There were always ants around the box your Majesty.
if the box were filled with precious gems and stones,
then there is no need for ants to be there.
Moreover,
the weight of the box,
was reduced as the hands ate away the sugar.
To prove this to you,
I called the ants as his forefathers.
Tenali.
I am amazed by your knowledge.
Please have this pearl necklace,
as a token of my love.
Thanks my lord.
So dear children.
Did you see what happens when we try to cheat others?
So children,
never cheat other people.