The ruler
of Vijayanagaram, Krishnadevaraya,
most of the time had to contend with the attacks of rulers from other
adjoining territories, and acting on the
advise of his generals he decided
to purchase a large number of
horses.. To ensure that such horses were
reared and kept in spic condition for any combat, it was decided that they
should be kept in the houses of the Royal courtiers who would feed and nurture them
and for this there would be an allowance of fifteen silver coins per month.. Tenali Ramakrishna also volunteered to become the guardian of one such horse..
He collected his horse and the silver coins..
The
silvercoins, he decided to keep for his domestic expenses.. Essential commodities for human sustenance
were scarce and costly and the Royal treasury was mostly empty due to defence
expenditure.. Ramakrishna could
not digest the situation where people starved and elephants and horses were fed
sumptuously..
He led the
horse to the dingiest room in his residence, and built a brick wall across the
entrance, leaving just a small hole to
let in some air.. And daily at about noon, a handful of dried grass was pushed
through hole and the horse had to eat that to keep its body and soul together.
A month
passed and there was a Royal summons that the courtiers should parade the
horses at the Palace stable.. Everyone
brought the horse entrusted to his care, with great pomp..
However when Ramakrishna’s turn came, he pleaded that the horse given to him was
very disobedient and had refused to present itself at the Royal Palace.. The
king was enraged and the Sardar of cavalry, a muslim with a long goatee grey
beard which flowed down upto his knees was directed visit Ramakrishna’s house
and bring the recalcitrant horse to the Royal presence.. This Sardar prided
himself as an expert trainer of horses who could subjugate any troublesome equine..
With pride
and pomp the Sardar proceeded to where the horse of Ramakrishna was lodged. It
was almost noontime and the ration of handful of dried grass was overdue for
the hungry and emaciated horse.
The
sardar peeped through the hole to have a look at the miscreant horse,
and his long beard flowed in through the hole
The poor horse thought that his daily
food of dry grass was coming in and
without hesitation bit at the protruding
beard.. The Sardar pushed the other way in utter pain, but the horse would not let
go.. Finally two Royal barbers had to be
summoned to cut off the portion of the beard that was still outside the horse’s
mouth..
His pride
and beard gone, the Sardar demanded that the horse should be brought out of the
room.. There everyone saw that the
horse which was nothing more that its
hide and skeleton..
“You cruel
fellow, why have you kept the horse
starving for so many days? “ Asked the
Sardar..” I am reporting the matter to His Majesty.’
Ramakrishna
and his horse were paraded before the King..
“ Your Majesty, Please see how ill-tempered and
rowdy this horse is.. Even when it was not given proper food, it had the
temerity to bite the beard of your Sardar.. If I had fed him with all the food
the fifteen silver coins would fetch,
then the fellow would have trampled the Sardar to death.”
This was the explanation of the court jester
for the frugal supply of food to the horse.
As aside, there
was a murmered remark by Ramakrishna..
" There is
no food for the people in the kingdom. However the horses are fed from the
Royal Court”..
The King's
anger flared up for a moment.. Then
realization dawned upon the Royal mind..
The first
duty of the King was to feed his subjects.. and not to wage wars..
