Tenali Raman and the Magician is a South Indian folk tale about one of India's most beloved characters — Tenali Raman, the clever court poet of King Krishnadevaraya of Vijayanagara. Known for his quick wit and sharp humor, Tenali Raman always found a way to see through deception.
One day a magician arrived at the court of King Krishnadevaraya.
He was impressive looking. Long robes. A deep voice. A large brass box he carried everywhere.
He told the King he could perform a miracle — he could make a mango tree grow from a seed and bear fruit within one hour. Right there in the court. Before everyone's eyes.
The King was intrigued. The courtiers were excited. Nobody had seen anything like this.
Tenali Raman sat quietly in the corner watching the magician carefully.
The magician made a great show of it.
He planted a seed in a pot of soil. He covered the pot with a silk cloth. He chanted. He waved his hands. He walked around the pot three times.
Then he lifted the cloth.
A small mango sapling was growing in the pot.
The court gasped.
He covered it again. More chanting. More walking.
Lifted the cloth.
A larger plant now — with small leaves.
Again. Again. Each time the cloth lifted the plant had grown. After an hour — a small tree with three ripe mangoes hanging from it.
The court was amazed. The King leaned forward.
Tenali Raman had not moved from his corner. He was watching the brass box.
"Remarkable," the King said. "What is your secret?"
"Magic, Your Majesty," the magician said. "Ancient and powerful."
"I would like to reward you generously," the King said.
Tenali Raman stood up.
"Before you reward him," he said calmly, "perhaps you could ask him to open his brass box."
The magician's expression did not change. But his hand moved slightly toward the box.
"It is just my personal belongings," the magician said.
"Of course," Tenali Raman said. "Then it will take only a moment to open it."
The King looked at the magician. "Open it."
The magician hesitated one moment too long.
The guards opened it.
Inside — five progressively larger mango saplings. Each one ready to be swapped under the silk cloth while everyone watched his hands.
The magician was escorted out of the court.
The King looked at Tenali Raman.
"How did you know?"
"I did not watch his hands," Tenali Raman said. "Everyone else did. I watched what he did not want me to watch."
A good trick works because everyone looks where they are told to look.
Look somewhere else — and the trick disappears.
