Chinna Katha - 15 (Tenali Ramakrishna's Tanesha Bharata) (Short Story: As told by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai Baba)

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15. TENALI RAMAKRISHNA’S TANESHA BHARATA

WITH A VIEW TO USE THE SACRED STORY OF THE PANDAVAS FOR SOME MATERIAL PURPOSE

THE Tanesha of Delhi once invited to his court the eight renowned poets of

Vijayanagara.

 

These poets were asked to describe the distinctiveness of the Mahabharatha.

They did so in a beautiful and attractive manner.

 

After hearing the story Tanesha wanted them to write a fresh epic in which he

would figure as Dharmaraja the eldest of the Pandava, all the ministers whom he

liked would figure as the other Pandavas and all his enemies would figure as the

Kauravas.

 

In other words, he asked them to write a Tanesha Bharata.

 

These poets were not inclined to produce an epic of this kind and were

discussing among themselves as to how they could tackle the situation.

 

Amongst them a clever poet by name Tenali Ramakrishna came forward and said that

he would undertake preparing this book. He wanted to teach a good lesson to the

Tanesha.

 

The Tanesha then asked him to prepare the text in a week'’ time.

 

The week was coming to a close and Ramakrishna had not even started writing and

the other poets were afraid that the Tanesha would punish them.

 

By the end of the agreed period, Ramakrishna took a few pieces of paper and went

to the Tanesha who in turn had invited many friends to listen to this great

text.

 

Tanesha asked Ramakrishna if the Bharata was completed. Ramakrishna told that

it was nearly complete but that there were one or two minor doubts, which

required clarification from the Tanesha. Then the Tanesha asked him what these

doubts were so he could clarify them.

 

Ramakrishna replied that he had some hesitation to raise these doubts in public

and he would wish to do so when both of them were alone.

 

Tanesha and Ramakrishna went inside and Ramakrishna said that he had a doubt as

to who would be fit in the role of Draupadi.

 

Since Draupadi was wife to all the five Pandavas, the person in this role would

have to be wife for the five Pandavas in the story.

 

This means that Tanesha’s wife would be a wife to the ministers as well.

Ramakrishna asked Tanesha if he would agree to give this role to his wife.

 

Tanesha not at all liked this and he told Ramakrishna that there was no need to

write such a Bharata and asked him to clear out after giving him suitable

gifts.

 

Thus we see here that the Tanesha wanted to have a reputation of the Pandavas

but he did not want to accept the sacred terms under which the five Pandavas

took Draupadi as their wife.

 

Today, if we want to establish the nobility of our culture, we should realize

and accept as a fact that the basis for it is respect for morality and truth.

 

We should follow the path of morality and truth.

 

If we want to have the reputation alone but not follow what the Tanesha wanted

to do. This will be leading an artificial life.

 

We should both hanker after getting a name and cheer popularity. We should look

to the fulfillment of life.

(from the Book: "CHINNA KATHA" (Short Story, as told by Bhagavan Sri Satya Sai BABA))

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