The Last Wish - Mango Fruit

The mother of Sri Krishna Devaraya fell Tenali Ramalinga Stories ill. She was very old and there seemed to be no hope of her recovery. She said to him:

"I would like to taste the mango fruit before I die."

But the time of the year was not at all ripe for mango trees. The king sent his men far and wide to fulfil his mother’s last wish. They made a thorough search for ripe mangoes, and came back successful with a bag full of mangoes. But it was too late. The woman had died.

The king felt remorse for he was unable to fulfil his mother’s last wish. He consulted Tatacharya, his chief priest, who, in turn, suggested that the king should satisfy Brahmins, each with a gold mango as penance. The king followed the advice and it went on for many days.

Thereby, the reserves of gold in the empire were dwindling. But the king never minded. The chief Minister, Timmarsu, contacted Tenali Ramalingam to come to the rescue.

The next day Ramalingam went to the place of assembly where the Brahmins were ready to receive gold mangoes. He instructed the in-charge to send him the Brahmins one by one before they proceeded to get the gold mangoes. The in-charge knew Ramalingam to be the minion of the king, and he thought that he came with the king’s orders. He readily agreed to do the same. Tenali Ramalingam took each Brahmin to a closet: He started stamping a burning brand on the back of each. They were given the impression that it was the fresh order from the king. Thereby, Ramalingam made the Brahmins move in a single file to receive the brand.

One of the Brahmins expressed his desire to have two brands on his back as he wished to get two gold mangoes. Tenali Ramalingam gladly agreed to give him two brands on his back. The Brahmin declared, as his turn of receiving the gold came:

"Sir, give me two. I received two brands"

The in-charge at first did not understand what the Brahmin had said. Then the Brahmin removed his upper-garment and showed him the scorching brands on his back. This was immediately reported to the king.

The king came running there to investigate what was wrong:

"Who put the brands on the backs of the Brahmins?"

The in charge answered with folded hands:

"Tenali Ramalinga Kavi."

Thereby, the king summoned Ramalingam for an explanation.

Ramalingam, came and coolly answered:

"Prabhu, I am the most unfortunate son in not fulfilling my mother’s last wish. Somehow she had believed in the efficacy of cure through burning brands on one’s back. In fact, she died, crying:

"Brands, Brands, burning Brands." As I can’t pool Brahmins as you pool them here. Hence I have come here to "atone" for her last-wish. "Am I wrong Maha Prabhu, can’t you favour your favourite allowing this for me?"

Hearing this, Sri Krishna Devaraya laughed heartily. He now knew that Ramalingam had the hit at the folly of the execution of his mother’s last wish, drying the resources of his kingdom.