Tenali Raman and the Brinjal Curry

In the grand court of Vijayanagara, King Krishnadevaraya loved brinjal curry more than any other dish. One day, the king praised brinjal so lavishly that every courtier rushed to agree. "Brinjal is the king of vegetables!" they declared. Tenali Raman, the court's sharpest wit, joined the chorus enthusiastically.

A week later, the king fell ill after eating too much brinjal and declared he never wanted to see the vegetable again. "Brinjal is terrible! It makes you sick!" The same courtiers immediately changed their tune — "Yes, your majesty, brinjal is the worst!" Tenali Raman agreed just as loudly as before.

The king narrowed his eyes. "Tenali, last week you said brinjal was wonderful. Now you say it is terrible. Whom do you serve — me or the brinjal?" Tenali bowed with a sly smile and replied, "Your Majesty, I am a servant of the king, not of the brinjal. The brinjal does not pay my salary." The king burst into laughter, realising Tenali had exposed every sycophant in the room while making the king laugh at himself. It was a lesson the court never forgot: flattery serves the flatterer, not the truth.