Tenali Raman and the Brinjals — Short Story with Vocabulary for Kids
Tenali Raman outsmarts the royal cook with a simple brinjal — wit beats authority!
📖 Tenali Raman and the Brinjals
In the kingdom of Vijayanagara, King Krishnadevaraya had a court full of talented people. But the cleverest of all was Tenali Raman — a poet who was also a brilliant trickster.
One day, the royal cook prepared a special dish made of brinjals (baingan) for the king. It was so delicious that the king praised the cook in front of everyone.
“This is the best brinjal dish I have ever tasted!” said the king. “Brinjals are truly the king of vegetables!”
All the courtiers agreed immediately. “Yes, Your Majesty! Brinjals are wonderful! The greatest vegetable in the world!” Everyone wanted to please the king.
But Tenali Raman said nothing. He just smiled quietly.
A few weeks later, the king ate too many brinjals and got a terrible stomach ache. He was in great pain.
“I hate brinjals!” groaned the king. “They are the worst vegetable! Nobody should ever eat them!”
The courtiers immediately changed their opinion. “Yes, Your Majesty! Brinjals are terrible! The worst vegetable ever! We have always hated them!”
But Tenali Raman laughed. The king noticed and asked, “Why are you laughing, Tenali?”
“Your Majesty,” said Tenali with a bow, “I am laughing because these courtiers are truly remarkable. Last month, they said brinjals were the BEST vegetable. Today, they say brinjals are the WORST. They are not loyal to the brinjal — they are only loyal to YOUR opinion!”
The king stared at his courtiers. They looked at the floor, embarrassed.
Then the king laughed loudly. “You are right, Tenali! These people just say whatever I want to hear. They are flatterers, not honest advisors. Only YOU speak the truth!”
The king rewarded Tenali Raman with a bag of gold coins and a promise: “From now on, I want honest opinions, not flattery!”
The courtiers learned an important lesson that day: it is better to be honest than to simply agree with everyone.
💡 Moral of the Story
“Clever thinking and humility can overcome power and pride.”
📚 Vocabulary — 15 New Words
🔄 Words in Context
- The talented singer performed beautifully at the school concert.
- Papa praised Priya for helping with the household chores.
- Everyone has a different opinion about which cricket team is the best.
- A loyal friend stands by you even in difficult times.
- The boy was embarrassed when he forgot his lines in the school play.
❓ Comprehension Questions
📐 Grammar: Opposites (Antonyms) in Stories
- best ↔ worst (the king’s changing opinion)
- praised ↔ criticized (how the king treated brinjals)
- honest ↔ flattering (Tenali vs courtiers)
- clever ↔ foolish (Tenali vs courtiers)
- quietly ↔ loudly (how Tenali vs king spoke)
🗣️ Retell the Story
Retell ‘Tenali Raman and the Brinjals’ in your own words:
- Who was Tenali Raman? In whose court?
- What dish did the cook make? How did the king react?
- What happened when the king got a stomach ache?
- How did the courtiers change their opinion?
- What did Tenali point out? What did the king learn?
👨👩👧 Read Aloud Tips for Parents
- Use a grand, royal voice for the king.
- Make the courtiers’ voices exaggeratedly agreeable — ‘YES Your Majesty! ABSOLUTELY!’
- Tenali’s voice should be calm and slightly amused.
- When the king realizes the truth, pause for dramatic effect.
- Discuss: ‘Do you always agree with your friends, or do you share your real opinion?’
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❓ FAQ
Who was Tenali Raman?
Tenali Raman (also called Tenali Ramakrishna) was a poet and advisor in the court of King Krishnadevaraya of the Vijayanagara Empire in South India (16th century). He’s famous for his wit and humour.
What is this story about?
The king praises brinjals, then hates them — and his courtiers blindly agree both times. Tenali Raman exposes their flattery, teaching that honest opinions are more valuable than empty agreement.
What vocabulary is taught?
15 words: talented, brilliant, special, praised, vegetables, agreed, quietly, stomach, opinion, courtiers, remarkable, loyal, embarrassed, flatterers, promise.
What grammar is covered?
Antonyms (opposites) in storytelling — best/worst, praised/criticized, honest/flattering. How contrast makes writing more powerful.
What values does this teach?
Honesty, independent thinking, the difference between flattery and genuine praise, and the courage to speak truth to power.