Hungry Horse

One krishnadevaraya had brought a lot of horses from Arabia. He decided to give one horse to each family in his kingdom to take care of the horse. He gave three gold coins for the maintenance of the horse.

King: Raman, here is your horse, take the three gold coins and grow the horse healthy and strong.

All the people including raman were not interested to take the horses. As it was an extra burden on them. Raman wanted to teach the King a lesson. Immediately an idea struck raman’s mind.

Raman: Yes my lord, I will take care of the horse very well.

Raman put the Horse in a small room leaving just a hole in the wall to feed the horse. Once a day he fed the horse only with hay though the hole. The hungry horse got accustomed to grab whatever was let through the hole. After a few months the king ask all his people to bring the horses to the palace. The king became very happy seeing the horses.

King: Very good! All the horses are looking healthy and strong. Where’s your horse raman? Haven’t you brought it?

Raman: I’m sorry Your Majesty, I could not bring the horse here. It cannot be easily controlled.

King: What! Has the horse grown so strong under your care!

Raman: Yes your majesty, could you please send the headman of the royal stable to my house so that we can bring the house here.

King: Of course! I am really eager to feeding to see the horse. You can take more strongmen to bring the horse.

Raman took the men to his house. The headman having a long beard peeped through the hole of the shed. The horse tugged violently at the beard thinking that, it was his hay. The headman cried loudly with pain. Then somehow they managed to bring the horse to the palace. The horse was actually thin and very weak.

King: How did the horse become so weak raman? Haven’t you been feeding it properly? It seems as if you have been spending the 3 gold coin on your family.

Raman: I’m sorry your majesty! You had placed a great burden on the people by giving those horses to rear. Many of our people do not have food to eat but you wanted them to spend money on growing a horse. This horse is a sample to show, how many other people are under nourished due to lack of food.

King: I realized my mistake now Raman. I won’t burden the people anymore.

The king took back the horses. He gave gold coins the people and appreciated Raman’s kindness towards people.

Moral: Krishnadevaraya had put burden on the people without thinking the capacity or liking. People were poor but did not have the courage to offend the king. Raman taught a lesson to the king and made him realize his duty towards his citizens.