Page 25 - English_Spark_4

Once, Shri Krishna Deva Raya’s darbar was in progress. Everybody was

engrossed in the proceedings. Then a pandit entered the darbar hall. He

bowed to the king and said, ‘‘Your Excellency! I know many languages. I can
talk to anyone in his mother tongue.’’

Krishna Deva Raya was curious. He turned to his courtiers. They began

to ask the pandit a few questions in different languages. He answered all

their questions, that too in the same language in which they were asked.
He seemed very fluent in all the languages. Thereafter, he put forward a

challenge.

‘‘Your Excellency! Can your
learned courtiers find

out which is my mother

tongue?’’
Sri Krishna Deva Raya

asked his courtiers.

They tried. But even
after a long time, they

could not determine the

mother tongue of the
pandit. He could talk in

every language with equal

ease.

Krishna Deva Raya turned towards
Tenali Rama, ‘‘Tenali, can you find out the mother tongue of this great

pandit–a learned scholar?’’

Tenali Rama stood up and said, ‘‘Maharaja, this man is really very learned

and a great scholar. If your Highness allows me a day's time, I will try to find
out the answer.’’

engrossed — extremely interested or involved in something; proceedings —

a series of actions; Excellency — a title of honour used to address a king, etc;
highness — a title of honour for royalty

English-4 25