Tenali Raman Story: The Must-Have Tale of the Greedy Barber

Once upon a time, in a colorful kingdom called Vijayanagara, there lived a wise and clever man named Tenali Raman. This story is about a very special day when Tenali Raman met a greedy barber. It’s a must-have tale to remember because it teaches us about kindness and fairness.

The Village and the Clever Tenali Raman

In the heart of Vijayanagara, a village bustling with bright markets, chirping birds, and smiling people, lived Tenali Raman. Raman was famous for his quick thinking and funny stories. Everyone loved him, from the king to the little children who sat by firesides to hear his tales.

One sunny morning, as the golden sunlight painted the walls of the village houses, Tenali Raman decided to visit the village barber. The barber’s shop was a small wooden hut, painted cheerful red and blue, with jars of fragrant oils and shiny scissors hanging like sparkling stars.

The Greedy Barber and His Plan

The barber was a man named Hari. Hari was very good at cutting hair, but he was also greedy. He wanted to have more money than he needed and often made unfair deals with the villagers.

One day, Hari told the villagers that he would only cut their hair if they paid double. The people were upset but did not know how to stop him. When Tenali Raman heard this, he decided to visit Hari to find out what was wrong.

Tenali Raman Visits the Barber

Tenali walked to the barber’s shop with a friendly smile. “Good morning, Hari!” he said kindly. “I have heard you are charging double for haircuts. Why is that?”

Hari scratched his head nervously. “Oh, Tenali, it’s because I am working very hard, and haircuts take a lot of time,” he replied.

Tenali laughed gently. “I think I can help you and the villagers. Let me have a haircut first, and then we will find a way that makes everyone happy.”

Hari agreed because he wanted to get paid more than usual.

The Clever Trick in Tenali Raman’s Must-Have Tale of the Greedy Barber

When it was Tenali Raman’s turn, he sat patiently in the wooden chair. Hari began to cut Tenali’s hair carefully. But just as Hari was finishing, Tenali said, “Hari, before you finish, please add a little magic to my hair.”

Hari looked confused. “Magic? What kind of magic?”

“Yes,” said Tenali with a twinkle in his eye. “Magic that makes my hair shine so brightly that everyone in the village will want haircuts from you every day!”

Hari’s eyes sparkled with greed. “Really? I want my haircuts to be magical too! How much will this magic cost?”

Tenali smiled. “It will cost you one silver coin for every person who comes to your shop tomorrow.”

Hari quickly agreed, imagining the pile of coins he would get.

The Surprising Lesson the Barber Learns

The next day, Tenali Raman stood outside Hari’s shop, welcoming all the villagers as if he were the king. As they entered, Tenali asked Hari, “How much for the magic haircuts today?”

Hari proudly said, “One silver coin for each person!”

The villagers started paying Hari one silver coin each, and Hari became happy counting the coins. But soon, the villagers whispered things like, “The magic haircuts don’t make my hair shine any more than before.”

Hari started to worry. The villagers stopped coming, and Hari’s pockets became empty.

Tenali Explains the Truth

Later, Tenali came to Hari’s shop and said, “Hari, humor and goodwill are the true magic of life. When you charge too much, people stop trusting you.”

Hari hung his head and said, “I was greedy and forgot about kindness.”

Tenali gently smiled, “If you are fair and kind, people will come to you again, and you will be happier than with all the silver coins.”

The Happy Ending for Hari and the Village

Hari understood and promised to be fair and kind from that day forward. He cut hair happily, charging only the right price and treating everyone kindly. The villagers loved him once more, and Hari’s shop was filled with laughter and cheer.

Tenali Raman’s cleverness and kindness turned the greedy barber into a beloved friend. And the village of Vijayanagara remained a place of joy, fairness, and friendship.

—

The Moral of This Must-Have Tale

This story tells us that being greedy can make us lose friends and happiness. But when we are kind and fair, everyone feels good, and magical things can happen in life. Just like Tenali Raman taught the barber, kindness and fairness are treasures more valuable than silver coins.

Now, sleep tight, knowing that cleverness and kindness can solve many problems in the world! Sweet dreams, little one.