Demon Chanting Hymns

Tenali Raman had clearly understood that Thathacharya was jealous of his achievements and was plotting against him. He was just a court poet, while Thathacharya was the royal family teacher and priest. If Raman tried to confront Thathacharya directly, it would ruin him and his reputation, just like a lamb smashing its head when it collides with a mountain. 

After analysing the situation carefully, Raman decided to confront Thathacharya with intelligence and not by directly waging war against him. 

Raman then started enquiring about Thathacharya`s weaknesses. In this process, one day, Raman spoke to Thathacharya`s night watchman Bhadrudu. Raman was carrying a small package in his hand when he spoke to the watchman. Raman offered him 100 Varahas in exchange for some information about Thathacharya. 

Bhadrudu`s eyes sparkled when he heard about the 100 Varahas. It was equal to his salary of two months, and hence he instantly said yes. He started thinking about what he would do with the 100 Varahas.

Raman simply asked Bhadrudu about Thathacharya`s schedule after dusk. Bhadrudu did not sense anything malicious about Raman enquiring about Thathacharya`s schedule and immediately replied, saying that there was no daily night routine as such. However, twice a week, Thathacharya goes towards East Street after it is dark and returns in the early hours. He also told Raman that tonight was one such night where Thathacharya would be going towards East Street. Raman left there, warning Bhadrudu to keep their conversation a secret. 

The same night, Raman reached East Street before Thathacharya passed through and stood under the shade of a big tree. After waiting for some time, he saw Thathacharya walking into the street from a distance. Raman started following him until he walked into a gambling house; this is what Raman was waiting for. 

Raman decided to wait there until the Thathacharya came back out. Thathacharya came out from the gambling house just before dawn. Raman immediately greeted Thathacharya and told him that he now understood the saying “Demons chanting hymns” and threatened Thathacharya that he would expose his secret to everyone. 

Thathacharya got scared and tried to persuade Raman not to leak his secret. Thathacharya started pleading Raman not to do so and that he would do anything Raman wished. 

Raman thought that it was now time for him to take revenge. He told Thathacharya that he would forget about the gambling house if he agreed to carry him on his shoulders. Thathacharya agreed and started walking down a street which passed through a street close to King Rayalu`s bedroom. 

King Rayalu was taking a stroll in his balcony when he saw Thathacharya carrying someone on his shoulder. He called out for his guards and ordered them to bring the man sitting on the other man`s shoulders to the court. He also asked them to thrash the man while bringing him in. The soldiers immediately sprung into action. 

Raman realised what was happened and got off Thathacharya`s shoulders. Raman then pleaded with Thathacharya to let him carry him on his shoulders. Although Thathacharya was hesitant, Raman managed to convince Thathacharya to sit on his shoulders and they carried on down the road. 

The soldiers appeared before them and threw Thathacharya on the ground. They then thrashed him and started dragging him to the court where the King was. When the soldiers brought Thathacharya to the King`s court, the King was furious. He asked the soldiers why they had dragged Thathacharya into the court. The soldiers pleaded with the King and said that when they had reached the spot, it was Thathacharya sitting on the poet Raman`s shoulders. Since they were ordered to bring the man sitting on the other man`s shoulders, they simply dragged Thathacharya to the court without giving it much thought. 

Thathacharya was stuck as if he tried to narrate the whole story, the gambling house story would also come up. If that came out, he would lose his status. With great pain, Thathacharya admitted to the king that he was infact sitting on Raman`s shoulders. 

King Rayalu regretted his decisions and asked the soldiers to leave without being punished. 

Raman was glad as he had taught Thathacharya an important lesson. 

Moral

Do not be jealous of someone else`s achievements.