Tenali Raman and the Goddess

Young Tenali Raman was a village boy known for his sharp wit and devotion. Seeking a better life, he spent years praying to Goddess Kali. One night, the Goddess appeared before him in her awe-inspiring form with a thousand heads. Instead of being frightened, Tenali burst into uncontrollable laughter. Puzzled, the Goddess asked for the reason. Tenali replied, 'O Mother, I have only one nose, and when I have a cold, I struggle to manage. I was just wondering how you manage a thousand noses with only two hands!' Amused by his audacity and humor, the Goddess offered him two bowls: one representing wealth and the other knowledge. Before she could warn him to choose only one, Tenali grabbed both and drank them down. When the Goddess demanded an explanation, he humbly said, 'What use is wealth without knowledge to manage it, or knowledge without wealth to sustain it?' Impressed by his logic, she blessed him to become a 'Vikatakavi'—a jester-poet whose wit would be celebrated for generations.