Tenali Rama The Well and the Pond

- Tenali answered: "Maharaj, let us have a rule: the cows in the royal cowshed must drink only from these very ponds...’

K ing Krishnadev once gave a royal command: "A thousand ponds must be built in the kingdom. Not a single animal should die without water."

The entire plan was carefully prepared. It was proudly named **The Pond Scheme.

But someone wisely pointed out, "Maharaj, ponds will hold water only if there are wells to feed them."

So, along with ponds, the decision was made to dig wells as well. This was called the 'Pond-with-Well Scheme'.

To carry out this important work, a minister was appointed. He belonged to the queen's side of the family-he was the queen's own brother.

This minister, however, was a tricky man. He got a few wells dug, left a few half-finished, kept some only as 'preparations,' left some only on paper, and kept some in the stage of mere 'thinking.'

The poor people of the kingdom began to cry out for water. Their animals grew weak, staggering in thirst. But the minister was so powerful and well-connected that nobody dared to take his name or complain against him.

Finally, the matter reached Tenali Rama.

Tenali said, "There is surely a way. I will find a solution."

He searched for a thirsty buffalo and placed a pot of water in front of her-but did not let her drink. Then, taking both the pot and the buffalo, he went straight to the royal court.

Outside, the buffalo cried loudly, "Moo! Moo!" in desperation.

Inside, Tenali sat down in the court with the pot of water hidden under his seat. From time to time, he kept peeping down at it.

On one side, Tenali was looking down at his water. On the other, the buffalo outside kept crying loudly.

Naturally, the king's attention was drawn to this.

"Tenali Rama!" asked the king. "Why do you keep looking down again and again? What is it?"

"Water, Maharaj."

"Water? What water? Is our kingdom so short of drinking water that you have to carry your own?"

Tenali replied: "Maharaj, man is different. He is a thinking creature. If there is no water, or if the state fails to provide it, people still understand the kingdom's difficulty and keep quiet. But poor animals? They cannot understand such matters."

Just then, from outside came another loud cry from the buffalo.

Tenali said: "That is my buffalo, Maharaj. She has followed me here, thirsty for water. At home, if I leave water lying about, she drinks it all at once. And since there is so little water, I must use it carefully and sparingly."

The king grew annoyed. "But our kingdom already has the finest water plan! How dare you complain about water? We have not one, but a thousand ponds!"

Tenali calmly answered: "Maharaj, then let us have a rule: the cows in the royal cowshed must drink only from these very ponds-the same ponds from which the subjects' animals drink. Whatever water the people get, the king's cows must also get. Whatever the subjects receive, the king too must accept. If such a rule is kept…"

The king, now in anger, declared: "Come then! At once, I myself shall give my cows water from the ponds!"

Thus, the king and Tenali went out to inspect the ponds. One by one they looked. Alas! Nearly half the ponds were completely dry.

The king demanded, "Why is this so?"

Tenali explained: "Maharaj, what else could be the reason? If there is water in the wells, then there is water in the ponds. If there is nothing in the wells, then how will there be water in the ponds?"

The king protested: "But I had ordered wells to be dug as well!"

On behalf of the people, Tenali asked: "Maharaj, do you see your wells anywhere?"

The king looked carefully. There were a few wells, some shallow pits, some places marked out, some with only signs, some only in plans, some only spoken of-and many not there at all.

The king summoned the minister.

The minister stammered and laughed nervously: "I was… busy with other important work of the queen…"

The king thundered: "Then bring here at once all the money of the well scheme. From now on, I myself shall continue this work."

The minister stuttered: "But… that money… went into the queen's other work…"

In truth, the minister had swallowed the money himself.

The king now fully understood the state of the scheme. He realized: making grand plans alone is not enough. Unless a plan is carried out properly, the people do not get relief. If there is no water in the wells, then there will be none in the ponds either.

Immediately, the king arranged strict measures so that both people and animals could be relieved. And as for that minister-he was dismissed and punished. The king also made sure that such favoritism in family appointments would not cause trouble again.

Moral

Plans look good only when carried out honestly. Without proper work, a plan remains empty-just as a pond without a well holds no water.