Family Pension

After escaping his death sentence, Raman returned secretly to his home. He devised a clever plan to recover the money he had paid as a bribe to the soldiers who spared his life. Raman asked his mother, Lakshmamma, and his wife, Mangamma, to go to the king and plead for help, pretending that he had truly been executed.

Following his instructions, they went to the palace and began to cry bitterly before King Krishnadevaraya. “Oh Lord,” wept Lakshmamma, “you have killed my son Raman. He was the only earning member of our family. How will I survive without him?”

Mangamma too began to lament, “Oh great king! You have made me a widow. How will I care for my child now?”

The king was deeply moved by their grief. His heart filled with compassion. He immediately ordered his treasurer to give 100 gold coins each to Lakshmamma and Mangamma, along with a monthly pension of 20 gold coins to support Raman’s family.

When the two women returned home and handed over the gold to Raman, he burst out laughing. “The gold I spent to save my life has now returned to me!” he exclaimed. Both his mother and wife joined in laughter at Raman’s wit and presence of mind.

Moral: Clever thinking and presence of mind can turn even the worst situation into a victory.