At court, Dīpaka was presenting a golden peacock sculpture. “See, Majesty? This is real talent, not riddles and rhymes.”
Tenali smiled. “Now you have. Now you are truly an artist.”
Tenali looked at him directly. “The answer is insult . An insult given is worthless the moment it leaves your lips. But an insult received—that can be polished into wisdom.” tenali rama ep 184
Instead of anger, Tenali smiled. He cleaned himself, then walked to the palace with a small pouch.
Tenali stepped forward. “Your Majesty, I too brought a gift for the visiting king. But someone left me a gift first—dung at my door.” At court, Dīpaka was presenting a golden peacock sculpture
“I decorated palaces,” he whispered, “but I never learned to decorate my own heart.”
The King agreed. Dīpaka, humbled, swept the streets for seven days. On the eighth, he returned to Tenali and bowed. “Now you have
Dīpaka draped silk and gold leaf across every pillar, hung ruby-like lanterns, and laid a carpet of jasmine and marigold. When finished, he stood before the King, chest puffed. “Your Majesty, even Indra’s court will look barren next to this!”