Tenali Rama and the King’s Missing Mustache

One morning, King Krishnadevaraya woke up and decided he wanted to try something new with his royal appearance. He called his barber and said, “Shave off my mustache today. I want to see how I look without it.”

The barber hesitated, knowing how proud the king was of his glorious mustache. But he obeyed and carefully shaved it off.

When the king looked in the mirror, he gasped. “What have I done? Where is the mighty King Krishnadevaraya?!”

The courtiers, trying not to laugh, assured him, “You look splendid, Your Majesty!” But the king wasn’t convinced.

Embarrassed, he ordered, “No one in the kingdom must know I’ve lost my mustache! Anyone caught laughing at me will be severely punished!”

But by evening, word had spread like wildfire. Everywhere people whispered, “The king’s mustache is missing!”

The next morning, an angry king summoned Tenali Rama. “Tenali!” he thundered. “Stop this nonsense immediately! The entire kingdom is mocking me!”

Tenali bowed and said, “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. By tomorrow, no one will laugh at your mustache.”

The next day, Tenali made a royal proclamation: “A grand reward awaits anyone who can find the king’s missing mustache and return it to him!”

Excited by the announcement, people swarmed the palace with ridiculous claims. One brought a bird feather, declaring, “Your Majesty, this must be your mustache—it’s so fine and royal!” Another arrived with a piece of string. “I found it in my attic! Surely this is your missing mustache!”

Children drew fake mustaches on their faces, shouting, “Look! We found the king’s mustache!”

The king, watching all this unfold, couldn’t contain his laughter. “Tenali, you rascal! You’ve turned my misery into a festival!”

Tenali grinned. “Your Majesty, sometimes it’s better to laugh with the people than to frown at them.”

The king nodded, finally at ease. From that day on, he walked confidently without his mustache, knowing that his kingdom loved him—with or without it.