The Scholar's Strange Habit
In Vijayanagara, Tatacharya was famous as a great scholar. But he had one very strange habit.
He believed that even looking at the face of someone beneath his station was unworthy of him.
When a flower seller folded his hands in greeting, he swung his uttariyam across his face and turned away.
So whenever ordinary people crossed his path in the street, he walked with his uttariyam held over his face.
The villagers were hurt inside when they saw this. But what could they say to a learned scholar?
Ramakrishna's Idea
News of this reached Ramakrishna. Watching everything from across the street, he raised one eyebrow.
Stroking his chin, he slowly broke into a mischievous smile.
Before Dawn
One day, before the sun was up, Ramakrishna brought a donkey. Glancing around and walking on tiptoe, he led it to Tatacharya's house.
He draped it in silk, hung a flower garland around its neck and dabbed kumkum on its forehead. When the donkey tried to eat the garland, he tugged it back with a comic frown.
He tied the donkey at the scholar's door, put a finger to his lips — 'shh…' — and tiptoed away, grinning.
A Donkey at the Door!
By daybreak, a crowd had gathered in the street. Children giggled and the elders pointed.
Just then the door opened. Tatacharya stepped out with his uttariyam over his face as usual, walked forward blind — and bumped nose to nose into the donkey!
He slowly lowered the cloth… and found the donkey's face just inches away! His eyes popped. The whole street burst out laughing.
The Donkey's Past Life
Through the crowd came Ramakrishna, hands folded, ever so humble.
The villagers glanced at one another, then slowly turned to stare at the uttariyam in Tatacharya's hand. He looked down at it too — and gulped.
At that last word, the whole street roared with laughter.
The Whisper… and the Bray!
Right on cue, the donkey let out a loud bray! Tatacharya jumped in fright, and the crowd's laughter hit the sky.
A Change of Heart
Tatacharya bowed his head. Only then did he understand how deeply his pride had hurt ordinary people.
He moved the uttariyam from his face to his shoulder, turned to the people and folded his hands.
The donkey gave a small, sad bray — and this time everyone laughed together, Tatacharya included.
From that day on, Tatacharya never hid his face again; he greeted everyone he met with a smile. And the villagers were happy too.
However great a person may be, one who looks down on others is in the end made a laughing stock by his own pride.
No matter how learned or famous you are, knowledge without respect for others is incomplete. You don't need anger to point out someone's fault — a mirror held up with humour can change a heart.
However great a person may be, one who looks down on others is in the end made a laughing stock by his own pride. Respect does not come from rank — it comes from respecting others.
He believed that even looking at the faces of people of lower status was beneath him, so he hid his face whenever ordinary villagers crossed his path.
He tied a decorated donkey at the scholar's door and told everyone it had been a great scholar in its past life — one who always hid his face from others. Seeing his own habit in that tale, Tatacharya realised his mistake.
Yes — children aged 6 and above will love it. Along with the laughs, it teaches humility and respect for everyone.
This video is narrated in Telugu with English subtitles.
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