When it was time for the execution, the two guards got into a heated argument over who would behead Raman. Two guards captured Raman and took him to the riverfront to execute him. One such day, the king ordered the guards to behead Raman with a sword in a single strike. Whenever Tenali Raman disagreed with the king, the king would get enraged and have him punished for disobedience. Tenali Raman was dear to King Sri Krishnadevaraya, but sometimes he would get on the King’s nerves.
We might have done great things in life, but we cannot underestimate others. Tenali Raman simply smiled and sad that someone had already done that and that his head was lying next to his body.
Upon hearing this, the soldiers laughed and said that if they were in his place, they would have cut off the man’s head. Tenali Raman then replied saying he took out his sword and cut off the man’s toe and then ran for his life.
