Story Prism

Ritu Vaish
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  • Stories for Kids
  • Updated Weekly

On the Story Prism podcast I, Ritu Vaish, an early childhood educator, perform a new story every week for children 2 to 10 years old and grown ups young at heart. I have many different themes of stories. The first are the Alphabet Escapades that are stories of alphabets to reinforce phonic sounds. The second are Stories from Near and Far which include folk tales from around the world along with critical thinking questions incorporated within the story. Last but not least are The Originals, organic stories I have developed over the years.

  1. Sep 4

    Misc - Krishna and the Mountain That Moved (Episode 219)

    Krishna and the Govardhan Hill is a story of courage and faith from the Bhagavad Gita, a famous Hindu scripture Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/krishna-and-the-govardhan-hill Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com. Transcript The rain had been falling for hours. Not the gentle rain that makes the earth smell fresh. Not the rain that makes children run outside with their faces turned towards the sky. This was different. The clouds were black and swollen, rolling across the sky like enormous mountains. Lightning tore through the darkness. Thunder shook the ground. The cows huddled together, frightened. Children clung to their mothers. The little village of Vrindavan had never seen a storm like this. And then— another flash of lightning. Another deafening crash. A little boy stood in the middle of it all. His clothes were soaked. His curls were dripping with rain. But strangely…he wasn't frightened. And was smiling. He was Little Krishna! Krishna looked towards the enormous Govardhan Hill. Then he turned to the people of Vrindavan and said, “Do not be afraid.” There was something in his voice that made everyone stop. “Come with me.” But what had caused this terrible storm? Why was the king of the gods angry with a village of cowherds? And why was a young boy about to do something that no human being could possibly do? To understand that……listen ahead   It was festival time in Vrindavan. The village was buzzing with excitement. Women were preparing mountains of food. There were sweets, rice, vegetables, fruits and freshly churned butter.  Children, which is your favourite sweet?  The cows were being washed and decorated. Children ran through the streets. Everyone was getting ready to worship Indra, the god of rain and storms. After all, the villagers depended on the rain. Children, do you also think that rain is important? Why?? Rain filled their ponds. Rain nourished their crops. Rain gave them grass for their cows. So they believed they owed Indra their prayers and thanks. And they had followed this tradition for generations. But there was one person who was not convinced. Krishna. He was still a child. Yet he had a habit that sometimes made the grown-ups uncomfortable. He asked questions. Lots of questions. Krishna watched everyone preparing the offerings. Then he asked his father, “Why are we doing this?” His father smiled. “Because, Krishna, we must honour Indra. He gives us the rain.” Krishna thought for a moment. Then he asked, “Does he give us the grass?” His father hesitated. “Well… the rain helps the grass grow.” Krishna continued. “Who gives our cows a place to graze?” “The earth.” “And where do our cows graze?” “On Govardhan Hill.” Krishna's eyes lit up. “So perhaps,” he said, “we should thank Govardhan Hill too.” The adults laughed. But Krishna wasn't finished. He looked around at the fields, the cows, the trees and the mountain. “We work hard. Our cows give us milk. The earth gives us food. Govardhan gives our cows grass and gives us water and shelter.” Then he asked the simplest question of all: “Why don't we celebrate what is actually part of our lives?” The villagers fell silent. Children, what do you think was Krishna thinking ?? Well, Krishna suggested something completely unexpected. Instead of preparing an offering for Indra… they should celebrate Govardhan Hill. They should thank the earth. Thank the cows. Thank the farmers. Thank the mountain. And so the villagers followed Krishna's advice. They carried their food to Govardhan Hill. They decorated the cows. They sang. They danced. They offered their food with joy. The village celebrated. But far away…someone was watching. Lord Indra: The king of the gods. And he was furious. “How dare they?” He had expected their offerings and prayers. Instead, they had turned their celebration towards a mountain. Indra's anger grew. And when the king of the gods becomes angry… the sky listens. The first cloud appeared. Then another. Then hundreds. The sky darkened. The wind howled. And suddenly— The rain began. It poured down upon Vrindavan, but it was no ordinary rain. The storm grew stronger. Water rushed through the streets. Trees bent beneath the wind. The cows cried out. Children screamed. People ran desperately for shelter. And above them all, Indra commanded the clouds: “Let the storm continue!” The villagers were terrified. The water rose higher. Their homes began to flood. The wind became almost impossible to stand against. Then Krishna looked at Govardhan Hill. He knew what he had to do.   Krishna walked towards the mountain. The villagers stared at him. What could one little boy possibly do? Krishna placed one hand beneath Govardhan Hill. And then— he lifted it.   The enormous mountain rose from the earth. As easily as someone might lift an umbrella. Krishna held it above his head. “Come!” he called. The villagers stared. Then slowly… they began to move. Families hurried beneath the mountain. The cows followed. Children came running. Soon, the entire village was sheltered beneath Govardhan Hill. And Krishna stood there… holding the mountain on one finger, for seven days and seven nights.   Children, think about that. Seven days. Seven nights. The storm raged outside. But beneath the mountain there was something extraordinary. The villagers were together. They shared food. They comforted frightened children. They looked after the cows. They told stories. They sang. And gradually, they stopped being afraid. Perhaps they also began to understand something. Krishna had not simply saved them. He had brought them together. Outside, the storm continued. But Indra was beginning to realise that his anger had accomplished nothing. The people were safe. The mountain had become their shelter. And the little boy he had underestimated… had shown a strength far greater than his own anger. At last, Indra understood. He had allowed his pride to take control. And so he stopped the storm. The clouds disappeared. The rain faded. And sunlight returned to Vrindavan. Krishna gently placed Govardhan Hill back where it belonged. The villagers stepped out. The sky was blue again. And everyone looked at Krishna. The little boy simply smiled.   The story of Govardhan teaches us to be brave, thankful, and united during difficult times.

    Misc - Krishna and the Mountain That Moved (Episode 219)

  2. Jul 13

    Stories From Near And Far-Korea-The Legend of Heaven Lake (Episode 218)

    Have you ever looked at a mountain and wondered if it was hiding a secret? In Korea stands a magnificent mountain called Mount Baekdu. It is the tallest mountain on the Korean Peninsula, and for thousands of years, people have considered it a sacred place—the birthplace of the Korean people. At the very top of this majestic mountain lies a breathtaking lake called Cheonji, which means "Heaven Lake." Its crystal-clear waters fill the crater of an ancient volcano, reflecting the sky like a giant mirror. But how did this beautiful lake come to be? Well... let me tell you an ancient Korean legend. Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/the-legend-of-heaven-lake Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com Transcript: Long, long ago, when mountains were believed to be the homes of powerful spirits, a terrible black dragon lived high on Mount Baekdu. Now, this was no ordinary dragon. Long ago, he had been thrown out of heaven because of his cruel and wicked nature. Instead of learning from his mistakes, he became even more selfish and angry. From the top of the mountain, he ruled over the nearby villages through fear. Children, can you imagine one cruel thing he did? Let’s listen ahead He demanded that the villagers build him a grand palace. He demanded chests filled with precious treasures. He demanded baskets overflowing with delicious food. The frightened villagers obeyed. They were too terrified to refuse. But then... The black dragon made a demand so cruel that the entire village fell silent. He ordered the people to sacrifice their own sons and daughters to him.   The villagers looked at one another in horror. "No," they whispered. "We cannot do this." For the first time, they stood together against the dragon. The black dragon was furious. With a mighty roar, he smashed part of the mountainside. Rocks and earth crashed down, blocking the rivers and streams that carried water to the villages below. Children, why do we need water? That’s great! Soon, the wells ran dry. The streams disappeared. The crops on the fields dried. Trees drooped. Flowers wilted. Even the birds stopped singing. The people had almost no water to drink. Day after day, they gathered beneath the open sky and prayed. "Please," they cried, "Send someone to save us." One hundred long days passed. Then... The clouds began to swirl. Thunder rolled across the mountain. A flash of brilliant blue streaked through the sky. Out of the clouds descended a magnificent blue dragon. His scales shimmered like the deepest ocean. His eyes glowed with kindness. His voice echoed across the mountains. "Black Dragon!" he called. "You were cast out of heaven because of your wickedness. Yet instead of changing, you continue to bring suffering to innocent people." The black dragon laughed. "I am the king here," he roared. "Anyone who dares challenge me will not survive!" With that, he breathed out a river of blazing fire. The flames raced across the mountainside. But the blue dragon rose into the sky and summoned dark rain clouds. Rain poured down heavily, hissing as it met the flames. The fire disappeared. Then the battle truly began. The dragons circled through the sky. They clashed among the clouds. Their roars shook the mountains. Lightning flashed. Thunder boomed. For days they fought. Neither dragon would give up. Finally, exhausted and wounded, both dragons crashed to the ground. For a long moment... everything was silent. Then the blue dragon heard something. Soft voices. The villagers. They were crying. Gathering the last of his strength, the blue dragon lifted his head and called out to the heavens. "Lightning!" "Strike down the evil!" A brilliant bolt flashed across the sky. It struck the black dragon with tremendous force. The mountain echoed with one final roar. The evil dragon would never rise again. The blue dragon looked at the grand palace that had been built through fear and suffering. With one mighty sweep of his tail, he destroyed it completely. In its place, fresh mountain water began to flow. The crater slowly filled until it became a sparkling lake, so clear that it reflected both the sky above and the clouds drifting by. The blue dragon remained there, watching over the lake and sending its cool, pure water into every stream and river below. The wells filled once again. The fields turned green. Flowers bloomed. Birds returned. And laughter echoed through the villages. The people named the beautiful lake Cheonji—Heaven Lake—because they believed it was a gift from heaven itself. Even today, visitors standing beside the peaceful waters sometimes whisper that, if they are very lucky... they might catch a glimpse of a blue dragon rising silently from the lake before disappearing into the clouds. And perhaps... just perhaps... the guardian of Heaven Lake is still watching over Mount Baekdu. Thank you for listening to this ancient Korean folktale. Until our next story, keep wondering, keep imagining, and remember—every mountain has a story waiting to be told.

    Stories From Near And Far-Korea-The Legend of Heaven Lake (Episode 218)

  3. Jun 20

    Stories From Near And Far-Europe-The Stone Soup (Episode 217)

    Today’s story -The Soup Stone is a folktale from Europe. It is a tale about kindness, sharing, and a very special soup Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/the-stone-soup Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com Transcript: Long ago, in a small village nestled among green hills, the villagers had a problem. They did not trust strangers. Whenever a traveler arrived, doors would close. Windows would lock. And everyone would pretend they had nothing to share. One evening, a group of tired and hungry travellers arrived at an unfamiliar village. They had been walking all day and were hoping to find a warm meal and a place to rest for the night. "Good evening!" they called. But the villagers quickly hid inside their homes. The travellers knocked on a door. "Could you spare a little food?" they asked politely. "I'm sorry," replied the woman inside. "I have nothing to spare." The travellers tried another house. Again, the answer was the same. "I have nothing." "I have no food." "I cannot help." Disappointed but determined, the travellers gathered in the village square and whispered among themselves.   Children, what do you think they were discussing?   Great…Let’s listen to the story   As the travellers whispered to each other  one of them spoke loudly enough for everyone to hear. "What a pity! If only we had a large pot of water and a fire, we could make our famous stone soup." The villagers looked at one another in surprise. "Stone soup?" they murmured. "What is stone soup?"   Children, have you ever heard of a soup made of stones?   Curiosity soon got the better of them. Before long, someone brought a large cooking pot filled with water. Others gathered wood and helped build a fire beneath the pot. As the water began to warm, one of the travellers reached into his pocket and pulled out a clean, round stone. With great ceremony, he dropped it into the pot. Plop! By now, a crowd had gathered around to watch. They all peeped into the big pot excited to see what a stone soup looked like Then the  traveller stirred the pot thoughtfully and then dipped a finger into the water to taste it. "Mmm," he said. "This stone soup is already quite delicious. But it would be even better with a little onion." An old woman in the crowd spoke up. "I believe I have a spare onion at home." She hurried away and soon returned with it. The onion was chopped and added to the pot. A little later, the traveller tasted the soup again. "Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "Now, if only we had a carrot or two." A farmer smiled. "I can spare some carrots." Into the pot they went. As the evening wore on, the travellers continued to taste the soup and make suggestions. Each time, a villager remembered something they could contribute. A few potatoes appeared. Then some cabbage. A pinch of salt. A knob of butter. A handful of celery. A few tomatoes. Even some meat. With every new ingredient, the soup became richer and more fragrant. Soon, a wonderful aroma drifted through the village, making everyone's mouths water. At last, the travellers tasted the soup one final time. "Perfect!" they declared. "The stone soup is ready." The villagers eagerly filled their bowls. The travellers did the same. Together, they sat around the fire, eating, laughing and sharing stories. It was the most delicious meal any of them could remember.   Children what is your favourite soup? Great!   That night, grateful for the feast and the companionship, the villagers had a change of heart. They invited the travellers to stay in their homes. As for the mysterious stone, it had done nothing more than sit quietly in the pot. Yet it had helped everyone discover an important truth: when people share what they have, even if it seems small, together they can create something wonderful. And from that day on, the village became known for its generosity, always welcoming travellers with warmth, kindness and a hearty meal.

    Stories From Near And Far-Europe-The Stone Soup (Episode 217)

  4. Jun 11

    Tenali Raman Tales - Tenali and the Golden Mangoes (Episode 216)

    Tenali Raman was a learned scholar and a poet in the court of King Krishnadevaraya. He was a minister in the court and was also one of the eight poets. He was famous for his wit and quick thinking. On the Story Prism podcast, Tenali Raman tales are a collection of some of those stories. Today's story, 'Tenali and the Golden Mangoes is about how Tenali teaches a lesson to an arrogant scholar. Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/tenali-and-the-golden-mangoes Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com. Transcript In the grand court of Emperor Krishnadevaraya, ruler of the mighty Vijayanagara Empire, wisdom glittered brighter than gold… and sometimes, so did foolishness. And where there was foolishness— There was Tenali Raman. It was the season of mangoes. Children, can you tell me the taste of the mangoes? Yes! Indeed, they are sweet and juicy! The air was thick with their perfume—sweet, sun-warmed, irresistible. Golden mangoes arrived in baskets from across the kingdom, each one glowing like a captured sunset. Now, the emperor had recently lost his beloved mother. Before her passing, she had whispered a simple wish: “If only I could taste one more mango…” But it was not mango season then. The wish lingered in the king’s heart like an unfinished prayer. The greedy Rajguru convinced the king to give golden mangoes to Brahmins to please her soul. So when mango season finally arrived, the emperor (did what grief often makes us do—he tried to fill the ache with grandeur.) ordered that golden mangoes be crafted—solid gold, studded with precious gems—and gifted to learned Brahmins in his mother’s memory. The court priests nodded solemnly. The goldsmiths worked tirelessly. The treasury… quietly trembled. One by one, richly dressed priests came forward and received a golden mango each. But among the courtiers stood Tenali Raman, who watching the greed  of the brahmins (sparkle brighter than devotion.) ,Tenali  that evening invited the same Brahmins to his humble home. They arrived eagerly. After all, Tenali was known to be close to the king. So they thought perhaps there would be more gifts? Inside, a large iron rod lay in the fireplace, heating slowly… steadily… glowing red. Children, can you guess what was on Tenali Raman’s mind? Let’s listen ahead. The Brahmins shifted uneasily. Tenali folded his hands and said gently, “My mother, too, had a final wish before she passed away. She longed for relief from her knee pain. The healer had advised a hot iron branding, meaning touching with hot iron to leave a mark—If my mother had a chance to get a hot iron branding it would have cured her.” He paused. “Alas, she passed away before we could fulfill that wish. So today, in her memory, I shall brand each of you… to complete her unfulfilled desire.” The Brahmins gasped. “Brand us?!” “This is madness!” “We will complain to the king!” Tenali smiled calmly. “But did you not just accept golden mangoes to fulfil the emperor’s mother’s last wish? If that act brings peace to her soul… surely this will bring peace to mine.” Silence fell. Ashamed, the Brahmins rushed back to the palace and returned the golden mangoes. When the king heard what had happened, he summoned Tenali. “Was this necessary?” the emperor asked, though a smile tugged at his lips. Tenali bowed. “Your Majesty, true devotion does not weigh itself in gold. A mango given in love is worth more than a hundred made of metal.” The king looked at the returned treasures… and then at his wise jester. The king recognises the folly of the scheme and rewards Tenali for his quick wit and honesty. And that day, in the court of Vijayanagara, wisdom ripened sweeter than mangoes.

    Tenali Raman Tales - Tenali and the Golden Mangoes (Episode 216)

  5. Feb 14

    Akbar & Birbal Stories: Akbar Birbal and the Persian Lion (Episode 215)

    Akbar and Birbal folktales are very famous in India. These are a set of moral stories inspired by the interactions of Mughal Emperor Akbar and his wisest courtier Birbal and have been enjoyed by children for many many years. These stories were mostly passed on from generation to generation by word of mouth, till the print medium started. You know children, Birbal was an extremely witty courtier and. you will really enjoy listening to the witty, interesting, and sometimes funny, occurrences in the lives of Akbar and Birbal. These stories also help us to think smart just like Birbal. Today's story: Akbar Birbal and the Persian Lion Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/akbar-birbal-and-the-persian-lion Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com. Transcript In the grand court of Emperor Akbar, where jewels sparkled, wisdom flowed, and courtiers competed to impress, there once arrived a visitor from Persia. He did not bring gold. He did not bring silk. He brought… a challenge. Under a velvet cloth lay a magnificent lion—(carved entirely from solid wax.) The Persian merchant bowed low and announced, “O mighty Emperor! This lion has been locked inside this iron cage without opening the cage door. If anyone in your court can remove it without breaking the cage, I shall accept defeat. If not… your court’s famed intelligence is but a rumour.” A hush fell over the court. The cage was strong. The bars were thick. The door was sealed. One by one, ministers examined it. They pushed. They pulled. They peered. They puzzled. But the lion sat inside—silent, golden, and impossible. Akbar frowned. His pride trembled. “Is there no one,” he thundered softly, “who can solve this?” From the back of the court, a familiar calm voice rose. “Jahanpanah, may I try?” Children, can you guess who that was?? Indeed, It was Birbal. With steady steps and a twinkle in his eye, Birbal walked toward the cage. He did not touch the bars. He did not shake the lock. Instead, he asked for a long iron rod… and a flame. The court whispered. What was he planning? Birbal heated the iron rod in the fire until it glowed red—fiery, fierce, fearless. Then, slowly, carefully, he slid the hot rod through the bars and touched the lion. There was a pause. A drip. Another drip. Before the astonished eyes of the court, the majestic lion began to melt. Its fierce face softened… its proud mane collapsed… its mighty paws dissolved. Within minutes, the lion was no more than a puddle of wax at the bottom of the cage. Birbal stepped back and smiled. “The lion was never truly trapped,” he said gently. “It only needed the right perspective.” The Persian merchant lowered his head in admiration. “Indeed,” he admitted, “Akbar’s court is as wise as the world claims.” Akbar beamed. Pride returned. Laughter echoed. And once again, Birbal proved— Strength may roar. Locks may intimidate. But intelligence… melts the impossible.

  6. Jan 1

    The Originals: Infinite Love (Episode 214)

    In today's story, a little boy runs out of many things and wonders if everything in the world runs out! So, is there something he finds that doesn't run out? Let’s listen to the story and find out. Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/infinite-love Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com. Transcript Infinite Love Children, we run out of many things during our day, but is there something you cannot run out of? Ravin, a happy five-year-old boy, lived with his parents, his grandmother, and his older sister. They always helped one another, and their home overflowed with love. Every night at bedtime, Grandma read Ravin a lovely storybook and reminded him, “Always keep loving everyone.” One night, Ravin asked thoughtfully, “You tell me to love everyone, Grandma. But if I keep giving love, won’t my love finish one day?” Grandma smiled gently and said, “No, my dear. Love never finishes, no matter how much you give.” The next day was Sunday. Ravin went to the playground early in the morning and began playing a game of cricket with his friends. It was great fun, but the sun was shining brightly, and soon Ravin felt very thirsty. He gulped down all the water from his bottle. After some time, his throat felt dry again. He picked up his bottle and exclaimed, “Oh no! I’ve run out of water!” One of his friends heard him and quickly shared his own water. Ravin felt loved. He thanked his friend. Children, when do you feel loved? That's great. Now listen ahead When Ravin returned home, he had to work on a project due on Monday—Best Out of Waste. Before starting, he rushed to the bathroom for a refreshing shower. As he pressed the shower gel bottle, he cried out, “Oh no! The shower gel has finished!” “Mom! Dad!” he called. His father came and handed him a new bottle of shower gel. Ravin felt loved again—clean, fresh, and happy. He thanked his father Soon, he spread out paper rolls, soap boxes, bottle caps, and other waste materials to make a sculpture of the Himalayan ranges. But no matter how hard he tried, the mountains wouldn’t stand. Ravin felt disappointed and was running out of ideas. Seeing his worried face, his mother said gently, “Why don’t you support the mountains with something?” Ravin’s eyes lit up. “Thanks for this great idea mom!” He ran to the garden, collected some wooden sticks, and soon his mountains stood tall. He planned to cover the mountains with brown paper and add tiny trees. Excited, as he squeezed the glue bottle, he exclaimed, “Oh no! I’ve run out of glue!” His older sister, who was working on her own assignment, rushed over and shared her glue with him. Once again, Ravin felt loved. He thanked his sister. The sculpture was finally ready, and Ravin was delighted. After Grandma finished reading the bedtime story, she asked, “How was your day, Ravin?” Ravin smiled and said, “Oh Grandma, I felt so loved today. I ran out of water, shower gel, ideas, and glue—but I never ran out of love.” Grandma hugged him, knowing her lesson had come true.

    The Originals: Infinite Love (Episode 214)

  7. 08/09/2025

    Misc - Krishna and the Govardhan Hill (Episode 213)

    Krishna and the Govardhan Hill is a story of courage and faith from the Bhagwat Geeta, a famous Hindu scripture Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/krishna-and-the-govardhan-hill Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com. Transcript A long, long time ago, in a village called Vrindavan, there lived a cheerful and playful boy named Krishna. He had a magical flute and a heart full of love. Everyone in the village adored him! Every year, the people of Vrindavan would pray to Indra, the god of rain. They believed that Indra sent rain for their crops and animals, so they offered food, sweets, and prayers to please him. But one day, little Krishna asked, “Why do we worship Indra? Isn’t it Govardhan Hill that gives us food, grass, and shelter? Shouldn’t we thank the hill instead?” The villagers were surprised. Children, can you tell me what a hill is? That’s right.. And Krishna explained to the villagers: “The hill gives grass for cows, trees for fruits, and fresh water. Let’s thank Govardhan Hill!” Everyone agreed with Krishna. So that year, instead of worshipping Indra, they made a big feast and offered it to Govardhan Hill. But Indra was very angry. He roared, “How dare they stop praying to me? I will teach them a lesson!” Children, any guesses on how lord Indra would teach the villagers a lesson? Let’s listen ahead to find out. Indra sent dark clouds and heavy rain. It poured and poured! The rivers overflowed. The animals shivered. The villagers were scared. They ran to Krishna and said, “Help us, Krishna!” Krishna smiled calmly. He walked to Govardhan Hill, and with his little finger, he lifted the entire hill like an umbrella! He said, “Come under the hill! You’ll be safe here.” The villagers, cows, and animals all huddled under the hill. For seven days and seven nights, Krishna held up the hill, without even a drop of sweat! Finally, Indra saw Krishna’s power and felt ashamed. He stopped the rain and came down to say sorry. “Forgive me, Krishna. I now know you are no ordinary boy—you are divine,” Indra said. Krishna smiled, “Everyone must learn to be kind and not proud.” From that day, the people of Vrindavan celebrated the Govardhan Festival every year, thanking the hill for its gifts.

    Misc - Krishna and the Govardhan Hill (Episode 213)

  8. 07/19/2025

    Tenali Raman Tales - Tenali and the Great Pundit (Episode 212)

    Tenali Raman was a learned scholar and a poet in the court of King Krishnadevaraya. He was a minister in the court and was also one of the eight poets. He was famous for his wit and quick thinking. On the Story Prism podcast, Tenali Raman tales are a collection of some of those stories. Today's story, 'Tenali and the Great Pundit' is about how Tenali teaches a lesson to an arrogant scholar. Free activity sheet available at www.rituvaish.com/archive-tenali-outsmarts-a-thief Send your artwork to rituvaish@gmail.com. Transcript Once, a great pundit came to Vijayanagar. He approached the king, Krishnadevrai and claimed that he was so knowledgeable that he could defeat all the king’s ministers in a debate about any subject. The king accepted the challenge and asked his ministers to compete with the pundit. However, all the ministers were defeated as the pundit seemed to be an expert on every subject.   Children, I am sure you all love riddles. Can you ask a riddle now? Nice, that’s really clever of you.   At last, it was Tenali Raman’s turn. Tenali showed the pundit a cloth cover in the shape of a book and told him, “I will debate with you on a topic from this great book called ‘Thilakstha Mahisha Bandhanam’.” The pundit was stumped, as he had never heard of such a book. The pundit asked the king for one night’s time to prepare. However, the pundit was worried that he would lose the debate as he had never heard of the book. So he packed his things and left the kingdom quietly at night. The next day, the king and courtiers heard that the pundit had gone away during the night. The king was impressed with Tenali and told him he wanted to read the book that scared the pundit away. Tenali laughed and said such a book did not exist. He unpacked the cloth cover only to reveal a bundle of ’til’ sticks and some sheep dung tied together by a buffalo-hide rope to form the shape of a book. Tenali had combined the Sanskrit names of the contents of the cloth cover to make up the book’s name – ‘Thilakashta Mahisha Bandhanam’. The phrase literally breaks down to "tila" (mustard), "kashta" (stick), "mahisha" (buffalo), and "bandhana" (rope), which can be interpreted as a rope made of mustard stalks used to tie a buffalo   The King was impressed with Tenali’s cleverness and rewarded him. Moral You should not be overly arrogant about your knowledge and wisdom.

    Tenali Raman Tales - Tenali and the Great Pundit (Episode 212)
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Ratings & Reviews

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About

On the Story Prism podcast I, Ritu Vaish, an early childhood educator, perform a new story every week for children 2 to 10 years old and grown ups young at heart. I have many different themes of stories. The first are the Alphabet Escapades that are stories of alphabets to reinforce phonic sounds. The second are Stories from Near and Far which include folk tales from around the world along with critical thinking questions incorporated within the story. Last but not least are The Originals, organic stories I have developed over the years.

Information

  • Creator
    Ritu Vaish
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    219
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Story Prism