Page 112 - English Expedition Class 2

ministers of Vijayanagar are indeed very intelligent. But
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if they fail, I will conclude that the stories of the wisdom
8
of your courtiers are mere rumours . I shall come back in
seven days for my answer.

KRISHNADEVARAYA : [confidently] Your challenge is accepted, merchant from the
foreign land!

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The merchant bows humbly and exits. The king immediately summons his ministers and all the
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learned men in the land of Vijayanagar and lays the dolls in front of them.
KRISHNADEVARAYA : I have accepted the merchant’s challenge because I have no
doubt in your abilities. I give you five days’ time. You must

find out how these dolls are different from each other. The
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honour of Vijayanagar is in your hands now. It will be
very shameful if we fail. Do anything it takes, but solve this
riddle.

All the ministers and the learned men take turns to
inspect the dolls. They turn, twist and flip the dolls but
nobody finds any difference. They gather in the court

on the fifth day.

FIRST MINISTER : [looking worried] I
have checked these

dolls from all possible
angles. I don’t see any
differences among
them. I wonder what
kind of difference

the merchant was
talking about.

SECOND MINISTER : The eyes, the noses, the ears, the skin – every feature is
identical.
THIRD MINISTER : The clothes, the hair, each and every aspect is the same.

SECOND MINISTER : Your Majesty, I think we need to summon Tenali to help us
figure out the differences among these dolls.

7 conclude: decide 10 learned: having a lot of knowledge
8 rumour: false information 11 honour: good name and respect
9 summons: calls
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