Measure and Measure

Krishna Devaraya was known for his patronage of poets and scholars. He was equally fond of fine arts. Once he came to know about a brilliant artist named Raja Varma. He invited Raja Varma to the court and asked him to draw his portrait. The king was very pleased with the
artist when his portrait was ready. In the portrait, the majestic and handsome king seemed to have come alive within the frame.Apart from this portrait, Raja Varma drew images of famous characters from Puranas, of men and women, and so on. He became well known for his skills. He became close and dear to the king. Overwhelmed by joy, Krishna Devaraya called the artist and asked him what he wanted. When Raja Varma did not eply, the king, on the spur of a generous impulse, rewarded him with chief ministership. Though Raja Varma was a good man and a brilliant artist, he had no experience whatsoever, of administration. Soon everything was thrown into disorder because of his hasty decisions and bad management of the state affairs. Though people were unhappy about his administration, they did not dare to complain to the king because the king was very fond of him. The elders of the town finally approached and sought Tenali Raman’s help in getting rid of the new and inept Chief Minister. Tenali Raman assured them, I shall soon find a harmless way to remove the artist from the chief ministership. After a few weeks, Tenali Raman invited the king, the queens and some courtiers to his house for lunch. Meanwhile, he found a very good carpenter and put him on the job of preparing a grand feast for the king. The king and others sat for lunch and at Tenali Raman’s order, the carpenter began serving them. As soon as they put the first morsel of food in their mouths, the people began to request for water again and again. Soon after tasting the food, the king realized that the food was badly cooked and was unbearably hot. He was angry. Raman, who has cooked this food? Do you want us all to suffer and die by eating this horrible food? In his usual humble way Tenali Raman said, I beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness. Then he showed the carpenter to the king. I have never come across such an excellent carpenter and I have put him on the job of cooking the lunch for today’s feast. The king began laughing loudly. Have you lost all sense, Raman? A good carpenter should be employed to work on wood but not on food. How did you get this funny idea? Tenali Raman asked the king, Lord If an artist can become a Chief Minister, can’t a carpenter become a cook?The king at once understood that Tenali Raman got a carpenter to cook the food to make him realize his error in making Raja Varma the Chief Minister. The king was saved from the embarrassment of removing Raja Varma from the
post because when Raja Varma came to know about the awkward incident at Raman’s house, he immediately resigned from his post. Later Raja Varma told Tenali Raman that he was happy to remain an artist ?
Questions and answers within the chapter.
1 All of us have scissors and blade at home. Yet we go to the barber to get a haircut. Why? Discuss.
Ans. Even though we have scissors and blades at home, we still go to the barber because they are trained professionals. They know how to cut and style hair properly, making sure it looks neat and suits our face. Cutting hair at home can be messy, uneven, and even risky.
Barbers also provide extra services like beard trimming, hair washing, and sometimes a relaxing head massage. Most importantly, it’s comfortable and convenient to let someone else do the job. That’s why we prefer visiting a barber.
2. Do you think that the king rewarded him?
Yes.
The king was very pleased with Raja Varma’s artistic talent and rewarded him by making him the Chief Minister. Though it was not a suitable post for an artist, it was given as a generous reward for his skills.
2. Raja Varma will prove to be a very good Chief Minister.
No.
Raja Varma was a brilliant artist but had no experience in administration. His decisions caused disorder, and people were unhappy with his rule. So, he was not fit to be a Chief Minister.
3. Did the king become angry when he heard this?
Yes.
The king became angry when he tasted the badly cooked food served by the carpenter at Tenali Raman’s feast. But later, when he understood the message behind Raman’s trick, he laughed and realized his mistake.
B. Answer the following uestions:
Measure for Measure
1. Why were the people unhappy with Raja Varma’s administration?
Ans. People were unhappy with Raja Varma’s administration because he lacked experience and made poor decisions.
2. What was Tenali Raman’s plan to remove the artist from his new job ?
Ans. Tenali Raman planned to remove Raja Varma by cleverly showing the king his mistake through a practical example.
3. Why did Tenali Raman ask a carpenter to cook food for his feast ?
Ans. He asked a carpenter to cook food to prove that a person skilled in one field shouldn’t be placed in another.
4. What does the title ‘Measure for Measure’ mean
Ans. Measure for Measure means giving a fair and equal response—like showing the king his mistake in a way he could understand.
If you want long answer or descriptive answer here it is.
Here are the answers to your questions:
1. Why were the people unhappy with Raja Varma’s administration?
People were unhappy because Raja Varma had no experience in administration. His hasty decisions and poor management caused disorder and problems in the state. However, since the king liked him, no one dared to complain.
2. What was Tenali Raman’s plan to remove the artist from his new job?
Tenali Raman planned to show the king his mistake without directly criticizing him. He invited the king and his court to a feast and asked a carpenter to cook the food, which was terrible. Through this trick, he made the king realize that a skilled person in one field should not be put in an unrelated role, just like an artist should not be made a chief minister.
3. Why did Tenali Raman ask a carpenter to cook food for his feast?
Tenali Raman asked a carpenter to cook food to prove a point: just as a carpenter is not suited for cooking, an artist is not suited for administration. It was a clever way to make the king understand that skills must match the role given.
4. What does the title ‘Measure for Measure’ mean?
The title “Measure for Measure” means getting what one deserves, or responding to actions in a fair and equal way. In the story, the king’s mistake of rewarding an artist with a high post was answered by Tenali Raman’s act of assigning a carpenter to cook — an equal and clever response to show the king his error.
Choose the most suitable phrase that will help to complete the sentence:
[all senses, come across, close and near, suffer and die, unbearably hot]
(i) Raja Verma became Close and near to the king.
(ii)The food was unbearably hot
(iii)Do you want us to suffer and die by eating this horrible food.
(iv) I have never come across such an excellent carpenter.
(v) The king asked Raman whether he had lost all senses.
B Match the following:

C Frame your own sentences using these words:
Prominent – The temple is a prominent place in our town.
Horrible – The food tastes horrible.
Portrait – This is a portrait of my father.
Reward – He got a reward for finding the lost bag.
Grand – We saw a grand palace.
B. Work in groups. Complete the dialogue and discuss it with your group:
Hints- (Why not/Sure/I am sorry/Me?/Oh/ No/Wow/I can’t believe it No
way Pardon me, sir…)
Tenali Raman : Somu, you are indeed a very good carpenter. I am sure you
will cook equally well. I want you to prepare a great feast
for the king.
Somu: Me? Cook a feast for the king?
Tenali Raman: Why not? You are skilled with your hands.
Somu: Oh, but I have never cooked for anyone before.
Tenali Raman: Sure, you can do it. I have full faith in you.
Somu: I am sorry, sir, but I don’t know anything about cooking.
Tenali Raman:No way! You cannot refuse the order.
Somu: Pardon me, sir, I really cannot cook.
Tenali Raman: *Wow!* Then how do you expect the king to believe you are the best carpenter without testing your work?
Somu: I can’t believe it! You tricked me.
Tenali Raman: Yes, now you know—you should never boast about skills you don’t have.
Read other chapters:
1 Water
2 The Shoemaker and the Elves