The Four Fools

The emperor told Tenali Rama to find four fools and bring them to his court. Tenali requested a week's time for the task.

The next day, while walking on the street, he saw a man carrying a large package. When Tenali asked the man what it was for, he said it was a gift for his ex-wife, who was getting remarried. 

A few days later, he saw a man riding a buffalo with some luggage on his head. When questioned, the man said he had kept some of his luggage on his head to avoid overburdening his poor buffalo.

After one week had elapsed, Tenali presented these two individuals before the emperor and described the circumstances under which he had found them. The emperor was pleased but said, "Tenali, I had told you to find four fools. You have brought only two."

"Emperor, please look carefully. There are four. The third is you for assigning me this task, and the fourth is me for carrying it out."

The entire court was afraid of how the emperor might react, but he only burst out laughing.