Krishnadevaraya's
mother was a very orthodox woman. She had visited many holy places and
had performed religious rites; she had given much in charity. Once she
wanted to give fruit in charity and informed so to her son.
Krishnadevaraya who had great respect for his mother immediately got
delicious mangoes from Ratnagiri. But on the auspicious day when she
was to present those fruits to Brahmins, the king's mother died.
The religious rites connected with her death went on for several days.
Meanwhile, the king called a few Brahmins and said, "My mother's
last wish was to offer mangoes to Brahmins. But she died before the
wish could be fulfilled. What should I do now that she might earn the
merit for giving away the fruits?" The greedy Brahmins replied:
"Your Highness, only if you offer mangoes made of gold to
Brahmins will your mother's soul rest in peace."
Ramakrishna came to know of this. The next day he went to the houses
of those Brahmins, and asked them to come to his house next to perform
his mother's ceremony.
The Brahmins came to Ramakrishna's house after receiving the gold
mangoes from the king. Ramakrishna's servants closed all the doors of
the house. They brought red-hot iron bars and stood before the
Brahmins. The Brahmins were taken aback. Then Ramakrishna told them
that his mother had knee pains and as remedy wanted Ramakrishna to
burn her with red hot rods. But she died before he could do it. So he
now wanted to execute her wish. When the Brahmins said he was unjust
towards them, Ramakrishna says there is nothing unjust because they
had just taken golden mangoes from the king.
Then the Brahmins understood their folly and left the golden mangoes
at Ramakrishna's house and left.
Later when Krishnadevaraya asked Ramakrishna why he had behaved like
that with the Brahmins, Ramakrishna said the palace treasury should
not be exploited by these selfish people. It is not there to feed lazy
follows. It is there to serve the people.