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Extract from the Story
Krishnadeva Raya’s court was home to eight celebrated poets, collectively known as the Ashtadiggajas. These poets, including Allasani Peddana and Tenali Ramakrishna, enriched the literary tradition with their masterpieces. Tenali Ramakrishna, in particular, was known for his quick wit and humour, earning him a special place in the king’s court as both a poet and a witty advisor. His clever solutions to seemingly
insurmountable
problems made him a beloved figure in the empire’s history.
Summary in Bullet Points
- Krishnadeva Raya’s court had eight celebrated poets called the Ashtadiggajas . Ashtadiggajas = the group of eight celebrated poets in Krishnadeva Raya’s court
- Tenali Ramakrishna was one of them, but the story highlights something more useful than his poetry: his quick wit . wit = the ability to think quickly and say or do something clever, often with humour
- That wit made him useful as an advisor , because he could solve difficult problems without relying on force. advisor = a person who gives guidance or suggestions to someone in authority
- The text says he solved seemingly insurmountable problems. insurmountable = so difficult that it appears impossible to overcome
- Story setup complete: when the royal family gets stuck in a problem that cannot be solved by ordinary conversation, we already know exactly whom the queen will need.
NCERT Questions (from the Textbook)
Let us think and reflect · II.2
NCERT Poorvi page 8
Let us think and reflect · II.2
How did Tenali Ramakrishna gain a special place in the king’s court?
How to answer:
Use the exact event or wording from the story and explain it in one or two complete sentences.
View Answer
Tenali Rama got a special spot because of his
quick wit
, humour and clever fixes for tough problems. That made him useful not just as a poet, but as the king's witty adviser too.
Board Pattern
Questions Mapped to Exam Format
Fill in the Blank · Text Detail
1 mark
The eight celebrated poets in Krishnadeva Raya’s court were collectively known as the __________.
How to answer:
This is a direct factual detail from the extract.
View Answer
Ashtadiggajas
Ashtadiggajas = the eight famous poets of the king's court
Ashtadiggajas = the eight famous poets of the king's court
MCQ · Vocabulary
1 mark
The phrase “seemingly insurmountable problems” suggests problems that appear:
How to answer:
Use the meaning of
insurmountable
.
View Answer
Answer: (C)
— impossible or super hard to beat.
Short Answer · Inference
2 marks
Why is Tenali Rama described as both a poet and a witty advisor? What does this tell us about him?
How to answer:
Explain the two roles separately, then connect them to his intelligence.
View Answer
It shows Rama had
writing talent plus real-life smarts
. He could write poems, but he could also use quick thinking and humour to fix real problems in the court.
