Once while travelling, Tenali Rama found himself in the company of a group of soldiers.

They were all veterans of war, and soon they began talking about their experiences on the battlefield.

One old soldier bragged, “I once single-handedly slew seven enemy soldiers.”

Another proudly described how he had “held an entire enemy battalion at bay.”

When they finished, they looked condescendingly at Rama.

“I don’t suppose you have any adventure worth telling,” said one of the grizzled warriors.

“Oh, but I do,” said Rama.

“You have?!” the soldiers exclaimed.

“Yes,” said Rama. “Once while travelling, I came upon a large tent. I entered, and there, lying on a mat, was the largest man I had ever seen.”

“I recognised him at once as a dreaded dacoit who had been terrorising that part of the country for years!”

The soldiers leaned in eagerly. “What did you do?”

“I cut off his toe and ran for dear life,” said Rama.

“His toe?” cried one soldier. “Why his toe? You should have cut off his head!”

Rama grinned and replied, “Somebody had already done that.”