King Krishnadevaraya got a supply of colts. He distributed them to a group of chosen people, in such a way that each will get one colt.Tenalirama, was also one among them. This group of people was allowed to draw three pagodas per month for bringing up the colt. While every one put full efforts and began to bring up the animal excellently, Tenalirama kept the animal in a small room, which was completely closed on all the sides, except for a very small opening on one wall. He also provided a small tub inside the room.

Every morning and evening, he used to feed the animal with a handful of grass through the opening on the wall. He also poured a little water in the tub provided inside the room. After sometime, Krishnadevaraya ordered them to bring and exhibit their colts. Accordingly, all of them except Tenalirama brought their colts and exhibited them. All those colts were fat and fleshy with shiny hair and were very active. Krishnadevaraya called Tenalirama and asked, "Why have you not brought your animal?" Tenalirama replied, "No one can approach and catch hold of my colt. If you will provide me the help of a brave soldier, I shall go and fetch my colt." And the king honoured his request. The soldier chosen for this duty had a long and slender beard. The jester took him to the place where the colt was kept. He asked him to look at it through the small opening.

The soldier did so, thrusting his face in the opening. Thinking that grass was being offered to it, the colt bounding suddenly, caught hold of the soldier's beard.The soldier began to cry aloud. Tenalirama ran to the palace and told the king, "the colt has caught hold of your soldier and will not leave him off. The poor man is crying piteously." Then Krishnadevaraya accompanied by his minister Appaji went to the spot to have a personal inspection.Then according to the king's instruction the wall was pulled down, and the soldier was released. But, the king was really astonished to see the colt that had caused so much trouble. It was finding it difficult even to stand on its legs.

The king questioned Tenalirama, " Have you not fed the colt properly? It has become so weak. He answered readily,"You see how unmanageable the colt is, even when so sparingly fed. Your strongest soldier himself is unable to control it. Had it been well fed, whom you will find to upkeep the animal?" The bold answer of Tenalirama astonished the king and his anger also got subsided.