In Krishnadevaraya’s court, one day a brilliant scholar arrived to debate Tenali Rama. He was articulate, confident, razor-sharp in argument, and absolutely certain he would defeat him publicly. His delivery was flawless and commanding. Tenali, by contrast, wore a quiet, casual smile, responding mostly with short questions. Many in the court assumed he was outmatched.

As the debate progressed, the scholar began to lose his rhythm. His voice grew louder, his arguments more aggressive, and his need to win more visible. Tenali, on the other hand, remained calm. He waited, observed, and stepped in only when the king asked him to summarise the issue. In a few measured sentences, he cut through the noise, exposed the gaps in the argument, and offered a solution the scholar hadn’t considered. The hall fell silent. Even the scholar bowed to Tenali, not because he out-performed him, but because Tenali’s clarity shook the scholar’s confidence.

After the court dispersed, the king asked Tenali how he had managed to turn the debate around with so few words. Tenali smiled and said, “Your Majesty, when the mind is steady, the words find their own power. But when the mind is unsettled, even the loudest voice begins to tremble.”

A couple of questions for leaders to consider:

  • How does your inner state influence the way others experience your presence?
  • Under pressure situations, what helps you stay anchored and centred from within?