Once Tenali Raman was dining with Krishnadeva Rayar and the king was enjoying his egg-plant (brinjal) curry. He praises the vegetable and Tenali Raman readily agrees to all of it. Later, the King gets allergic rection due to the vegetable and has itches and rashes. He gets so irritated about it and curses the vegetable, when again Tenali Raman joins him in cursing the vegetable. The King gets more irritated at Raman's switching of sides so readily and asks him about it, to which he politely replies: "Oh your highness, I work for you, not for that silly vegetable!"