All of a sudden Ramakrishna began to laugh! Surprised at his queer

behavior, Kali asked him, "Rama Krishna, what are you doing? Even the mighty

giants shudder when they see me. How dare you laugh at me?"

Ramakrishna replied: "Mother, when I saw you with a thousand faces but

only two hands, I remembered something and burst into laughter. Pray forgive

me, Mother."

Kalika Devi's curiosity was roused. She ordered him to explain what he

had remembered to make him laugh.

"Divine Mother! When we catch cold, we feel that two hands are

insufficient to wipe our only nose. If, you catch cold will your two hands be

enough to wipe your thousand noses? The thought made me laugh forgive me, I

have been impudent." So saying, Ramakrishna again fell at her feet and stood

up.

The smile and the sense of humor of the boy pleased Kalika Devi. The

boy had performed tapas but had now completely forgotten the very object of his

tapas, and had spoken in such a light vein. The Goddess valid her fierce form

and smiled.

"Ramakrishna, you have made even me laugh! So you will master all

learning. You will speak so as to suit the situation, attain fame as a great jester

and make people laugh. You will be famous as the great humorist, the comic

poet Ramakrishna" So spoke Kali and blessed him.

This did not satisfy Ramakrishna. Doubts began to trouble him. 'Can the

people of Tenali be made to enjoy humor? If I try, would that not be like casting

pearls before swine? How can I, living in their midst, catch the king's eye?' These

thoughts troubled him.

Kali understood his doubts. She said with a smile: "My child, do not be

worried. Go to the famous Vijayanagar Empire in the South. You will please the

king and you will be appointed as the court poet. You have my blessings." So

saying she disappeared.