In plain words
In this, which is such lived experience, the Pāṇḍavas went on holding out ideals of many kinds. For this reason they won a fine renown that lasts for ever. These five Pāṇḍavas stood as the support of the world, as its five prāṇas. This very history of the Pāṇḍavas is what people have also called the Mahābhārata, and this Bhārata they have called the fifth Veda as well. Once, with the idea, ‘We can make some artificial use of the Pāṇḍavas, who were practice embodied,’ Tānīṣā of Delhi summoned the scholars of Vijayanagara, the Aṣṭadiggajas. He summoned them and told them to describe the greatness of the Mahābhārata. These Aṣṭadiggajas, great scholars, went on describing the Mahābhārata as though it stood before their eyes. When he had heard it all, a certain kind of desire arose in Tānīṣā, there within him. He gathered all those scholars together and ordered: ‘Portray me as Dharmaja, all the ministers I like as the four brothers, and all the hostile kings as the Kauravas, and write a Tānīṣā Bhārata.’ But these poets kept hanging back, wondering how this Bhārata could ever be written. But among them Tenāli Rāmakṛṣṇa stood forth as a hero. Resolving to teach Tānīṣā a fitting lesson, he said, ‘Tānīṣā, sir! I will write this Bhārata, I myself.’ ‘But you must get the Bhārata ready within just a week and bring it. I will give you a great reward,’ said Tānīṣā. Very well! Even when a week had gone by, this Rāmakṛṣṇa did not take up paper and pen. He did not set about writing the Bhārata. All the other scholars: ‘Alas, a week is nearly over, and he made a promise. Who knows, Tānīṣā may punish him if he does not keep this promise,’ and whispers went round among them under their breath. Very well! On the day agreed, he tucked two sheets of paper under his arm. Off to Tānīṣā went Rāmakṛṣṇa. That day Tānīṣā, thinking he could have the Mahābhārata recited to his friends too, and that his favourite friends had been made brothers among the Pāṇḍavas, seated those dear to him in the court besides.