5. The story of Padmavati and Prince Vajramukti

Carrying Betal on his shoulders Vikram started walking towards the cremation ground while the narration of another story began. The Prince of Kashi Vajramukti and the minister’s son were best of friends. They used to be together all the time and share everything in life. Once, prince Vajramukti and his friend went for hunting. There in a garden the Prince saw few girls playing blind fold. The girl who was blindfolded struck Vajramukti by mistake. As soon as she opened the fold, Vajramukti asked what her name was, where she was from and what her father’s name was. At this the girl gave him three hints ; she picked up the lotus flower and kept it on her chest hinting that it was her name, then she took out her earrings and put it on her ankle hinting the name of the town she lived in. Lastly she made a sign of plucking out the teeth hinting that, that was the profession of her father. The prince did not understand any of the hints. After coming back, he told his friend about its. His friend solved the riddle immediately saying that the first hint meant that her name was Padmavati, second hint meant that she was from Karnapur and the third hint meant that her father was a dentist. Vajramukti and his friend went in disguise to search Padmavati in Karnapur. There they met an old lady who asked them to stay at her place.

When she asked them if they knew anybody in the town, Vajramukti said that he knew Padmavati. At this, the old lady said that she was the midwife of Padmavati and she was appointed by her father to take care of Padmavati since her mother died when she was young. The old lady then went and told Padmavati that the Prince whom she had met while playing blindfold had arrived and wanted to meet her. Padmavati’s friends told her to meet him but she wanted the Prince to solve one more puzzle (hint), so she applied sandalwood paste with four of her fingers on the old lady’s cheeks and asked her to go. When the old lady came back and told the prince about the puzzle he could not solve it but his friend solved it saying that after four days in the moonlight she would meet him. After four days, the Prince went to meet her. His friend was waiting for him but for three days he did not turn up so he grew impatient. Just then he saw a few guards pulling a lady. He asked the old lady as to why they were doing this. She said that the law in their town was that any girl who was doubted of loose character was thrown out.

Later the friend went to get back Prince Vajramukti. Just when they were about to leave, Padmavati’s father declared that he cannot get Padmavati married to Vajramukti because the King of their state wanted to marry her and he could not refuse him as he was very arrogant. Vajramukti did not want to go leaving Padmavati behind, so his friend thought of a plan. He went and stole Padmavati’s jewelry at night and the next day he went to sell it in disguise of a Yogi. He was taken to the King for this as Padmavati’s jewelry was recognized. On being asked by the King, the friend narrated a fake story that Padmavati came to interrupt his prayers with her beauty and that she was of loose character. The King called for Padmavati and as per the law of the state, ordered for her to be thrown out of the state. When she came out of the state, Prince Vajramukti was waiting for her and then they both met. This way she was saved from marrying the King.

After this Betaal as usual asked a question to Vikram as to who was at fault, the friend, Prince Vajramukti or the King. Vikram replied that it was the King who was at fault because whatever the Prince did was for love, the friend did it for the Prince but the King did not even bother to know the truth and punished innocent Padmavati. A king should always justify his actions, where as here, the king was wrong. Betaal liked Vikram’s intelligence but once more Vikram opened his mouth to speak and Betaal flew away…

4. Three Suitors and Somprabha

Bringing Betal down onto his shoulders once again Vikram started walking towards his destination and Betal started telling him another story. It was the story of Ujjaininagari which was ruled by a demon in those days. The people of Ujjaini lived in fear and were always under stress. The story took place at the King’s messenger and faithful officer Hariswami’s house. He had a beautiful, intelligent and talented daughter named Somprabha. Somprabha used to practice dance at home which disturbed her brother in his studies and he always complained to his father for the same. His father told him to study just as sincerely as Somprabha practiced dancing. He was very proud of his daughter as she knew the art of drawing, music and dancing. He was also worried about his daughter’s marriage. He once asked her as to what kind of a life partner she wanted. She wanted someone who was learned, an artist and a valorous man. While she was talking to her father, the demon heard her as he was standing outside the window and said that he was the perfect bridegroom for Somprabha and that he would take her away one day. Somprabha’s parents were petrified.

After few days, Hariswami had to go to the King of nearby state with gifts which he had to deliver that was given by his King. As he was the messenger of the King, many a times he used to go to near by states. On his way, robbers attacked him and tried to take away the valuables from him. Just then Veersingh, who was sitting on the tree jumped and attacked the robbers and saved Hariswami and his At this Radhegovind said that the King had asked them to vouch for the states good first and then of the King so they must first think of valuables.Hariswami was very happy with him and kept forth his daughter’s marriage proposal. Mean while, Pandit Sudarshan Acharya’s son who was a poet from Ujjain reached Hariswami’s house. Just as Hariswami’s wife opened the door, he asked her to call for Somprabha as he had written a poem smitten by Somprabha’s beauty. Somprabha’s mother was very happy and told him that she would come to see his father and ask him to accept Somprabha as his daughter-in-law. Meanwhile Somprabha’s brother met an artisan. He asked him what he was creating. The artisan told him to sit inside and the Biman (flying chariot) started flying. Somprabha’s brother was very impressed with him and asked him to marry his sister Somprabha.

The artisan agreed to marry her. He fixed the day of “Akshaya Tritaya” for their marriage. Coincidentally it was the same day that Hariswami had fixed the marriage with Veersingh. This way, all three of them found a bridegroom for Somprabha and each one of them thought that Somprabha should get married to the boy of their choice. Even the demon wanted to marry Somprabha. On the day of the marriage all the three boys came with a procession to get married to Somprabha.The demon came to know about it so while Somprabha was getting ready for the wedding, he abducted her. Somprabha’s parents were worried but the artisan said that he would get his biman so that he could fly in search of Somprabha. The poet and Veersingh also joined as the poet knew that Veersingh was strong enough to fight the demon. They went to the jungle and saw the demon carrying Somprabha. Veersingh struck the demon with his arrows and killed him. All three of them came back home with Somprabha and all of them wanted to marry her.

Betaal asked Vikram who Somprabha should get married to and who according to him was the most suitable groom for her. Vikram replied that Somprabha should marry Veersingh because writing a poem for your loved one is easy, flying in a biman and reaching to your love is easy too but a man should be brave enough to protect his wife and face any difficulty to save her. Veersingh killed the demon that kidnapped Somprabha and therefore he was the only one who was capable of protecting her and hence the right man for Somprabha. Somprabha married Veersingh. Betaal was very happy to hear this but Vikram did not stick to the condition and as he spoke; he once again flew away……

3. Love story of King Yashodhan

Once again Vikram started off his walk carrying Betal and Betal started his story about King Yashodhan. The King of Kanakpur died a sudden death and so his young prince Yashodhan was crowned the King. Though being young, Yashodhan was a dutiful and responsible King. The subjects were very happy and there was a pleasant environment in the state. To run a state honestly and successfully the King needed to be good himself and have honest officers as his staff members. King Yashodhan had honest officers to serve him. But as it is said that sometimes honest servants also make mistakes, the same thing happened in King Yashodhan’s court. Once a businessman named Kushalsen brought two dancers in his court. King Yashodhan was very impressed with their dance. When he asked them where they had come from, Radhe Govind an officer of the King’s court replied that Kushalsen had got them. He informed Yashodhan that Kushalsen wanted to gift the two dancers to him and they would serve him as his maid-servants and also entertain him with their dance. King Yashodhan got angry at this gesture and asked him how he could make such talented dancers his maid servants? How could Kushalsen dare to even think of such an idea? The King then said that by gifting the dancers to him Kushalsen wanted to get his taxes waived off. He scolded the businessman for being corrupt and at the same time trying to corrupt the King. He asked how much money he had paid for the dancers and then ordered his officers to pay that amount to the dancers from Kushalsen’s account and ordered him to pay his taxes. He also advised his officers to think good for the state first and not the King’s pleasure. In the same city a rich businessman had a beautiful daughter whose father was worried for her marriage. He thought of going to King Yashodhan with the proposal of marriage.

When he went to the King, he replied that refusing a girl after seeing her is very insulting for any girl, so he asked two of his elderly officers to go and see the girl and if they liked her, he would get married to her. The officers went and saw the girl; they liked her very much for her to be the queen. They were coming back happily and on the way they met Radhegovind, who asked them the reason for their happiness. The officers told him every thing.
At this Radhegovind said that the King had asked them to vouch for the states good first and then of the King so they must first think of the state. He told them that if the King married a beautiful lady, he would not pay attention to the state affairs and the state would be destroyed. The officers agreed to him and went and told the King that the girl was not at all beautiful and not suitable for him. Yashodhan sent a message of rejection to the girl’s father. Later, the girl was engaged to the King’s army chief. The marriage was to take place after some time so the couple started meeting regularly. Once, they met in a jungle and the girl wanted to ride his horse, so she sat on the horse and started riding. Later she wanted to turn back the horse but the horse was not obeying her commands, just then King Yashodhan, who was discussing defense matters with his officers, saw the girl. He helped her turn back the horse. Then he asked her for a smile as his reward for helping her. She gave a beautiful smile and Yashodhan instantly fell in love with her. He asked his officers to follow the girl and find out whose daughter she was as he wanted to marry her.

When he learnt the truth from his officers Yashodhan asked his army chief if he felt that the state would be in a loss if he married a beautiful lady. The army chief replied that the state would in fact run better if their king married a beautiful girl because if the King was happy he would work better. The King ordered his army chief to go and fix his marriage with the same girl.
He went along with the other two officers. As they reached there, he told them that it was his in-laws house and that he had got engaged just ten days back. The other two officers were shocked to hear this and they told him that they would inform the King about this but he stopped them and instead went and broke his engagement because he thought that it was his duty to see his master’s happiness first. Later, Yashodhan’s marriage was fixed with the same girl. One day his officers told him the truth about the army chief’s engagement with the same girl. The King was shocked to hear this. On the day of the marriage just as the girl was about to garland the King, he stopped her and got the army chief married to her.

Betaal then asked Vikram as to whose sacrifice was greater; the army chief’s, who broke his engagement or the King’s who let his love go to his own servant. He told Vikram that he would break his head if he did not reply. Vikram replied that the army chief’s sacrifice was definitely greater because he was engaged to her and was going out with her for many days and so he would have stronger feelings for her than the King who had just seen her once and fallen in love. It was more difficult for the army chief to let go his love for someone else. Betaal was very happy to hear this but since Vikram opened his mouth he flew away....

2. King Roopsen and his bodyguard Virvar

Vikram once again caught hold of Betal and carried him on his shoulders. Betal started telling him another story. There was a city named Vardhamannagar. King Roopsen of Vardhamannagar was very kind, noble and generous. In his city, lived a brave man named Virvar. He was not earning and was always busy working out. Once his wife told him to work and earn some thing on his own. He expressed his wish to become the personal bodyguard of King Roopsen. His wife asked him to go and see the King and he did so.

A woman was complaining about the difficulties she was facing due to the famine and the burden of paying the lagaan (tax). The King condoned his subjects from paying lagaan (tax) and asked his men to help his subjects from the state treasure. Just then the gatekeeper came and informed the King that a man was waiting to see him. The King asked the gatekeeper to give him water if he was thirsty, food to eat if he was hungry and ordered him to feed grass to his horse; meanwhile he would come and visit the guest. King Roopsen came and asked Virvar the reason for his visit. Virvar expressed his wish to become the King’s personal bodyguard and that he would take nine tolas of gold everyday as his salary. The King was shocked to hear this. His associate told Virvar to be insane for asking such a huge salary. The King thought there must be a specific reason for him to ask for such a big amount as his salary. King Roopsen asked Virvar to prove whether or not he was worth being paid such an amount. Virvar replied that the King took care of everyone and he would be able to sleep peacefully only if Virvar protected him and that his life was very precious. So by quoting a minute amount he would be degrading the King’s status.

The King then asked him to exhibit the proof of his skill. Virvar exhibited his skills by which the King was impressed and so he appointed him as his personal bodyguard. Virvar served his master with great enthusiasm and devotion. He took home nine tolas of gold everyday and gave it to his wife. His wife exclaimed that it was too much for them, so Virvar advised her to donate half of it to the poor, one fourth to the guests who visited their house and the rest to be kept for them. One night while Virvar was guarding his emperor, he heard a woman crying at a distance and even King Roopsen woke up. He asked Virvar to go and find out what was the reason for the woman to cry. Virvar climbed his horse and left, Roopsen also went behind him quietly so that he could test Virvar’s dedication. When Virvar reached, he asked the woman who she was and why she was crying. She replied that she was Raj Laxmi of the state and due to the pressure of Kaal, she was to leave the state because of which King Roopsen and his subjects would become poor and die. Virvar was shocked to know that a noble and kind king like Roopsen would be finished. Virvar asked her if she could do something about this, but she said she was helpless and could not do anything.

She told him, one jojan (mile) South in a cave resided Kaaldevta who was hungry. If he would come out, he would eat up King Roopsen. Virvar asked if there was any way to please Kaaldevta. She said, he was hungry and needed food but there was no one who could replace the royal family as the food for Kaaldevta. Virvar said that he and his family would replace the royal family. Meanwhile King Roopsen was listening to their conversation hiding behind a tree. As soon as Virvar left, Roopsen came out and told Rajlaxmi that he could not let Virvar die because Virvar was his subject and as a King it was his duty to protect his subjects and his conscience would not allow him to let Virvar’s family go to Kaaldevta in place of him. Rajlaxmi told him to let Virvar go as he could keep another bodyguard and if Kaaldevta’s hunger was quenched, Roopsen would rule for another hundred years. But Roopsen did not listen to her and went behind Virvar. Meanwhile, Virvar went home and explained the situation to his family. His family members immediately got ready to sacrifice their lives and went to Kaaldevta who was very hungry. Virvar and his family surrendered themselves to Kaaldevta and he ate them all. Just then Roopsen reached there. Kaaldevta was pleased with him for sending Virvar’s family instead but Roopsen said that it was not fair to sacrifice an innocent family. Roopsen sacrificed his life too by going inside Kaaldevta’s mouth.

Betaal then asked Vikram whose sacrifice was greater, Virvar or Roopsen? If Vikram would not answer Betal would kill him. Vikram replied that it was the King’s sacrifice that was greater, as it was the bodyguard’s duty to serve his master and give away his life when needed. But a King who gives away everything right from his wealth to his life for his subjects is definitely great. So the King’s sacrifice was greater. Vikram then asked Betaal to finish the story. He said there was no Kaaldevta and no death, it was just an illusion created by Laxmi to test Virvar’s dedication and all of them came out alive. Rajlaxmi then appreciated Virvar for being such a dedicated and dutiful bodyguard and Roopsen for being such a caring and noble King. Since then, Roopsen and Virvar became friends and Virvar was appointed army chief. But as Vikram had spoken, Betaal flew away……

1. Suryamal and His Bride's Dilemma

Betal started telling a story… 

There was a famous Devi temple in Patliputra which people used to visit from distant towns. Once, two men named Suryamal and Chandrasen had come to visit this temple from another town. Just after paying their respect, when Suryamal turned he saw a beautiful woman praying. He immediately fell in love with her and thought of getting married to her. Suryamal told this to his friend Chandrasen.

Chandrasen was very excited to hear this and advised him to go and talk to the girl’s parents if he was really serious about her. Both of them went to her place to seek permission from the girl’s father for their marriage. Her father agreed on one condition which was, that she would continue praying to the Devi twice a day even after their marriage since she was a great devotee of Devi. Suryamal agreed to the condition and got married to her. Just when they were about to leave, the girl’s father asked them to stay back for another day but they refused saying that there was Devi’s puja at his house the next day and his mother had asked him to come back before that.

On their way, in the jungle a few robbers attacked them and beheaded both Suryamal and Chandrasen. The robbers then escaped. When the bride came out of her carriage, she saw her husband lying dead. She was shocked and tried to kill herself. Just then Devi Maa manifested and stopped her from committing suicide. Devi asked her to arrange the heads with the respective bodies.Because of her nervousness the bride interchanged the heads with the wrong bodies. By sprinkling nectar, Devi Maa brought them back to life but as the bride had interchanged the heads; her husband’s head was now a part of Chandrasen’s body and vice versa. The bride was confused.

Betal asked Vikram whom should the bride accept as her husband? Should she go with the one who has the head of her husband or the one who has the body of her husband? Vikram wisely replied that all the bodily functions are controlled by the brain (head) and they act according to the command of the brain. Hence head is the most vital part of the body and so the bride should go with the one who has the head of her husband. Betalwas very happy to hear this but as Vikram had opened his mouth to speak, Betal flew away.

The Meeting of Vikram and Betaal

Vikram was the name of a king. He ruled over a city on the banks of Godavari River. He was very famous for his bravery and courage. People loved him because he always rendered justice.

One day a sage came to the court of Vikram and gifted him a fruit. The king handed it over to his treasurer. Thereafter, the sage kept coming to the court daily to gift a fruit to the king. The king could not understand the reason behind this behavior. But still he did not try to find out the sage's intentions.

However, one morning, Vikram noticed a monkey sitting on the palace wall and gave the fruit to it. The monkey had started eating the fruit when suddenly a dazzling gem fell out of it. The King was very surprised. He immediately ordered his treasurer to get him all the fruits kept in the storage. The fruits had gone bad but when the king had them crushed, each one of them yielded a precious gem. The generous King donated all these gems to the poor and waited for the sage’s visit to the court.

The next day, the sage visited the court of Vikram with yet another fruit.

Vikram welcomed the sage and asked him "Your Holiness! Can you please tell me why you have been giving me such precious gifts? Without good reason, I cannot accept any gifts from you."

The sage replied, "I need the help of a brave man for a spiritual goal. Will you help me?" Vikram readily agreed to this. So the sage said, "O King, please come to the burial ground on the next moonless night. It is at a distance of 20 miles from here. I will wait for you under a banyan tree." Vikram agreed to follow the instructions.

On the said night, Vikram covered his head and body with a black cloth and unnoticed, reached the appointed spot in the forest. The sage was waiting for him and told him, "King Vikram! To the south of this forest is an old tamarind tree on which hangs a corpse upside down. Please bring it to me." The king immediately followed the sage’s orders and reached the tamarind tree. On finding a corpse there, he cut it loose. As soon as the corpse fell to the ground, it laughed loudly with a cackling sound. The king realized that it was a ghost. But the courageous king carried the body over his shoulders and started towards his capital. A short distance later, the ghost left Vikram’s shoulders and escaped to its original spot. The king climbed up the tree, brought down the ghost and placing it on his shoulders started walking again. "Who are you?" he asked the ghost.

"I am Betaal" replied the ghost and in turn asked Vikram, "Why and where are you taking me away?"

"A sage has requested me to bring you to him," replied Vikram.

Betaal did not have any objection to going with Vikram but he laid down a condition. "We have to cover a long distance and to relieve the tedious walk; I will tell you a story. But you should not utter even one word till we reach the destination. If by chance you utter anything, I will fly back to the tamarind tree. Do you agree to this?" asked Betaal. Vikram agreed to this and silently listened to Betaal’s story.