Vikram and Betaal - The Four brothers - Story # 6
Vikram and Betaal – Story 6
We saw how King Vikramaditya
(Vikram) went to the cremation ground at the instruction of a sage to get a
dead body and found a ghost. It agreed to come on the condition that the king
should not talk till he reached his destination. The ghost had been telling him
stories and tricked him into talking by putting an interesting question. The
ghost also threatened him saying he will die if he knew the answer and did not
answer. Vikram had the problem of either knowing the answer and dying or opening
his mouth and letting the ghost go. He chose to answer as obviously he had to
live to do the sage’s bidding. Here goes yet another trip and yet another
story.
Bringing a dead lion alive
Once in a village called Sabarvani, there lived a brahmin
called Saranga. Saranga was not only learned but was well trained in many other
aspects such as medicine, magic and tantra. Saranga had four sons – Madhava,
Rishiskesha, Aditya and Rudra. As was the practice, Saranga had taught his sons
his craft and they were well learned and smart boys.
Unfortunately for them before they could start earning and
stand on their own feet, their father passed away. Their mother decided to move
to another village with her father and brother as was the custom in those days.
The boys and their mother went to live with their mother’s
family. Things were not pleasant for them. Their cousins in their uncle’s home
did not treat them well. The boys tried to put up with it for some time but it
became difficult.
One day the brothers met in the fields and discussed as to how
to get out of their unhappy situation. Madhava, the eldest said “ Our father
has taught us many things. But we are not yet ready to go and get some
employment on our own. Let us all go in different directions. Let each of us try
and get a unique skill from learned people. We come back here after a year. We
can teach other our unique skills. That way we can help each other and our
mother.” The others agreed with their elder brother.
They went in different directions. Spent one year studying
with various scholars. End of one year they returned to their uncle’s village. Madhava
asked “Okay, let us talk about the new skills we got. I learnt to create the
flesh of a creature from a single bone. Let us hear from the three of you.”
Rishikesha, the next one said “Great. I learnt how to hair
and skin of a creature if it has flesh and bones.” Aditya said “I can recreate
the limbs and body once the flesh, bones, hair and skin are there.” Rudra said “Nice
to hear your skills are linked. I also learnt something. If a creature has flesh,
bones, skin, hair and form I can give it life.”
Now they were excited. They decided to go the forest and
test their skills. They found a bone of a lion. Madhava did his trick and
created the flesh. Rishikesha showed off his skill and created the full form with
skin and hair.
Rudra then proudly used his skill to bring the lion back to life. Small problem here. A lion will behave like a lion even if someone had given them life. It did not
understand all that. All it understood was it was hungry and there were humans in front who can reduce his hunger. It did what a lion does. Killed the boys and ate them.
Betaal now stopped and asked
King Vikram “Who is responsible for the death of the boys? Madhava, Rishikesha,
Aditya or Rudra? If you know the answer and don’t speak your head will burst.
If you answer, you break your promise and I will fly back to my tree.”
Vikram realised he had no choice
but to answer. He said “It was the fault of Rudra who brought the lion to life
without ensuring caution and safety. Knowledge without wisdom is useless. He
should be held responsible for the death of his brothers.”
Before Vikram could even blink,
the Betaal gave a demonic laugh and flew back to his tree. And the cycle
continues........
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