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Here are some delightful stories told to king Vikramaditya by the ghost vethala. Each of these stories requires a deep understanding of human nature. The king listens keenly and gives his judgement, for any wrong answer would have been a peril to his life.


These stories are written by me-Rama Venkatraman in a different get up-Like old wine in a new bottle ,holding to the flavour and charm intact.Read through and dont forget to put in your thoughts as comments.

THE PRIVATE ADVISOR

THE PRIVATE ADVISOR

There is a path for the king
A path for the servant,
When both meet
Will sow the seed to suspicion
So understands the wise.

It was Ekadasi night, the eleventh day of the waning moon. The moon was a small crescent in the sky
faithfully following king Vikramaditya on his night sojourn. The king was venturing through the uncleared forest thickly laced with huge truncated ancient trees. Each one was standing clothed with dark barks like a sentry on guard. A myriad wild life was living jostled up in the protective trees coming alive at night. The cobras, owls, bats, sleuths, mongoose, wild buffoons were also out in their nocturnal sojourns. The king vikramaditya moved through this forest with a mind stilled with determination and purpose. Seeing his steady gait and fearless demeanor even wild animals stood back with respect allowing him to proceed on his way.

The king went to the ancient banyan tree, which housed the corpse he had come in search of, picked the corpse, laid it on his shoulders and started his journey back. As he moved a little further and reached the desolate cremation ground the vampire called Vetal showed its presence from the corpse and told king Vikram.

`O, Noble soul, you seem to know no defeat. Your never failing courage helps you to take such a risk and carry on your task. No doubt you are doing this under some bodies instructions. He may be intelligent and trust worthy now, but can you trust him forever?

Here let me relieve your tedious journey by telling you this story of king Sambavan who ruled the kingdom Parideep in the days of yore.

King Sambavan was a noble and virtuous king well versed in the duties and dharma of a just king. Among his personal servants was one Dilip who had been serving him for over a decade now. Dilip dark and well built was not only honest but also intelligent and wise. He knew the king well having served him so long. But he kept himself to his orderly duties and did not exhibit his intelligence with out being called for.

One day he came to serve a drink to the king in his private gardens where the king was relaxing. He found the king particularly in a pensive mood. He bowed and kept the drink in front of the king and enquired `Majesty are you not keeping well?’

Hearing the concern in his voice the king in a rare mood of confidence told Dilip to whom he had rarely conversed,
`There is nothing wrong with my health. But I have no peace of mind.’
` A bandit has entered our rajdhani. He has succeeded in breaking at many rich citizens houses and successfully looted the valuables. In spite of attempts by Raj sevaks there is no clue of him. Say if you were the king what you will do to catch him asked the king in a lighter vein’

Dilip thought for a while and replied `my lord, there is an abandoned temple at the outskirts of the city. What I suggest is you give an order for the temple ground to be dug spreading the news that a pot filled with ancient jewelry is buried under the ground. You must be careful to see the labors employed are all known and trust worthy. When the bandit will come to know of this there is every possibility he will come and join in the guise of a laborer. As the identity of rest of the laborers is known we can easily catch the intruder.’

Hearing this intelligent suggestion of Dilip the King was really surprised. He liked the idea. Soon he put it on trial. A group of trusted workers started digging the temple grounds. In a couple of days as predicted by Dilip two new laborers volunteered to join the workers. They were easily identified. When questioned vigorously it was found one was the bandit and other his assistant. Thus the bandit was caught by the clever plan suggested by Dilip.

The king was immensely happy at the turn of the events.

A month after the incident, the king was vexed with a new problem. Adjacent to his kingdom Paradeep was Parajay ruled by king Kaushik. A range of hills separated both the kingdoms. The king got the News the neighboring king was getting his army ready to attack his kingdom. Now the king was vexed as how to counter the attack successfully. As he was strolling his garden in deep concentration, he found Dilip watering the plants in the garden. He than remembered his previous council and called him out and confided his problem to Dilip and asked him`Tell me if you were the king what you would do?

Dilip answered after some contemplation `my lord in the range of hills separating the two kingdoms there is only one opening. We can position one of our battalion in the entrance. The enemy is sure to pounce on them first and attack them. They should concede easy defeat to the enemy. Now the enemy will assume it is easy to enter the kingdom and get victory. As they will enter our army should be positioned in the hills above ready to attack the entering soldiers. The enemy will prove than an easy target and can be touted with out much fight.

The king again was astonished and liked the strategy given by Dilip. He followed the plan and was able to soon defeat the enemies with out much loss from his side and the war ended easily. The king indeed was pleased by the events.

A couple of months passed. A new problem cropped up in the country. A big giant had come to occupy the forest in his country. He had taken to attack the passers by and kill them. He further claimed he is most powerful even the king is no match to him. Now the whole country was in unease. They could not cross the forest and move freely. Also the giant questioned the very supremacy of the king.

The king approached again Dilip with the problem as now he started depending on his council for every problem he was confronted with.

Dilip told him the ways to tackle the problem. Accordingly the king went alone in the jungles and met the giant face to face.

Seeing him coming unarmed like that, the giant got surprised asked `Who are you?’

`I am the king of the country. Who else but the king will have the courage to come unarmed like this.’

The giant believed him and asked `what you want?’

First I have come to fix a contract with you. As the ordinary citizens are put to great fear by your attacks in the forest, I thought I would send you every day two criminals whom you can kill and use for your meal. It should not matter to you if they are criminals or ordinary citizens. This way our people can move freely.

The giant was pleased by this trade, however he told,
` that is all right, I will consider that. What is the second matter you came to speak with me?

You have been proclaiming to one and all `you are mightier than me. Well it is not enough you state your supremacy. You have to prove it also.’

The giant now got curious and asked `What you expect me to do to prove my might?’

`There is a lake near by. Some bandits have buried a chest full of jewelry they had robbed from the palace. In spite of many attempts of my soldiers they have not been able to retrieve it. I will accept your supremacy if you dive down and get that chest from the lake’.

The giant was immediately provoked. He told this is not a difficult task to me. I will now only get the chest from under the lake bed. From than on you must be my slave and I will become the king of the country.’

So telling, the giant dived deep in to the lake near by. However the mud inside the lake was very slushy and sticky and the giant was caught in the mud and could not climb back. He slowly got drawn by the mud and finally sunk in to the lake and died.

Thus the king could get rid of the dangerous giant easily by tricking him. The king was again highly pleased by the turn of events.

Some more time passed. The king was confronted by yet another problem. He turned to Dilip with the problem

`I have just now received the report of corruption of some high officials in the government. What should I do in this juncture’ asked the king.

` I am only a mere servant in your palace. What I know of the ways to tackle these problems. Please excuse me sir’ and he then got along with his work.

The king looked grave. He looked at Dilip intend on his work of tending the vegetable garden of the palace.

`You have disobeyed me by not offering the right advice. I have planned to send you to the castle Panchamahal. It is in the midst of wilderness were the wild races who have been creating havoc are residing. I send the officers who have to be punished to the castle. I order you to go their take your charges. ‘ said the king sternly.

Dilip bowed before the king and accepted the orders.

Vetal finished the story. He paused for a while. Than addressed the king vikramditya, ` O! Virtuous king, stickler of discipline, I am aware you have an insight in to the human conduct, now you tell me your judgment as to the behavior of the king and his servant Dilip.

Why did the king choose to punish his sincere servant though many times he had given the right council beyond his call of duty? Was he whimsical?

Also tell me why Dilip acted in such strange way and refused to come forth with a solution to a problem even though he could have helped with his intelligence like other times?

If you choose to keep mum despite knowledge of the answers, suffice it is for me to warn you, your head would roll off your neck.

The king Vikram was his usual forthright self, he told

` The king far from being whimsical was very wise. He understood Dilips behavior and appreciated his earlier work. He wanted to reward him properly at the same time did not want the people to point out he had done any favoritism. As whatever transactions happened was between the king and the servant and others may not understand his action. Hence he send him to a far off country as an officer in charge and also to a place having problems to solve, as he knew the competency of Dilip.

Dilip did not give an answer to the king’s query for the last question as he realised the king was now becoming dependent on him for solving all the problems. This way he will loose the ability to think independently and besides it wont be honorable to know the king is depending on a mere servant to solve the States problems. Hence Dilip as intelligent he was, was also wise and refused to answer the king at the last instant.

No sooner the king vikram spoke the right words the Vetal repeated his vanishing trick and flew away to his abode in the ancient banyan along with the corpse.

THE QUEEN’S CONDUCT

THE QUEEN’S CONDUCT

If beauty is a gift from God,
So is the age.
But both at logger heads
Makes the bearer at loss.
So are the ways of life,
One bright and another dark.

Ooooo---- whistled the wind, the tress danced hither and thither and made wild patterns in the shadows made in the pale moonlight. Eyes of the wild cats shone like torches from between the foliage. Roars and grunts of wild animals filled the air like a wild music. Even the bravest of brave would fear to tread through the thick forest in such a night. But king Vikramaditya knew no fear. Intend on his purpose he walked erect with his sword in hand and approached the ancient tree to take hold of the corpse as instructed by his ascetic guru.

No sooner had he taken the corpse on his shoulder and advanced few steps, the vetal - vampire who possessed the corpse became alive and said `O! Righteous king, I know not why you repeatedly undertake this perilous task. Is it for you or for a friend who is dear to you? Here hear, I will tell you the story where at times respecting the wishes of a friend one may change one’s own opinion.’
The story will relieve you of the tedious journey ahead.

In the banks of Godavari was the kingdom Chandan puri. The king sanjiv ruled the kingdom with fair means. His dear wife and queen of the kingdom was Damayanthi. Enchantingly beautiful she looked like an apostle right from the heaven. Her firm ivory skin, chistled features and a form worthy of Goddesses kept everybody mesmerized. The king was completely enamored by her beauty and rose to fulfill every wish of the pretty lady.

Two fine craftsmen were appointed to aid the queen in her sringar. One a fine weaver who made beautiful brocades and silks embroidered delicately and interwoven with gold, silver and pearls. Another a goldsmith who made exquisite finely designed jewellery the like of which nobody could replicate. Both the craftsman used to prepare choice items for the queen’s birthday, their year round toil, and presented it to the queen. The king pleased with their workmanship presented them handsome gifts on such occasions. The queen paraded them on her birthday while the whole gentry of the country assembled to wish the queen and also to have a look at the fine workman ship. Years rolled by and this routine continued.

Now the king had a very close childhood friend named Dhanush kodi. When ever the king had an important work or major decision to be made the king always confided to his friend and spoke to him in detail about his thinking. His friend Danush Kodi was a man of few words. He always heard the king attentively with a wise expression but rarely commented back. But the king continued to confide in his friend.

One day the chief minister of the king asked `Sir, I am curious to know, kindly excuse my impudence in asking you, I find you always confide in your friend your problems but rarely I found your friend discuss with you.’

The king replied`Dhanush kodi is my childhood friend, he understands me well. The expressions in his face are enough for they convey to me what he thinks about the issue. Our understanding of each other is very perfect. He is a man of few words but if only he finds anything wrong in me he will surely speak out.’

Meanwhile the tradition of presenting the queen with the finely crafted silk and jewelry continued. That year as usual both the craftsmen brought their items and presented to the queen. However the queen was not satisfied with them and rejected it. The king asked them to make things afresh. The weaver and the goldsmith went back put all their skills and made new items and again presented to the queen. This time too the queen showed her dissatisfaction and sends them back. The craftsmen were at their titers end. They pooled in once again all their talent and made more precious items and presented to the queen. Third time too they failed to bring any pleasure in he. She rejected them telling they are not all that good.

The king pondered over this, he felt the craftsmen have become old and they’re loosing their workmanship and skill. He decided to retire them paying them off handsomely and employ young fresh men for the job.

The king summoned the artisans and told `I had been so far happy with your service. But I find now your work does not measure up to the standards. Hence I would like you both to retire with the gifts I am here offering you. Hearing that both artisans kept quiet and hung their head in shame.

Danush kodi who was passing that way over heard the king’s verdict. He intervened and told the king ` Majesty what you tell about the age is true. But it is not the fault of the artisans. Their skill has not lessened. Hence you can’t blame them or punish them for no fault of theirs. You think calmly and you will understand the situation.’

The king as he respected his friend’s word halted his orders to sack the craftsmen, though he did not fathom the format of his friends’ words.
He went to the queen’s chamber and repeated to her the words of his friend. The queen heard them out calmly. She stood rooted in contemplation for some time. Suddenly her eyes brimmed with tears, she told `My lord, I have erred in my judgment. You please call the artisans back. I would like to accept all the things they had made which previously I had rejected. I also want them to be properly honored.

The king carried out the orders of his wife .He called the craftsmen back to the court and honored them.

The Vetal finished the story as such and addressed the King vikramaditya, O! Wise king, blessed with knowledge wisdom and nobility, you are sure to understand the words of the kings friend Danush kodi which the king could not fathom. Tell me what did his friend mean when he told age sure is the factor but still you cant blame the artisans. And what the queen understood that she shed copious tears and accepted the rejected items.

Knowingly if you keep quiet or err in your judgment you as I warn you will embrace a cruel fate and your head will roll of off from our torso. Hence come forth and answer me spelling the cause of their actions.

Vikramaditya was as usual having his wits in alertness, he told ` The king Sanjiv commented it was advancing age which made the craftsmen loose their skills and were not able to satisfy the queen.

But his friend when he heard it, agreed to the age factor.

What he could see was the queen was advancing in years. Hence what suited her before was not giving the same effect. It was wrong to hold the craftsmen responsible. Since there skill had not diminished. With constant application and practice it could have only improved.

When the king repeated this to the queen, she immediately understood the import of those words. She realised painfully it was her age that was the cause of dissatisfaction in the work and the work cannot be held resposible. The reminder of her advancing age made her cry thinking about the impermanence of beauty.

As soon as the Vetal heard the king speak the correct words, he flew out of his hand and once again giving him a slip.

A king’s whim

A king’s whim

The king had his whim
So thought the courtesies.
The wise knew, not the whim
but wisdom which made
The king changes his stand.


The night was still young. The blanket of darkness had not lifted. The hiss of the cobra and the chattering of the monkeys, the heckles of the wired spirits were the only sounds heard in the dark night. King Vikramaditya knew no fear. With his sword held high he moved steadily cutting through the thick forest and moved towards the ancient tree that housed the corpse.

Reaching the tree he lifted the corpse and hung it on his shoulders, just than the Vetal inside the corpse laughed derisively.

O! Righteous king as steady and focused as you are there
are also kings who have ruled here as per their whim and not by the rule of the book.

Let me recount the story of such a king. Listen carefully and give your right judgment for the actions of the king, which did look whimsical.

In the foothills of Girnar was this beautiful kingdom Bhimapur. King Bhimsingh ruled it. The king had framed well-knit rules to administer the kingdom. In every village a chieftain was appointed. It was the job of the Chieftain to look after the welfare of the village and report the activities and problems if any to the king at the end of the year. The grants for the activities were issued every year after examining the report.
Now there were two flourishing villages at the frontier part of the country. They were Ganga nagar and Jaunpur. Ganga nagar was ruled by chieftain Kamal das and Jaunpur was ruled by Rajat singh.

Ganga nagar was a low-lying area. Every year floodwaters ravaged the land and took away the good soil and causing damage to cattle and crops. The chieftain Kamal das was always trying to find ways and means to alleviate his people’s sufferings.

One day a sage came to the village. He heard the problems of the chieftain. He told let me inspect the land. After detailed inspection he suggested a viable solution. He told `Kamal das you can save your people of the hardship if only you will follow this plan. You can cut canals along this route and direct the floodwaters along the canal. At some places the canal can be made wide like a lake. This arrangement will also help to keep your village cool in summer and help to solve any water crisis. Further you can use the mud so removed to raise the land of the low-lying area so that there is no stagnation. Kamal das was highly pleased with this scheme. He sat with the sage to make an estimate for the execution of the scheme. The sage calculating carefully told him `such a scheme will cost you two lakh rupees. However I hear the king is having a tight treasury position and this may be the last year he will be giving money as grant from next year onwards he may be only giving as loan to be repaid.’

`Thanks for giving me this suggestion. I will put forward this proposal at the earliest to the king’ told Kamal das.

The News soon reached Rajat singh the Chieftain of the next village about the sage’s advice. He soon invited the sage to his village and told `Sir, learned one, though our village does not have any lasting problems still I would like you to inspect our village and suggest any ideas for general improvement of the economy. The sage relented. He went around the village lands and thorough examination told the chieftain `Rajat singh, the soil around your village is most suited for coconut plantations. By growing coconut trees you can help the farmers to earn good money and also for the landless you can start a coir workshop where different products can be made from the coir like ropes, gunny bags, mats, carpets etc and the poor people can make a decent living.

Rajat sing too was highly pleased with the sound idea of the sage and requested the sage to give an estimate of the expenses.

Again the sage put his mind calculated the expenditure and told `It will cost you one lakh rupees to carry out this scheme.

However the sage warned him too `I hear the king will be giving grants only this year, from next year the money will be given only as loans due to tight fiscal position in the treasury.

`I am indebted to you for this suggestion and the information sir, I will try to put it across to the king at the earliest opportunity ‘said the chieftain

A month later all the chieftains were called from the kings palace for annual assessment. Both Kamal das and Ranjit Singh were just waiting for that. With great hopes they went to the capital taking their newfound requirements with the sage’s suggestion well tucked in their bags.
The initial meeting was with the finance minister. He was given the charge to review their demands before putting it in front of the king.

First Kamal das was called. He heard the canal plans of the chieftain to save the village from the annual floods. Kamal das further told him `Sir, the funds for this project will be to the tune of two lakh rupees.

Hearing that the minister came close to Kamal das and taking a confidential hushed tone and told `Kamal das what I have come to know is, this time the king is going to grant only half the amount of the funds demanded due to tight position of his treasury. Hence you take my advice and ask him double the amount required.’

Kamal das an honest person was taken aback by this advice, `do you mean I ask him four lakhs instead of two.’

The minister smiled slyly `Yes, four lakh is the double of two lakh. You will be benefited by asking five lakhs from the king.’

`What five lakh? when the king is finding it hard pressed to give even the legitimate amounts. Than what we will do with the extra money? ‘enquired Kamal das.

The minister laughed `don’t worry about the extra money. My daughter’s marriage is scheduled in a short time. The money will come use to me and I am sure you must be having some need of the extra money’ winked the minister.
`Do meet me after getting your grants sectioned’ the minister called out to the perplexed Kamal das as he was departing with a confused countenance.

Next it was Kamal singh turn to meet the minister.
Similar transactions ensued with him too and he was asked to demand three lakh in place of one lakh required by him.

Soon the day arrived when the chieftans were called in the `durbar’ to present their requirements.

The durbar opened to its full strength. All the ministers, sevaks and the respective chieftans were seated in their appointed places. The king was in the throne. Each chieftain was called out separately and their cases was asked to be presented.
Chieftains were presenting their cases. The king was hearing and the cases were being noted down. When it was Ranjit singh turn, he presented his case and told `Majesty I will be requiring a sum of three lakhs to carry this scheme’.

Hearing that Kamal das was surprised as he well knew Ranjit singh required only a lakh of rupees to execute his plan.

Than came Kamal das turn. He explained the problems faced by his village due to regular floods and told about the canal-digging scheme.

When he was asked `How much funds you will require for this scheme? He replied, `Majesty if you grant a sum seventy thousand rupees I should be able to carry it out.’
He looked intently at Kamal das, `Are you sure this amount will suffice for you to carry out this much amount of work.’

`Sir, this might cost me about two lakh rupees. But my villagers who will help to make the canal will be ready to work free of cost. Than the rich villagers will contribute money to help this. That way I can bring down the cost and hope to complete it with the amount now I have asked for.’
There was silence in the durbar hearing Kamal das. The king kept quiet for a while.
Than he turned to the minister and ordered `Take back the amount from the chieftains for whom already the funds have been granted. Henceforth they are removed from their chieftain’s post. We will select new chieftains for their villages.’
Than he turned to Kamal das and told `I am granting you a sum of two lakh fifty thousand rupees. You can use the funds for the village as you deem fit and need not give any accounts.’
The people in the assembly were surprised by this whimsical command of the king but they had to comply with his order.

Thus Vetal finished the story and addressed the king who was listening carefully and walking along.
`O! King, known for your fair judgment Tell me why the king acted in this whimsical manner? Why did he grant Kamal das with a huge amount though he had asked for a much lower amount and why did he ask the other chieftains to return the purse?

Think carefully and answer. If you keep mum or give a wrong answer your head will be severed and roll off. Hence tell me the reply, which is fair and correct.

King Vikramaditya replied in a tone with no fear or rancor. `The king was not whimsical. On hearing Kamal das sincere and clean analysis of the scheme, management ideas and sum specified for carrying out the work, the king realised in a flash the demands of other chieftans were highly escalated and they were not honest. Hence he ordered them to return the purse and also stripped them of their post.

While in Kamal das he found an honest person whose heart is in the real welfare of his people. Hence he knew the money would be properly utilized. So he granted him a larger purse than what he asked for and also relieved of the duties of presenting the account.’
Hearing the correct answer, the Vetal with the corpse flew out of Vikramadityas hands and went and once again settled in the ancient banyan tree

THE BELIEVER AND THE NON BELIEVER

THE BELIEVER AND THE NON BELIEVER

Faith can move a mountain,
Prayer can do wonders.
A believer becomes a non believer
A non believer becomes a believer,
All in the hands of the faith.

It was a moonless night -`amavasya’. The night was covered by thick black sheet of darkness. It was difficult to fathom what lies ahead. Then there were eerie sounds filling the air. A dense forest alive at night with continues humming of crickets, a screeching owl, weird laughter of spirits, swish of the truant and playful winds cris crossing the tall trees around.

However king Vikramaditya was walking ahead with determined steps. He sweared not from his purpose. Rustling the dry leaves below with his steady steps, with a heart, which knew no fear the king moved in the dense desolate forest towards the ancient tree. The corpse, which he had come in search for, lay there upside down. He climbed on the tree brought the corpse down, put him on his shoulders and moved towards the city.
A vampire spirit the Vetal possessed the corpse. As soon as the king would have moved few steps and reached the cremation ground near by, the vampire inside the corpse gave a throaty laughter.

`O, King! The righteous one why are you toiling so hard. You are working under the instructions of an ascetic but you know not what’s in store for you. Here the way is long and treacherous. I will lighten you by telling a story which happened long before. Listen carefully and give your fair judgment for the problems faced by the `nayaka’ of this story. As a righteous king it is your forte to apply you mind and bring fair solution for the human tangles.

If you will tell the correct answer I will relieve you or you have to face a cruel death with your head shattered to thousand pieces if you err in your judgement.

The village Harshpur in the banks of Yamuna was a prosperous village. People there were hard working and sincere. They tilled the land and by the sweat of their brow earned their living and led a good life. Vinayaka a young man belonged to that village. Sincere, hard working, good at heart, he had all the qualities, which endeared him to his folks. However his father was vexed with one thing about him. He was a strong atheist (non believer of God). He did not believe in something that he could not see. All words of wisdom fell deaf in his ears.

One of those days a yogi came visiting their village. Vinayak fathers hope rose seeing the yogi. He felt perhaps the man of God could bring a change of heart in his sons mind. He invited him home and showered respect on him. The yogi soon came to know Vinayaks mind.
`Child, here take this prasad’ told the yogi.
`Sir when I don’t believe in God, what use is this prasad for me which is supposed to be the gift from God. What is the proof sir of the presence of God’.

The yogi smiled calmly `My child the entire world is but the manifestation of God. Everything you see around you the Sun, moon, stars, planets, rivers, men, women all proclaim the presence of God.’ However such a reply did not satisfy Vinayaka. `Whether I believe in God or not all things around me still will be there as it is. These are not proof enough for me to believe in the presence of God’ retorted Vinayak.

`Don’t bother son. If you now don’t believe in Him. It is all right. However if ever you feel the curiosity to know Him, you go to the nearest temple and if you pray to Him for something ardently with no selfish motive it will be done. That will open your heart to Gods presence. Vinayak heard it out quietly but once the yogi went in a short time he forgot yogis words.

Time passed. It was few months past Yogis visit. Suddenly the whole village was upset as the prominent and landlord of the village Kasiyappa took ill. Nobody could detect his illness nor could cure it. Day by day his frame was getting shrunk. He was loved and revered by the people of the village. They collectd in groups and talked anxiously about his illness. Astrologers were consulted. After pondering over his horoscope and birth position the astrologer opined Kasiyappa can be redeemed if only a `nastik’ (non believer) went to the temple and prayed earnestly to the God to make him alright.’

In the small village Harshpur everybody knew everybody else. They knew Vinayak was the one who was the non-believer. Immediately the News reached Vinayak. Vinayak was truly concerned with the health of the landlord whom he respected. The words of the Yogi suddenly echoed in his ears. He thought there should be nothing wrong in going and trying. He went to the temple looked up at the deity and in full concentration called out, oh! Goddess if you have ears to ear and you as people say is present everywhere hear my prayer and cure Kasiyappa from his critical illness. He came back home after the prayer and lo! Like a miracle the next day Kasiyappa sat on his cot, asked for food and in few more days recovered fully.

The News of his recovery spread in the village and the neighboring village. People started looking upon Vinayak with new hope.

After some time it so happened an old teacher of Vinayak, who was sick with disabilating illness for long time came to Vinayak and told `My child, I came to know about the extra ordinary boon you possess. You are able to relate to the goddess and with her help cure people. You please ask her to help me get some solace from my illness. My sufferings are becoming unbearable.

Vinayak could not deny his old teacher. He went to the temple again and prayed to the deity `Goddess please relieve the old teacher from his long suffering. Bring him to the path of recovery. This time too without much loss of time the old teacher recovered and Vinayaks fame spread steadily.

Now many people from far and wide started arriving to Vinayak with their tales of sickness. Every time people went back relieved after Vinayak kept the requisition in front of the Goddess and prayed.

Vinayaks pretty wife Sudha was a witness to the entire going on. She was finding hard to believe the benevolence Goddess was showering on Vinayak acceding to every prayer of his.

She approached Vinayak one day coyly and told `my `patidev’, your every request is being acceded by the Goddess. Why don’t you ask her to make you the king of this country.

Hearing her request Vinayak a simple man with few desires was a bit taken aback.

However he thought what’s wrong in asking the Goddess, as my dear wife desires. Further perhaps I will be a good king than the present one.

So thinking he laid this request in front of Goddess and prayed. A week passed, one more week but nothing happened.

Sudha thought perhaps this request was too much hence after a while she goaded her husband `My dear you pray to become a minister. Perhaps Goddess can make it happen without any difficulty.
Listening to his wife’s words Vinayak went to the Goddess and placed this request too. Again nothing happened in spite of sufficient time had lapsed.

However Sudha was not the one to accept defeat so early. She once again goaded Vinayak, dear this time you ask for thousand gold coins. Till now we were asking for positions that involves many people. But giving us plenty of wealth will be for the all powerful Goddess just a play.’
Vinayak once again went to Goddess and prayed for thousand gold coins. But alas no indication of any gold coins not even a single one.

As time passed and none of their wishes were getting fulfilled Sudha commented, `I suppose all the people who were getting cured had become better in the natural process. It may not be anything to do with your prayer and Goddess intervention.

Vinayak kept quiet and kept his council. In due course Vinayak got a good offer for job in the near by town. He and his wife Sudha were getting ready to depart from the village. At that time the yogi came back to the village.

He met Vinayak and his wife and enquired `Young man how is your faith in God now? Before he could reply Sudha said `Faith in God? Experience in these months has taught us a good lesson. I who had faith in God have lost faith by now; can my husband who was a non-believer could have gained faith?

The yogi kept quiet and looked enquiringly at Vinayak.
`Vinayak who was quiet till now bend down and touched the yogis feet and told,
`enlightened soul, you have opened my eyes. Your guidance has helped me change my attitude and philosophy of life.

The yogi smiled and blessed Vinayak.

Thus the Vetal finished the story. Then it addressed the king Vikramaditya `O! Righteous king. Tell me here was Vinayak and his wife both went through the same experience. Were as Vinayak felt grateful to the Yogi and changed his philosophy of life but his wife Sudha commented she has lost faith in God. What made them come with two different views with the same experience? Give me the correct judgment of their mental state and perception.

If you give wrong answer or keep mum your head will be sweared from your body. Hence come forth and give your verdict.

King Vikramaditya answered calmly in his usual measured tones.
`In this story Vinayak was a sincere young man who was a seeker of truth. He did not subscribe to God because he did not have any direct experience of God and he did not want blindly to believe anything told to him by his kinsmen.
When he got in to touch with Goddess through prayer he experienced God’s presence and became a believer.
He being a man of gravity remembered the yogis’ words `the prayers will be answered only for non-selfish motive.’ Hence he understood why the prayer seeking personal desires were not answered.

However Sudha’s faith was superficial. She had accepted the presence of God as her kin’s folk had told her and had never much pondered over it. When she found her personal wishes were not granted she promptly lost faith in God and felt even people who got cured did so by natural process.

On hearing the correct answer from king Vikramaditya the Vetal vanished along with the corpse climbed the old tree again and settled in that.

Thus the king Vikram was put to a predicament as either way you loose. A wrong answer would have found him dead and right answer though saved his life lost the corpse out of his hand. But king Vikrmaditya was determined. Once again he started moving towards the tree to fetch the corpse back.




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