As King Vikramaditya carried the corpse on his shoulders, Betaal began narrating another
story.
In the kingdom of Vardhman, there was a noble king named Rupsen. He ruled with wisdom
and compassion, and his most trusted general was Rajeshwar, a brave and loyal warrior.
Rajeshwar’s advice guided the king in many decisions, and his unwavering commitment
ensured the kingdom thrived. The people were happy, prosperous, and respected the just
rule of their king.
One day, a man named Birval approached Rajeshwar, seeking employment. Birval claimed
he was highly skilled in weaponry and demonstrated his prowess to Rajeshwar, who was
thoroughly impressed. Rajeshwar introduced Birval to King Rupsen and recommended him
for a position.
The king asked Birval, “How much do you expect as wages?”
Birval condently replied, “I require 100 gold coins daily.
King Rupsen was surprised but trusted Rajeshwar’s judgment and agreed. Birval began his
duties the next day, diligently guarding the king at all times—while he ate, slept, or attended
to state matters. After completing his duties each day, Birval would collect his 100 coins and
leave.
Curious about Birval’s steep demand, King Rupsen instructed his spy to follow Birval and
discover how he spent his earnings. After a week, the spy returned with his ndings.
The spy reported, “Maharaj, Birval distributes 25 coins among the needy, donates another
25 to the temple, gives 25 coins to learned scholars, and allocates 10 coins each to beggars
and orphans. He keeps only 5 coins for his own family.”
The king was deeply moved by Birval’s generosity. He thought, “What an extraordinary man!
While others might hoard such wealth, Birval dedicates his earnings to the welfare of
others.”
The Cry from the Cremation Ground
One night, King Rupsen heard wailing from the nearby cremation ground. Concerned, he
asked Birval to investigate the source of the cries. Birval obeyed and headed toward the
cremation ground, unaware that the king secretly followed him.
At the cremation ground, Birval found a woman crying. He approached her and asked, “Who
are you, and why are you crying?”
The woman replied, “I am Bhagalakshmi, the goddess of prosperity for this kingdom. Shani
(Saturn) is forcing me to leave, and this will bring destruction to the king and his kingdom.”
Birval was alarmed and asked, “Is there no way to prevent this calamity?”
Bhagalakshmi responded, “If someone sacri ces their beloved child at Mahakali’s temple,
the kingdom can be saved.” With these words, she vanished.
Birval’s Sacri ce
Birval, being a devoted and sel ess servant, decided to sacri ce his son to save the king and
the kingdom. Determined, he returned home and explained the situation to his wife and
children. His son, understanding the gravity of the situation, volunteered for the sacri ce.
The family supported each other in their shared resolve.
Unknown to Birval, King Rupsen had overheard everything and continued to follow him. The
family reached Mahakali’s temple, where Birval prayed for the safety of the kingdom and
the king. With a heavy heart, he prepared to sacri ce his son.
As the son was sacri ced, his sister, overcome with grief, took her own life. Their mother
fainted and died from the shock. Left alone and devastated, Birval prayed to the goddess for
strength and the safety of the kingdom.
Mahakali, moved by Birval’s devotion and sacri ce, appeared before him and o ered a boon.
Birval asked for his family to be restored. The goddess sprinkled holy water over the bodies,
and his son, daughter, and wife were brought back to life
As the family marveled at the miracle, King Rupsen revealed himself. He embraced Birval
and said, “Your loyalty and sacri ce are beyond compare. I witnessed everything, and I am
deeply grateful.”
The king honored Birval by gifting him half of the kingdom, recognizing his unparalleled
devotion and bravery.
Betal’s Question
After nishing the tale, Betaal asked King Vikramaditya, “Whose sacri ce was the greatest in
this story? Was it Birval’s family or the king himself?”
The king pondered for a moment and then replied, “While Birval’s family’s sacri ce was born
out of duty and love, King Rupsen’s sacri ce was greater. The king did not need to risk
himself for his servant or his family. His sel essness, shown in rewarding Birval and sharing
his kingdom, re ects a truly noble and self-sacri cial spirit.”
Betaal, impressed with the answer, said, “You are truly wise, King Vikram, but since you
spoke, I must return to the Peepal tree.” With that, Betaal ew away, and the king once again
began his pursuit