As King Vikramaditya carried the corpse on his shoulders, Betaal began narrating another
story.
In a distant kingdom ruled by King Aschar, a poor old man approached the court one day and
said, “Maharaj, I have su ered a great loss in my business. If you lend me a thousand gold
coins, I will repay you by doing your bidding. I am leaving my two sons with you as collateral.
Though they are blind, they are exceptionally talented. My elder son is an expert in
identifying gems, and my younger son is skilled in appraising anything of value.”
The king, intrigued by the old man’s words, agreed. He lent him a thousand gold coins and
allowed him to leave, keeping the two blind boys in his court.
The Talent of the Blind Boys
Days passed, and one day a goat trader came to the court to sell an Arbi goat. The trader
claimed it was a unique and powerful goat. The king decided to test the goat and called the
elder blind boy to inspect it.
The blind boy began touching the goat, moving his hands carefully over its body. Then, to
everyone’s surprise, he started licking the goat. The goat trader was furious and said,
“Maharaj, how can a blind boy appreciate the value of this goat by licking it?”
The blind boy calmly replied, “Maharaj, do not buy this goat. It will harm anyone who tries to
ride it.”
The king decided to test the boy’s claim. He called a cowherd to ride the goat. As soon as the
cowherd mounted it, the goat threw him o violently.
The king then turned to the goat trader and asked, “Why does the goat behave this way?
The blind boy interjected, “This goat only harms certain people. Were you a cowherd in the
past?” The goat trader turned pale and admitted that he had been a cowherd before
becoming a trader. The king was impressed by the boy’s ability to deduce this.
The Test of the Gem
A few days later, a jeweler came to the court with a priceless gem. The king called the
younger blind boy to inspect it. The boy held the gem in his palms, rubbed it gently, and then
said, “Maharaj, this gem is indeed priceless, but it brings misfortune. It has already caused
the deaths of two people in the jeweler’s family.”
The jeweler’s face fell, and he confessed, “This is true, Maharaj. My brother and nephew
both died mysteriously after owning this gem.” The king forgave the jeweler and ordered
him to take the gem back and destroy it.
The Return of the Old Man
The king was amazed by the talent of the blind boys. He decided to keep them in his court as
ministers. A few days later, the old man returned, and the king asked him, “I have seen the
incredible talent of your sons. Now tell me, what special skill do you possess?”
The old man replied condently, “Maharaj, I can discern the truth about any person.”
The king, intrigued, said, “Then tell me, who am I?”
The old man boldly answered, “You are the son of a thief.
Hearing this, the king was furious. He felt insulted and humiliated in front of his court.
Enraged, he ordered the execution of the old man and his two sons. Their heads were to be
separated from their bodies.
Betal’s Question
After nishing the story, Betaal asked King Vikramaditya, “Tell me, Vikram, was the king’s
judgment fair? Answer quickly, or your head will be shattered into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya pondered for a moment and then replied, “No, the king’s justice was not
fair. However, the old man was also at fault. He should have been more cautious and
thoughtful before making such a bold statement about the king. While the king overreacted,
the old man provoked the situation unnecessarily.”
Betaal said, “Your answer is insightful, King Vikramaditya, but since you spoke, I am returning
to the Peepal tree.” Saying this, Betaal ew away, and the king chased after him once again.
King Vikramaditya reached the Peepal tree cautiously, retrieved the corpse, and resumed
his journey, determined to ful ll his promise to the Sadhu