As King Vikramaditya carried Betal on his shoulders, the ghost began narrating another story
to pass the time. This tale took place in the kingdom of Kusanvati, where a beautiful princess
named Prabhavati lived. Her father, King Sadchar, was deeply protective of her. One day,
while wandering in the palace gardens, a young man named Bhairo saw Prabhavati and
instantly fell in love with her.
The Magic Pill
Bhairo conded in his friend, Shanti Dev, about his feelings for the princess. Shanti Dev,
always ready to help, revealed that he possessed a magic pill. “When you keep this pill in
your mouth, you will transform into a girl. When you remove it, you’ll become a boy again,”
Shanti Dev explained.
Bhairo was thrilled with this revelation and devised a plan. He told Shanti Dev, “We will both
go to the palace in disguise. I will become a young woman, and you will pose as my father-in
law. Tell the king that you are going on a pilgrimage and request that your ‘daughter-in-law’
stays with the princess for a while.”
Shanti Dev agreed, and using the magic pill, Bhairo transformed into a young woman while
Shanti Dev took on the appearance of an old man. They approached King Sadchar, who
agreed to let the disguised Bhairo live with Prabhavati
A Secret Marriage
Living with Princess Prabhavati, Bhairo revealed his true identity to her and confessed his
love. The princess, equally smitten, agreed to a secret Gandharva marriage. Bhairo,
switching between his male and female forms, secretly spent time with Prabhavati, and their
bond deepened.
The Minister’s Son
One day, the minister’s son saw the disguised Bhairo and became infatuated with her
beauty. He expressed his desire to marry her to his father, who approached King Sadchar
with a proposal. The minister argued, “Maharaj, the old man who left his daughter-in-law
here has not returned. Let my son marry her. This will ful ll your responsibility and make
my son happy.”
The king, hesitant to act hastily, decided to wait for the return of the old man. However,
when the old man (Shanti Dev in disguise) did not return, the king summoned Bhairo and
declared, “Your father-in-law has not returned, and I consider you my responsibility. You
should marry the minister’s son.”
Fearing exposure, Bhairo ed the palace in his female form.
Shanti Dev’s Return
Meanwhile, Shanti Dev realized that Bhairo had been gone for too long. He shared his
concerns with his father, Kranti Dev, who rebuked him for giving Bhairo the magic pill.
Together, they decided to investigate. Shanti Dev, disguised as the old man again, visited the
palace. The king informed him that the “young woman” had disappeared.
Feeling embarrassed, the king o ered to marry Princess Prabhavati to Shanti Dev as
compensation for the loss of his “daughter-in-law.” Shanti Dev accepted, and the two were
married in a grand ceremony.
Bhairo’s Claim
When Bhairo learned of the marriage, he rushed to the palace and declared, “Prabhavati is
my wife. We performed a Gandharva marriage, and she belongs to me. Shanti Dev must
return my wife!”
This dispute created a dilemma. Both Shanti Dev and Bhairo claimed to be the rightful
husband of Princess Prabhavati.
Betal’s Question
After narrating the story, Betal turned to King Vikramaditya and asked, “Tell me, O wise king,
who is the true husband of Princess Prabhavati? Is it Bhairo, who married her in secret, or
Shanti Dev, who married her publicly in a ceremony with re as a witness? If you fail to
answer, I will break your head into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya’s Answer
King Vikramaditya thought for a moment and replied, “While Bhairo did marry Prabhavati
rst, their Gandharva marriage was secret and lacked public recognition. In contrast, Shanti
Dev married Prabhavati in a formal ceremony with re as a witness, making it a lawful and
socially accepted union. Therefore, Shanti Dev is the true husband of Princess Prabhavati.”
Betal’s Response
Betal was satis ed with the king’s response. “You have judged wisely, as always. Truly, you
are a just and intelligent ruler. However, because you spoke, I must return to the Peepal
tree.”
With that, Betal ew back to the tree. King Vikramaditya, determined to keep his promise to
the sage, chased after Betal once more, ready to retrieve the corpse and continue his
journey