As King Vikramaditya carried the corpse of Betal on his shoulders, Betal began narrating
another story to pass the time.
The Two Brahmin Brothers
Long ago, in the kingdom of Magadh, there lived two Brahmin brothers known for their
extraordinary intelligence and skill. They served in the court of King Suri Narayan, a just and
famous ruler. The brothers were known to be sharp-witted, observant, and ercely loyal to
the king.
One day, a dispute arose in the kingdom. Two men came to the court claiming ownership of
a valuable necklace. Each argued vehemently that the necklace was his. Unable to resolve
the matter, King Suri Narayan turned to the two Brahmin brothers for their wisdom.
The younger brother examined the necklace closely. He then smelled the hands of both
men before declaring, “Maharaj, this necklace belongs to this brave man.” The man was
delighted and praised the brothers for their keen judgment. King Suri Narayan rewarded
both the brothers generously, impressed by their ability to discern the truth.
The Neighboring Kingdom’s Proposal
Over time, King Suri Narayan became increasingly reliant on the two brothers. Their advice
guided many of his decisions, and he trusted them implicitly. One day, he received an
unexpected message from a neighboring kingdom. The neighboring king, with whom
relations had been strained, proposed a treaty of friendship.
Uncertain about the sincerity of the proposal, King Suri Narayan asked the brothers to
investigate. They traveled to the neighboring kingdom, spent time with the king, and
carefully observed his behavior. Upon returning, they advised, “Maharaj, you may accept the
proposal, but exercise caution. This may be a ruse.
The Poisoned Throne
A few days later, the neighboring king sent a gift to King Suri Narayan—a magni cent throne
adorned with sparkling gemstones. The king was captivated by its beauty and was about to
sit on it when the elder Brahmin brother intervened. “Maharaj, wait! You must not sit on this
throne. I sense something unusual about it.”
The courtiers laughed, dismissing his concern as overly cautious. One minister mocked,
“Maharaj is a fearless warrior, not a delicate ower! How can a throne pose any danger to
him?”
The elder brother stood rm. “Before mocking me, consider the possibility that this throne
could be a threat. My duty is to protect the king at all costs.”
Intrigued, the king ordered the throne to be examined thoroughly. To everyone’s shock, a
single strand of hair was found on the throne. Upon further investigation, it was discovered
that the hair had been dipped in a potent poison. If the king had sat on the throne, the
poison would have entered his body through contact, leading to his death.
Betal’s Question
After narrating the story, Betal posed a question to King Vikramaditya: “Both the brothers
showed remarkable intelligence, but whose contribution was greater? If you do not answer,
your head will shatter into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya’s Answer
King Vikramaditya pondered for a moment before replying, “Both brothers displayed
exceptional intelligence, but the elder brother’s contribution was greater. His vigilance and
quick thinking saved the king’s life. While the younger brother was skilled in discerning
ownership of the necklace, it was the elder brother’s foresight that protected the kingdom
from losing its ruler.”
Betal’s Response
Betal said, “You have given the right answer, Vikram. Your wisdom and sense of justice are
admirable. However, because you spoke, I must return to the Peepal tree.”
Saying this, Betal ew o King Vikramaditya’s shoulder. Unperturbed, the king chased after
him, determined to ful ll his promise to the sage. Once again, he reached the Peepal tree,
retrieved the corpse, and set o on his journey