As King Vikramaditya carried Betal on his shoulders, Betal began narrating another story to
pass the journey.
The Downfall of King Jaula Sen
Long ago, there was a king named Jaula Sen who ruled over Ujjain. Unfortunately, he was not
a wise or just ruler, and his kingdom su ered under his reign. One day, King Jaula Sen lost his
entire kingdom to a neighboring king while gambling. As a result, he was banished from his
own land.
Destitute and desperate, King Jaula Sen decided to seek refuge in the neighboring kingdom
of a friend. On his way, he passed through a dense forest where he encountered a sage
sitting in meditation. Exhausted and starving, the king bowed to the sage and sat nearby,
waiting for the sage to open his eyes.
The Sage’s Hospitality
After some time, the sage awoke and asked the king, “Who are you, and what brings you
here?” King Jaula Sen narrated his plight, explaining that he had lost everything and was now
wandering in search of help. He also confessed that he was extremely hungry.
The sage said, “I have only fruits and nuts to o er. Will you eat them?” Though the king was
ravenous, he hesitated when the sage presented the fruits and nuts in a skull. “I am a king,”
he said. “I cannot eat from a skull.”
The sage smiled and chanted a mantra. Instantly, a beautiful woman appeared before them.
The sage instructed her to take the king to a hut and serve him delicious food in golden
utensils.
The Illusion of Wealth
The woman led King Jaula Sen to a hut, which to his astonishment turned into a magni cent
palace as he entered. Lavish food was served to him in golden utensils, and the beautiful
woman attended to him. The king ate heartily, rested on a luxurious bed, and soon fell into a
deep sleep.
When he awoke, however, everything had disappeared—the palace, the woman, and the
comforts. Saddened and confused, the king returned to the sage and asked, “Why has
everything vanished?”
The sage replied, “It was all an illusion, created through my magic.”
The King’s Ambition
Intrigued by the sage’s power, King Jaula Sen begged him to teach him the art of creating
such illusions. The sage agreed but warned, “This requires immense practice, patience, and
concentration.”
Desperate to regain his lost glory, the king promised to follow the sage’s instructions. The
sage gave him a mantra and explained the process: “First, you must stand in water for 30
days, then sit in front of a re for another 30 days. Only then can you recite the mantra to
achieve results.”
The king, however, was impatient. He wanted to summon the beautiful woman and the
palace immediately. Disregarding the sage’s instructions, he recited the mantra, but nothing
happened. Disappointed, the king confronted the sage, accusing him of deceit. “Why didn’t
the mantra work? Did you not give me the true mantra?”
The sage laughed and said, “King, nothing happens merely by knowing a mantra. Its power
comes from practice, dedication, and concentration. What you seek is not mantra but magic,
which provides instant grati cation without e ort. True mastery requires discipline.”
Betal’s Question
After nishing the story, Betal asked, “Vikram, tell me, who is at fault here? Was it the sage
who failed to guide the king properly, or was it the king who misunderstood the nature of
the mantra? If you do not answer, your head will be shattered into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya’s Answer
King Vikramaditya replied, “The fault lies with King Jaula Sen. The sage explained the process
and the need for practice, but the king allowed his impatience and desire for instant
grati cation to cloud his judgment. Instead of dedicating himself to the discipline required to
master the mantra, he sought shortcuts. The sage was not at fault; the king’s own lack of
focus and discipline led to his failure.”
Betal’s Response
Betal said, “You have given the right answer, Vikram. As always, you display wisdom and
fairness. But because you spoke, I must return to the Peepal tree.”
With that, Betal ew o Vikramaditya’s shoulder. Unwavering in his resolve, the king pursued
Betal back to the Peepal tree to bring him down once more and ful ll his promise to the
sage