King Vikramaditya reached the Peepal tree with determination. As before, Betal’s lifeless
body was hanging upside down from the tree. The king carefully brought the body down,
placed it on his shoulders, and began walking back to ful ll his promise to the sage. Along the
way, Betal began narrating another intriguing tale, knowing the king’s curiosity would compel
him to listen.
The Oath of Gandharv Sen
Long ago, in the city of Ujjain, there lived a wealthy merchant who had an only son named
Gandharv Sen. Handsome and full of charm, Gandharv Sen was admired by many. One day,
while strolling along the riverbank, he spotted a beautiful washerwoman named Roopmati.
Despite her humble background, her beauty struck him deeply. Gandharv Sen couldn’t take
his eyes o her, and in that instant, he fell in love.
Nearby, the temple of Mahakali stood as a testament to faith. Struck by his intense feelings,
Gandharv Sen entered the temple, stood before the idol of the goddess, and took a solemn
vow:
“O Goddess, if I am united with Roopmati within a month, I will o er my head at your
feet.”
The Matchmaker’s Role
Gandharv Sen returned home, but thoughts of Roopmati haunted him day and night. Fearing
his parents’ disapproval, he kept his feelings to himself. When he refused food and shut
himself in his room, his worried parents called his childhood friend, Devdatt, to intervene.
Devdatt, known for his resourcefulness, learned about Gandharv Sen’s love for Roopmati.
Determined to help his friend, he approached Roopmati’s family with a marriage proposal.
The family happily agreed, and soon Gandharv Sen and Roopmati were married. Gandharv
Sen felt as though all his dreams had come true.
The Forgotten Promise
A month passed, and Gandharv Sen remembered his vow to the goddess. Though his life
was now blissful, he realized he must honor his promise. Without revealing his intentions, he
took Roopmati and Devdatt to the temple of Mahakali. Once there, he asked them to wait
outside while he entered alone.
Inside the temple, Gandharv Sen prayed to the goddess and then ful lled his vow by cutting
o his own head. When he didn’t return for a long time, Devdatt went inside to check on him.
Seeing his friend’s lifeless body, Devdatt was lled with despair and guilt. He feared he might
be accused of Gandharv Sen’s death, and in his anguish, he also took his own life.
Roopmati’s Grief
When Roopmati realized neither of them was returning, she entered the temple. To her
horror, she saw her husband and his friend lying lifeless. Overwhelmed with sorrow, she
began singing praises to Mahakali, pleading for help. The goddess, moved by her devotion,
appeared before her.
“O devoted one,” Mahakali said, “join their heads and bodies, and they shall return to life.”
In her haste, Roopmati mistakenly joined Gandharv Sen’s head with Devdatt’s torso and
Devdatt’s head with Gandharv Sen’s torso. Both men were revived, but the error was
irreversible. When Roopmati realized her mistake, she begged the goddess to x it.
“I cannot undo what has been done,” Mahakali replied. “You must now choose one of them
as your husband.”
Betal’s Question
After recounting the tale, Betal asked King Vikramaditya, “O King, tell me, whom should
Roopmati choose as her husband? Should she choose the one with her husband’s head or
the one with his torso? If you do not answer, your silence will cost you dearly.”
King Vikramaditya’s Answer
The wise king thought for a moment and then replied, “Roopmati should choose the one
with Gandharv Sen’s head. The head is the seat of identity, memory, and intellect. It is the
head that de nes a person. By choosing the one with Gandharv Sen’s head, she
acknowledges her true husband. If she had chosen the one with his torso, it would have
been a grave mistake, for he would lack her husband’s essence.”
Betal smiled and said, “Vikram, your reasoning is sound, and your wisdom shines through
once again. But because you have spoken, I must return to my tree.”
Betal Escapes Once Again
With that, Betal ew back to the Peepal tree, leaving King Vikramaditya to chase after him
yet again. Despite his frustration, the king remained steadfast in his mission to ful ll his
promise to the sage. Determined as ever, he gripped his sword and pursued Betal, knowing
he had many more challenges ahead.