King Vikramaditya carefully approached the Peepal tree, as he had done before. He brought
down the corpse of Betal, placed it on his shoulders, and began his journey back to ful ll his
promise to the Sadhu. Along the way, Betal began telling another story.
The Brahmin’s Daughter
In the city of Kashi, there lived a Brahmin named Haridat, who had a beautiful daughter
named Lilavati. She had reached the age of marriage, and Haridat was actively searching for
a suitable groom for her.
One day, Lilavati was sleeping in her room when a young man silently entered. Startled,
Lilavati woke up to nd a thief standing before her. The thief explained that he had come to
escape the king’s soldiers who were pursuing him. Despite his intent to steal, he pleaded
with Lilavati to remain quiet and protect him.
Feeling sympathy for the thief, Lilavati asked him to hide behind a cupboard. Shortly
afterward, the king’s soldiers arrived, questioned Haridat about the thief, and left when they
found no trace of him. During this time, Lilavati found herself drawn to the thief. She
admired his courage and charm, and he, too, expressed an a ection for her. Over time, they
fell in love and secretly got married.
A Tragic Turn of Events
Days passed, and Lilavati became pregnant. One day, her husband left for a nearby town,
promising to return soon. However, he never came back. Lilavati and her family later
discovered that the thief had been caught and executed by the king’s soldiers for his crimes.
Haridat, concerned about his daughter’s future and reputation, decided to arrange a second
marriage for Lilavati. To protect her honor, he kept the truth about her rst marriage and
her pregnancy a secret. When Lilavati gave birth to a son, everyone assumed the child
belonged to her second husband. Only Lilavati and her father knew the truth.
A Hidden Legacy
Years passed, and Haridat eventually died, taking the secret of Lilavati’s rst marriage with
him. Lilavati’s second husband, too, passed away in time, and eventually, Lilavati herself died.
Her son, now a young man, grew up unaware of his true lineage.
One day, this young man came to the banks of the Phalkur River to perform his mother’s
Shraddha
(a Hindu ritual honoring deceased ancestors). During the ritual, the boy
unknowingly invoked blessings not only for his mother but also for his biological father, the
thief, whose identity remained unknown to him.
Betal’s Question
When the story ended, Betal asked King Vikramaditya, “Tell me, O King, whose blessings
should this young man’s
Shraddha
truly belong to? Should it be his mother, who bore him,
his stepfather, who raised him, or his biological father, whose existence he never knew? If
you do not answer, your head will be shattered into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya’s Answer
King Vikramaditya remained silent for a moment and then said, “The
Shraddha
belongs to
his mother, Lilavati. She is the one who ensured his survival and upbringing, even amidst
societal challenges and secrecy. Although his biological father gave him life, and his
stepfather provided him with a name, it was his mother who made sacri ces for his future.
Therefore, her blessings are paramount.”
Betal’s Response
Hearing the king’s answer, Betal said, “You have given the correct answer, King Vikram, but
as always, you have spoken despite my warning. Therefore, I must return to the Peepal
tree.”
Saying this, Betal ew o Vikramaditya’s shoulder and disappeared into the night.
Determined to ful ll his promise, King Vikramaditya once again picked up his sword and
chased after Betal, ready to retrieve the corpse and continue his journey