In the town of Baikantpur lived a Brahmin named Nandhsan. Though he was respected in society, his life was filled with sorrow because he had no children. Day after day, he prayed fervently to God, pleading for the blessing of a child.
At last, his prayers were answered. A son was born to him.
Overwhelmed with happiness, Nandhsan named the child Vishal Dat and thanked God endlessly for the divine blessing. The boy became the center of his life, and Nandhsan loved him deeply.
Years passed peacefully as the father cherished every moment with his beloved son. But fate had a cruel turn awaiting them.
One day, Vishal suddenly fell gravely ill. Nandhsan rushed to every physician and healer he could find, seeking a cure for his son. Despite all efforts, no remedy could save the boy. Eventually, Vishal succumbed to his illness.
The loss shattered Nandhsan completely.
Unable to accept the reality of his son’s death, he lost his grip on sanity. He clung tightly to Vishal’s lifeless body, crying uncontrollably and refusing to let anyone take the boy away. The grieving father would not allow the last rites to be performed.
After much persuasion, the villagers finally convinced Nandhsan that the proper rituals had to be carried out.
With a heavy heart, he lifted Vishal’s body onto his shoulders and walked toward the cremation ground, accompanied by members of the community.
At the cremation ground sat a Sadhu who was deeply absorbed in meditation. Hearing the sounds of approaching footsteps and the barking of dogs, the Sadhu slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze fell upon the grieving father and the lifeless body of the young boy.
As he looked at Vishal’s body, a thought arose in his mind: why not give life back to the child?
The thought stirred powerful emotions within him. First, the Sadhu began to cry bitterly. Moments later, he burst into loud laughter.
Then, making a firm decision, the Sadhu performed a remarkable act. He abandoned his own body and allowed his soul to enter the body of the dead boy.
Instantly, the Sadhu’s old body fell lifeless to the ground.
But Vishal opened his eyes.
The boy had come back to life.
The people present at the cremation ground were astonished beyond belief. Nandhsan could hardly contain his joy as he embraced his son, believing that God had returned him.
What no one realized, however, was that the body of Vishal now carried the soul of the Sadhu.
By sacrificing his old body, the Sadhu had gained a new, youthful one—fulfilling his desire for rejuvenation while also restoring a grieving father’s son.
Betal’s Question
After finishing the story, Betal turned toward King Vikramaditya and asked,
“Tell me, O King, why did the Sadhu first cry and then laugh? If you know the answer and do not speak, your head will shatter into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya reflected for a moment before replying,
“The Sadhu cried because he had to sacrifice his own body, which had served him for many years. Leaving behind one’s body is not an easy thing. Yet he laughed because he knew he was about to gain a young and vibrant body in return. His act was both a loss and a gain at the same time.”
Betal nodded with satisfaction.
“You are truly wise and just, King Vikram,” he said. “But since you have spoken, I must return to the Peepal tree.”
With that, Betal flew back to the tree once again.
Yet King Vikramaditya was a man who never abandoned his promise. Determined to fulfill his vow to the Sadhu, he followed Betal without hesitation, ready to capture him again and continue the strange journey through the dark forest.
Continue Reading