In the kingdom of Gandhar, the rule of law was strict and unwavering. The king had established regulations for nearly every aspect of life, and breaking them invited severe punishment. Among these laws was one that strictly prohibited any man from forming relations with a married woman.
Gurudatt, a wealthy businessman of the kingdom, longed deeply for a family of his own. Though blessed with prosperity and comfort, his heart felt incomplete without companionship. One day, while visiting the temple, his gaze fell upon a woman whose beauty immediately captivated him.
Unable to forget her face, Gurudatt instructed his servant to discover her identity.
Several days later, the servant returned with the answer. The woman was Chandar Sena, a married woman whose husband was a man named Jakant. Hearing this, Gurudatt felt deeply disappointed, believing his hopes had come to an end.
Yet fate had something unexpected in store for him.
Soon afterward, Gurudatt received a letter from Chandar Sena herself. In the letter, she wrote that she was impressed by him and promised that she would meet him one day. Gurudatt’s sorrow turned instantly into excitement, and he eagerly began waiting for the promised meeting.
However, Chandar Sena had already shown remarkable honesty in her marriage. When she married Jakant, she openly told him about Gurudatt and the admiration that existed between them. Jakant, appreciating his wife’s honesty and straightforward nature, allowed her the freedom to meet Gurudatt.
When the day of the meeting finally arrived, Chandar Sena prepared herself and set out in the evening to fulfill the promise she had made.
Night had already fallen, and darkness had begun to blanket the road. As she walked quietly along the path, a thief suddenly appeared before her and blocked her way. His intentions were clear—he wanted the jewelry she was wearing.
At first, Chandar Sena was frightened. But gathering her courage, she calmly explained her situation to the thief. She told him that she had promised to meet someone and must keep her word. If he allowed her to go, she promised that she would give him all her jewelry afterward.
The thief listened carefully. Struck by her sincerity and determination, he decided to trust her and allowed her to continue on her journey.
When Chandar Sena finally met Gurudatt, he was shocked to see her standing before him in the middle of the night.
“Why have you come here at midnight?” he asked in surprise. “This is your first night of Vibha with your husband. How could you leave him and come to meet me?”
Chandar Sena replied calmly, “I had promised that I would meet you one day. I came only to keep that promise.”
Gurudatt felt uneasy hearing this. After a moment of thought, he asked, “Does your husband know that you have come here?”
When Chandar Sena confirmed that Jakant knew everything, Gurudatt shook his head firmly.
“You are now someone’s wife,” he said. “I cannot have any relationship with you. It is against the law of our kingdom.”
Though saddened by his response, Chandar Sena respected his decision. Having fulfilled her promise, she quietly turned and began the journey back home.
The thief who had stopped her earlier was still waiting on the road.
Having witnessed her courage and honesty, he spoke to her with admiration.
“I will praise your husband for allowing you to meet your lover,” he said. “You risked your life to keep your word. And Gurudatt, despite having the opportunity, refused your advances and sent you back. I understand the pain in your heart. Go home peacefully.”
With those words, he let her pass without taking any jewelry.
When Chandar Sena finally reached home, she narrated the entire incident to her husband, Jakant. He listened quietly, but his reaction was cold and indifferent.
Then he said sternly,
“A king, a minister, a wife, and even a person’s hair and nails look good only in their proper places. The beauty of a married woman lies in her faithfulness to her husband.”
Betal’s Question
After finishing the story, Betal turned toward King Vikramaditya and said,
“Tell me, King Vikram—among Jakant, the thief, and Gurudatt, who is the best among them? If you know the answer and do not speak, your head will shatter into pieces.”
King Vikramaditya thought carefully for a moment before answering.
“The thief is the best among the three,” he said calmly. “Jakant showed indifference toward his wife’s courage and honesty, which reflects poorly on him. Gurudatt rejected Chandar Sena not because of moral strength, but out of fear of the law. However, the thief—despite being a criminal—showed compassion and humanity. He allowed Chandar Sena to continue her journey and even comforted her afterward. For this reason, the thief is the most admirable among them.”
Betal smiled with satisfaction.
“You are truly wise and just, O King,” he said. “But since you have spoken, I must return to the Peepal tree.”
With that, Betal slipped from the king’s shoulders and flew back to the ancient tree.
Yet King Vikramaditya was not one to abandon his duty. Determined to fulfill his promise to the Sadhu, he followed Betal without hesitation. Reaching the tree once again, he captured the spirit and placed him upon his shoulders.
As they resumed their journey through the dark forest, Betal began narrating yet another mysterious tale.
Continue Reading