English Translation: C. A. KINCAID, c. v. o.
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| Background. "Vikram Aur
Betaal" is a series of enchanting tales derived from the
11th-century work 'Betaal Pachisi' by Kashmiri poet Somdev Bhatt. The
narrative follows the wise and adventurous King Vikramaditya of Ujjain.
When a mendicant consistently gifts him fruits containing rubies, the
king's curiosity is piqued. Meeting the mendicant under specific, eerie
conditions, Vikramaditya learns of a task only he can perform: to
retrieve a corpse, Betaal, from an ancient tree for the mendicant's
mystical rituals. As King Vikramaditya carries the corpse, Betaal's spirit tells him tales, concluding each with a riddle. If Vikramaditya knows the answer but stays silent, his head will shatter. But answering breaks his vow, and Betaal returns to the tree, making the king restart his mission. After 25 stories, Betaal reveals the mendicant's ulterior motive: to gain unparalleled powers by sacrificing the king. Forewarned by Betaal, Vikramaditya confronts the mendicant and, through his wit, triumphs over the deceitful ascetic. |
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THE THIRTEENTH TALE.
SHOBHANI AND THE ROBBER
ONCE upon a time there was a town called Chandrakanti. Over it ruled a
king called Nardharnamak;
and in it lived ,a merchant called Makaradhwaja who had a daughter named
Shobhani. She was a beautiful girl and from day to day
her beauty increased.
It so happened that a number of thefts began to occur all over
the city. Many rich people
were ruined by these thefts. At last the whole town went to the king's
palace to complain of the trouble and loss that they had suffered. "We
will not stay here any longer," they cried angrily to the king. "Nay,"
said the king soothingly, "what has happened has happened. It cannot be
helped now.
But I promise that you will not be troubled anymore." The crowd
was pacified and dispersed. The king then called his police and
instructed them how they should patrol the city. He also ordered them to
kilt any thief they caught at once without waiting for his per m1ss10n.
The police carried out his commands and did their best to protect the
citizens. Still the thefts continued.
Again all the merchants and traders gathered together outside the
palace.
"Lord King," they cried, "you have posted patrols all over the city. But
the thefts instead of stopping are as bad as ever.'' The king dismissed
the crowd saying, "Go now, to-night I shall myself patrol the city."
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Tales of King Vikrama
When night came the king took his sword and shield and began to walk
about through the town. Suddenly he saw a robber come towards him. He
called out to the robber, "Who are you " "l am a robber," was the
answer.
"Who are you'?" "I too am a robber," replied the king:
The robber was pleased at the reply and said, "Come along then;
that is all right. We will both go and rob together."
The king agreed, and after walking and talking with the robber
for some little distance, helped him to break into a house: After they
had robbed it, they robbed several other houses in the same way.
When they had collected considerable spoil, the robber led the
king outside the city to a well.
He and the king descended into the well. Inside it was a door
that led into a cavern. The
robber posted the king at the door, while he himself took the booty
inside.
After the robber had gone, a slave girl came out and seeing the
king said, "My lord king, what has brought you here in the company of
that villain'? Run away from there as quickly as you can, otherwise he
will kill you directly he comes out.''
"l do not know the way,'' answered the king, ''so I cannot run
away." The slave girl showed him the way out and the king returned to
the palace.
Next morning the king called out his army and going to the well
blockaded all the roads leading
to it and the cavern.
When the robber found that he could not get out of the cave, he
went to the lord of it who was a giant. "My lord," he said
to the giant,
"the king is attacking
our cavern,Ü
Shobhani and the Robber
85
_
you must help me, otherwise I shall have to desert you, and you will
lose all your treasure and good name." The giant laughed and said,, "I
am delighted to hear what you tell me. You have brought me a splendid
meal and I am very grateful to you." With these words the giant rushed
out of the cavern and began to eat up the army, men, horses and
elephants, as fast as he could. A panic seized the troops. Those who
could flee The others were all eaten up by the giant.
The king was running away all alone, when the robber called after him,
"What! you a king's son and afraid! Shame on you!" When the king heard
the robber's taunt, he turned and faced him. After a fierce fight the
king wounded the robber and overcame him. He tied his hands and feet
together and dragged him back to the city. There he had the robber's
head shaved. He then seated him on a camel and after parading him about
the streets, ordered him to be impaled. The citizens were delighted and
shouted after the robber, "You are the man who stole all our property
and now you are going to be impaled!"
When the procession was passing the house of the merchant Makaradhwaja,
his daughter Shobhani heard the noise and asked her slave girl what it
was. The slave girl told
her that according to the king's orders they were taking away the robber
who had committed so many thefts in the town and were going to impale
him. When Shobhani heard this, she looked out. Seeing how young and
handsome the robber was, she fell inÜ
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Tales of King Vikrama
Jove with him. She ran to her father and said, "My father; you must go
to the king and somehow or other you must get him to spare that robber's
life!"
"My child," answered the merchant, "how can I? The man has been robbing
the whole town. Numbers of townsmen have lost their lives. The king will
never listen to me." Shobhani answered, "If you offer the king all your
riches, he will surely spare the robber. If you do not, I shall kill
myself."
The merchant went to the king, "My lord king," he said, "take five lakhs
of rupees and let the robber go."
The king got very angry and said, "This is fine talk. You want me
to let go this ruffian who has ruined my capital.
I shall never let him go! never!"
The merchant returned to his daughter and said, "My daughter, I said all
I could to the king, but he would not listen to me." Just then the
police brought the robber to the place where they were going to impale
him. There they told him how the merchant's daughter had tried to save
him. When he heard the story, he first burst into tears; Then he began
to laugh loudly. A minute or two later the police impaled him.
when, he was dead, Shobhani made a funeral pyre. Then going to the
gallows, she took down the robber's dead body and took it with her to
the burning ground. As she was lighting
the pyre, the Goddess Parvati appeared before her and said: "My
daughter, I have seen your courage and I amÜ
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pleased with you. Ask a boon and it will be granted to you." *Great
goddess,". answered the maid, "the boon that I ask of you is that you
restore this man to life." |