Betaal Pachisi - Story 9 - Madansena and her lovers

Vikrama tries again to catch vetala. After several attempts he succeeds and starts taking him to the ascetic. Vetala starts narrating him a story so that they can easily complete the long journey once again but warns him not to speak anything else he will go back to his place again. He begins narrating story about a girl Madansena who lived in Anandpur. A boy named Dharamdutt really loved that girl. He followed her everywhere. One day she told him that she doesn’t love him. On listening this, he jumped into the river and began to drown. Madansena saved him from drowning. He told her that he will be waiting for her on the night of full moon at his place. If she doesn’t come then he will do suicide. On the same day, a businessman came to Madansena’s home with his son for marriage proposal. Her parents agreed for the same and both got engaged. Next day both of them got married and returned to their home town.

Next day 2 thieves in the area came to know about the wedding and decided to steal the jewelry. One thief was mesmerized by her beauty. In the meantime girls came and they saw the thief. Thieves at once ran away. At night, husband of Madansena came but Madansena was worried about Dharamdutt. Madansena requested her husband to let her go as she has an important task to finish off. Her husband got furious on listening about Dharamdutt. But he decided to let her go and follow her.

When Madansena was going to meet Dharamdutt she met the same thief. Thief asked her to spend a night with him and then go. Madansena explained him the whole story and asked him to let her go. She will come back to him after saving his life. Thief was impressed by her courage and allowed her to go. She went to Dharamdutt but he was surprised to see her in the bridal dress. Madansena told him that she is married now and has come only to save his life. Dharamdutt feels ashamed of his behavior and tells her that i don’t have any right on you since you are married now. Madansena is happy to hear that and goes back to thief. Thief listens to her story and sacrifices his love for her. Her husband watches all this.
She goes back to her husband. Husband accepts her and both live happily ever after.

At this point Vetala asks Vikrama to tell whose sacrifice is the biggest - Husband for letting her go on wedding night, thief who let her go to her husband or of Dharamdutt who sacrificed his love. Vikrama replies sacrifice of thief is the biggest since he was not bound to answer anyone. Her husband decided to let her go with an intention that she will come back. Dharamdutt did not accept her because she was married. However, thief had nothing to lose. Had he accepted Madansena, he would have only gained his love. So, his sacrifice is the biggest. Vetala gets happy with Vikrama’s answer but he again flies back to his abode telling that he could not keep quite. Vikrama runs behind him again to catch him.

Moral: Unconditional sacrifice is the true sacrifice.