Betaal Pachisi - Story 21 - Patriotic sacrifice of Nandini

As usual Vikram controlled Vetala and took him on his shoulder. Vetala started narrating him a story so that they could easily complete the long journey once again but warns him not to speak anything, else he would go back to his place again.

It is a love story. There was a rich man named Yashwant Singh in Gorakhpur. He had a beautiful daughter Nandini who was in love with a woodcutter. Once a magician came to his house and with his magical stone he turned most of his house hold things into gold. The rich man was so impressed that he agreed to give the hand of his daughter to the magician. When the woodcutter learnt this he objected and intervened saying that he should not agree to give “diamond” for the sake of gold. He emphasized that Nandini is his and nobody can separate them. The magician said that Nandini belongs to him. He with his magic caged her in a mirror.

The magician had a doll which had all the magical powers. Foolishly he revealed that his life is in the doll. The woodcutter did not waste any time, snatched the doll and strangled it. As soon as the doll broke the magician died. With the death of magician, his magic also vanished and all the articles which he had turned into gold, returned to previous state. But Nandini who was caged in the mirror remained there as a picture only.

The magician had a magic book where he had noted all this tricks. The woodcutter took the book and on reading it, he came to know that the remedy for saving Nandini from the mirror had to be done within eight hours and for that he had to visit a cave which was about two miles away towards the north and bring a special lotus from a pond there.

The woodcutter was a true lover. He hurried towards the cave. The cave had lots of obstacles. First there was a big snake with whom he fought bravely, then there wa s the path of fire which he extinguished by praying to the goddess, then there was a beautiful dame who offered liquor and tried to enslave him.

But the woodcutter remained steadfast in his pursuit to bring the lotus flower to save Nandini and ultimately he got successful. After saving and reuniting with her he tell her that we would have to seek permission from his parents for marrying her.

In another track, A sage appeared before the King of the land and forecasted that today he would meet a beautiful girl and if King marries her, she would give birth to successor of the kingdom who would be brave and would take the kingdom to the new heights and expand the boundaries of the kingdom. So when the king comes across Nandini and asks her about the same she replies that she is waiting for the woodcutter to return back. Then the king replies that he would come and see her in a day or two.

She met while returning the rich man of the town met her and desired to meet her at her residence. She asked him to come day after tomorrow evening. He inquired why not tomorrow. She said tomorrow Sukeshthi, is coming. You mean that woodcutter! She nodded.

Then she came across the minister. The minister also desired to meet her at her residence. She asked him to come day after tomorrow evening. He also inquired why not tomorrow. She replied that Sukeshthi is coming tomorrow. You mean that woodcutter! She nodded.

Then she came across the prime minister. The minister also desired to meet her at her residence. She asked him to come day after tomorrow evening. He also enquired why not tomorrow. She replied that Sukeshthi is coming tomorrow. You mean that woodcutter! She nodded.

Now the three of them knew that her lover, the woodcutter was a hurdle in their way. They hired people to kill the woodcutter. The rich man sent a man with an axe to kill him. but in the fight he himself got killed. The minister sent a man with a python to kill the woodcutter. But fortunately the woodcutter was saved and the man himself was bitten by the python. The Prime Minister used black magic and through a magician tied the woodcutter with the chains. Luckily a yogi came to his rescue and helped to release him of the chains.

After two days suddenly the king came to meet Nandini. She was surprised to see him come on the day. The king was there only, when someone knocked at the door. She asked the king to hide and opened the door and the rich man of the town entered. He said that he was much fascinated by her beauty and wants to marry her. She replied that she had already given her heart to someone else.

After a while there was again knock at the door. She asked the rich man to hide and went to open the door. The Minister bluntly said that he was fed up of his wife and wants her to satisfy his desire. Before she could say anything there was another knock and the Prime Minister appeared. He also said that he was much fascinated by her beauty and wanted to have her.She replied that she has already given her heart to someone else. Then again there was a knock at the door. When she opened, the woodcutter appeared. She said why he took so long. She has been impatiently waiting for him.

She told him that the rich man of the town wants to marry her. He suggested that she should have reported the matter to the minister. She said that he is also here and he too wants to possess me. The woodcutter suggested that she should report to the Prime Minister. Nandini said that the Prime Minister is also here but he too wants to marry me. The woodcutter suggested that in that case we would bring it to the notice of the king. The king came out of his hiding and said that he too was very much there. He said that he was ashamed of the behavior of the rich man, the minister and the Prime Minister and exiled them.

The king apologized that had he known that Nandini loved someone else, he would not have asked for her hand. He would never like his kingdom at the cost of their love.

At that time the yogi reappeared and again predicted that if Nandini marries to the king with her own consent, she will give birth to a son who will expand the boundaries of the country.The woodcutter also said that for him the interest of the country is foremost and that he would sacrifice his love in the interest of his nation.

After having narrated the story, Vetala asked Vikram to tell with whom will Nandini marry? To this Vikram replied that man has three priorities. One is devoted to one’s parents, one’s Guru and One’s nation. Nation comes foremost and one should be prepared to make the biggest sacrifice. So she will marry the kind sacrificing her love. And so it happened.

Vetala appreciated the just decision of the king. But as he succeeded in making him speak, he got an excuse to slip away again.