Betaal Pachisi - Story 22 - The Love Story of Four Princes

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

In a certain kingdom, there was a beautiful princess. The princes of the nearby region who knew her, wanted to marry her. They approached the king in the pursuit. Seeing the four of them the king asked them to bring the rarest gift for the princess in a months time, if they want her hand. Whose gift she would like, she will garland him and accept him as her husband. The princes took their horses and left in four different directions.

One prince comes across a yogi who was engaged in his meditation. When he opened his eyes he was able to read in the eyes of the prince that he was in love with the princess and wanted his help in the matter. He said that he will be able to help him only after the completion of his meditation. This will give him supernatural powers to help him. He stayed with him and saw to it none tries to obstruct the meditation of the yogi. After sometime when the yogi succeeded in his mission, he was pleased with the prince and offered him a magic mirror in which he could see his beloved by remembering her.

The second prince served a Blind Sanyansini. Built a cottage for her to protect her from the rain. She was much pleased and wanted to help him. She said that her Mantras will not be effective unless she has sight. To get sight a small tomb was to be dug. It was a difficult task, because swords were hanging on the top of it and within a fixed period the job had to be done. Otherwise there was risk of the swords falling. There was pitcher also on the top of it and it was to burst soon after the digging started. However the prince succeeded and was able to dig the star that brought light to her sight. The Sanyansini was much pleased. She through her supernatural powers produced a small one wired instrument and gave it him She said that through the instrument he could hear his beloved voice easily.

The third prince Amar was a lame and he served a Vaidya who was making a miraculous medicine which could cure lepresy even. But they all needed help to carry on their mission unhindered. For this he had to make certain austerities and so he needed the services of an unmarried man. The prince offered himself for the purpose. The mission was successfully completed and the Vaidya was able to make an elixir drinking which he became young. With his supernatural powers he gave a flower to the prince. He said that the flower has the capacity to cure. It will cure any disease of any one. But it can be used only once. The prince Amar took the flower and rushed to meet the princess.

The fourth prince sees a man going on a flying mat. He calls him and approaches him to get the mat. Initially he cheats him but a moment comes when during their fight a snake was about to bite him when the prince saves his life by picking and throwing away the snake. The man felt obliged to the prince for saving his life. So he willingly offered the mat to the prince.

Now after having obtained the precious gifts the princes met at one place. The prince who had the mirror remembered the princess and saw that she was lying on the bed unconscious. The man who had the stringed instrument said that he will find it out what is the matter. With his instrument he heard the voices there in the room and told them that the princess was sick and lying unconscious. The prince who had the flying mat offered the services of his mat and they all rushed to the spot where the princess was bed ridden.s When Amar saw that the princess was unconscious and that the King was worried over her condition, the Vaidyas were also showing helplessness, he said that he will cure the princess. He took out the flower and after smelling it the princess became alright. Amar did his duty but he did not stay there. He left the place.

After narrating the story, Vetala asked king Vikrama to do justice in the matter that with whom she should marry because all the four had been instrumental in curing her. They all played a different part. To this Vikram replied that the sacrifice of Amar is greater that that of others. He himself was lame. If he wanted he could have cured himself first. But he kept the flower for the princess and cured her. He has sacrificed most. The princess came running with a garland in hand to wed Amar. He said that she was pitying him. She replied that his sacrifice has turned pity into love. Amar accepted the garland.

But as the King Vikram had spoken, The Vetala as his commitment slipped away from his hands and Vikram again
chased him.