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Vikram and Vaitaal Stories-2
- Story 4 (Keral
Version)
"Captain
Sir Richard R Burton's Vikram and the
Vampire: classic Hindu tales of
adventure, magic and romance" / edited by his wife Isabel Burton. [etext
Conversion Project, Nalanda Digital Library, NIT Calicut, Kerala State,
India]
4-A
Truthful Woman
Vaitaal
said - "Listen to another story, O king. There was a
Vaishya Hiranyadatt, who had a very beautiful daughter, Madansena Sundaree.
As she was growing her beauty was also increasing. The people of that country,
Madanpur, ruled by Beerbar, had spread this news everywhere. So many
suitors drew their portraits and sent them to that Vaishya. The Vaishya
showed all of them to his daughter and asked her to choose anyone she
liked, but she told him that none of them pleased her, then she begged him
to find such a boy who has good looks, good qualities and good sense.
Once
four suitors came from four different countries. The father asked them to
prove their knowledge to him, as he was satisfied with their looks. The
first one said - "I am well versed with all Shaastra and there is
nobody equal to me in science." The second one said - "I have
specialization in archery and I can shoot at an aim which is not seen but
only heard (Shabd Vedhee Vaan)." The third one said - "I
understand the languages of all water, air and land animals." The
fourth one said - "I can make certain cloth which can be sold at five
rubies. After selling those five rubies, I give the proceeds of one ruby
to a Braahman, one ruby to deity, one I wear myself, the fourth one I give
to my wife, and the fifth one I spend on giving feasts."
The
father thought that "the excess of anything is not good. Seetaa was
very beautiful that is why Raavan took him; King Bali of Mahaabaahpur gave
much alms that is why in the end he became poor. My daughter is too fair
to remain maiden, to whom I should give my daughter?" Thinking thus
he sat down hanging his head down. After a while he spoke to himself, the
boy who is good at Shaastra, is Braahman; the boy who could shoot an arrow
at the sound is a Kshatriya; and he who made the cloth is a Shoodra; but
the one who understands the languages of all animals is of our caste so I
will marry my daughter to him." Thinking thus he proceeded to fix her
daughter's marriage.
Meanwhile
Madansenaa went to a garden for a stroll, that she saw Dharmdatt Vaishya's
son Somdatt who came there with his friend just for pleasure. He saw
Madansenaa and fell in love with her instantly. He said to his friend
"I have to marry this girl." And saying thus he came to her,
held her hand and said to her - "If you will not marry me, I will
commit suicide." She said - "Please do not do this as this will
involve me in a murder and I will be punished for that." Somdatt said
- "I cannot live without you, so you make me the promise."
Madansenaa
said - "Oh, Kali Yug indeed has come, lying has increased and truth
has decreased in this world, religion is destroyed, crime has increased.
My marriage is after five days, but if you will not kill yourself, then I
will visit you first then I will be with my husband." Having sworn
like this Madansenaa went home and Somdatt also went away.
Marriage
day arrived, ceremonies were started, turmeric was rubbed on their bodies,
and marriage procession went to bride's house and both were married. Her
husband brought his wife home after the marriage. After a few days she was
taken to her husband's room. As her husband was about to take her hand,
that she jerked it away and told him about Somdatt, his committing suicide
and her promise to him. Her husband said - "From your speech, it
seems that you are speaking the truth. If you really want to go to him,
you may go."
With
the permission of her husband, she went to Somdatt's house in her full
marriage dress. On the way, a thief saw her and asked her where she was
going adorned like that? She told him that she was going to her lover's
house. "And who is your protector here?" "Kaam Dev, Rati's
husband. Please do not destroy my jewels, I will give you everything when
I come back." The thief agreed and he freed her to go and sat down
there waiting for her to come back, thinking - these six things lower the
man - friendship with a fool, causeless laughter, flattering with women,
serving an unworthy master, riding an ass, and speaking any other language
than Sanskrit. And these five things are decided before we take birth -
age, action, wealth, science and fame. Today I have done a good work.
Meanwhile
Madansenaa reached the home of Somdatt. He was fast asleep. As she woke
him up, he asked her - "Are you a deity or a saint, or a serpent?
From where have you come?" She replied - "I am human, Madansenaa,
the daughter of Hiranyadatt Vaishya. Do you remember taking my hand in
that grove and told that you would kill yourself, if I did not marry you,
and I promised you to visit first and then I will remain with my
husband." Somdatt was surprised to hear this, he said - "So,
have you said everything to your husband?" Madansenaa said -
"Yes, I have told him everything, he has understood the whole
situation and I have come here with his permission."
He got
very sad hearing this, he said - "This matter is like pearls without
dress or food without Ghee, or singing without melody - they are alike
unnatural. In the same way unclean clothes will destroy the beauty, bad
food will destroy the strength, a wicked wife will worry her husband to
death, a defamed son will ruin the family, and a woman whether she loves
or hates will be a source of pain. For there are a few things a woman will
never do - she never brings to her tongue what is in her heart; she will
never speaks out that is on her tongue; and she never tells what is she
doing. That is how God has created the woman. You may go home, I have no
concern with another man's wife."
Madansenaa
went away. On the way she met that thief, but pleased with her truth, he
allowed her to go untouched. As she reached her house, her husband said -
"No, Not a king, not a minister, not a wife, not a person's hair, not
his nails look out of their places. The beauty of Kokilaa is in her notes,
an ugly man's in his knowledge, a devotee's in his forgiveness and a
woman's in her chastity."
After
narrating the story so far, Vaitaal asked Vikram - "Who among the
three was most virtuous?" Vikram was so engrossed in hearing the
tale, that he replied - "The thief." "Say why?"
"Because when her husband found that she loves somebody else, he
could not love her anymore. Somdatt let her go because of the fear of the
king, but the thief had no fear of anybody, that is why the thief was the
best."
Vaitaal
laughed loudly and said - "Here ends my story." and escaped from
the bag as before leaving father and son in dismay. Vikram said to his son
Dharmdhwaj - "When next time Vaitaal asks me a question, you pinch me
before answering his question. Because if this will go on like this, we
will never be able to finish our task." But he was not sure that his
father's plan will work. As they took him again, Vaitaal again started his
new story.
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