chapter 5 Who has more Virtue?

Vikram reclaimed the ghostly entity, lifting him once more onto his shoulder.

Vetal, once again began to set the stage for the next narrative.

A king named Roopsen ruled in Vardhaman city. One day a Rajput named Veervar came to him for a job.

King Roopsen: Veervar, what do you seek in exchange for your service?

Veervar: A thousand tolas of gold, Your Highness.

King Roopsen: A thousand tolas? What would you do with such wealth?

Veervar: My wife, son, and daughter accompany me. We aim to share it with the needy.

King Roopsen: Astonishing! Why such generosity?

Veervar: We believe in aiding the Beggars, guests, recluses, and the poor. It is our way of life.

King Roopsen: Accepted. Guard my bed each evening, and you shall have what you seek.

From that day onwards Veervar would come to his home every day with thousand tale of gold from treasurer.

He would distribute half of it among the beggars, divide the remaining into two parts and give one to the guests, recluses and ascetics and after preparing food from the other, he would first feed it to the poor, and then whatever was left, he would feed it to the women and children and then he would eat it himself.

His job was to guard the king's bed with his shield and sword as soon as it was evening. Whenever the king was at night, he was present.

Days pass, Veervar diligently distributes gold, guards the king, and one night...

One night at midnight the king heard someone crying.. He called Virvar and he came. The king said, "Go, find out who is crying so late at night and why is he crying?"

He immediately left that place.

What he saw when he followed the sound is that a woman is clad in jewelery from head to toe, sometimes dancing, sometimes jumping and crying while beating her head. But not a single drop of tear comes out of his eyes.

Veeravar asked, "Who are you? Why do you cry?"

She said, "I am Raj-Lakshmi. I am crying because bad things are happening in King Roopsen's house, hence poverty is going to spread there. I will go away from there and the king will die of grief in a month."

Hearing this, Veervar asked, "Is there any way to avoid this?"

The woman said, "Yes, there is." There is a temple of a goddess 1 km to the east from here. If you offer your son's head to that goddess then the disaster can be averted. Then the king will rule without fear for a hundred years."

Veervar came home and woke up his wife and told her everything. The woman woke her son, her daughter also woke up.

When the child heard this, he said, "You must cut off my head and offer it to goddess." Firstly, it is what a servant should do for his master , secondly, this body will ascend to the deity, what could be more important than this? ."

Veeravar said to his wife, "Now you tell."

The woman said, "A woman's duty is to serve her husband."

After some discussion , all four reached the temple of the goddess. Veeravar folded his hands and said, "O Goddess, I sacrifice my son. May my king live for a hundred years."

Saying this, with heartbreaking pain he hit the sword with such force that the boy's head got separated from his body. Seeing this condition of brother, sister also slit her head on the spot.

When the son and daughter left, the grieving mother also followed them and cut her neck. Veervar thought "If there's no one left, what's the purpose of my live? He too cut off his own head.

When the king came to know about this, he came there. He felt very sad that four living beings lost their lives for him. He started thinking that ruling like this is a shame! Thinking this, he picked up the sword and as he was about to cut off his head, the goddess appeared and held his hand.

She said, "King, I am pleased with your courage. Whatever boon you ask for, I will give it."

The king said, "Goddess, if you are happy then give life to these four."

The goddess sprinkled nectar and brought all four of them back to life.

As the story concluded, Vetal turned to Vikram, "Now answer my question, O King."

Vetal, inquisitive as ever, inquired, "O King Vikram, contemplate the story of Veervar's sacrifice. The king's unwavering resolve to offer his own life and the subsequent intervention of the goddess. Now, discern and reveal who, in your view, displayed the utmost virtue."

King Vikram, thoughtful, replied, "In the profound saga, the king, Roopsen, exhibited the pinnacle of virtue. His willingness to sacrifice his kingdom, contemplating his life as insignificant as a straw, surpasses the religious duty of a servant offering their life for the master."

Vetal, the spectral entity on Vikram's shoulder, further probed, "Unravel, O King, the essence of virtue in the king's sacrifice. Why do you consider the king's act as paramount?"

King Vikram expounded, "The king, in his sacrificial intent, displayed an unparalleled virtue. To renounce his kingdom, the epitome of worldly power, for the life of his servant, transcends the norms of loyalty. Such selflessness and humility mark the zenith of virtue in this tale."

"You are right but you've broken our silent accord. Back to my perch, I return," and with that, Vetal vanished, leaving Vikram alone in the silent realm of the cremation ground.