The Right groom

The resolute King Vikramaditya climbed the primeval tree and brought down the cadaver into which Bhethala invoked. No sooner, the King started his journey carrying the corpse on his shoulder the Bhethala in the dead body started speaking to him. Hey King of Kings! Vikramaditya! To ease your journey, I will narrate you a story.

The Bhethala started

Once upon a time, Vijayadatta was the king of Kalinga kingdom. He was a righteous and courteous ruler. Even though, Vijayadatta was a master of martial arts and other general sciences, he was always inclined to learn more day after day from the routines. Chief Minister Raja Rayana used to take care of administration and rule whenever the king was busy with his quest for knowledge.

Vijayadatta amid all his run for knowledge, ruling and other avocations was psychologically suffering, for he was not blessed with children. Meanwhile, queen Guna Sundari took to bed, as she could not sustain the pressure from inside her about her being unable to become a mother and make the king a father. Royal court medical experts, specialists from various neighbouring countries tried in vain to treat her to normal health.

The key psychosomatic effect on her health was because she was losing heart on life, because the king and queen were growing older and a feeling was pinching her heart strongly they would never become parents. Friends, relatives, neighbouring friendly kingdoms' rulers and other innate circle of Vijayadatta started advising him to marry another woman to have children. With the advent of the sciences he learnt, Vijayadatta one fine day intensely studied queen Guna Sundari's horoscope and learnt that she would be blessed with a child after some time.

King Vijayadatta spoke to queen Guna Sundari and conveyed the message he understood while studying her horoscope. The queen was overwhelmed with joy on hearing the King's words. The long bed ridden Guna Sundari started coping up from the depression and became normal surprisingly without any medical aid. By the turn of few days, Guna Sundari maintaining her diets properly regained in fact grew more attractive than she was earlier.

While all this was happening, one day during the wee hours a message reached the Royal couple from the main entrance that a saint said to have meditated for quite some time in the Himalayan ranges was stressing to see the King and Queen immediately. Vijayadatta thought over for a moment and ordered the guard, Welcome the learned sage with all respects and make him seated comfortable in the palace.

Yes my lord! As you wish the guard left to the entrance.

Vijayadatta woke up Guna Sundari and told here about the surprise visit of the saint from the Himalayan ranges. He immediately took bath, wearing ordinary clothing on started waiting for the entry of the sage. Informing the entry of the visitor to the Royal couple, the bell at the entrance was rung thrice while the sage was entering the palace.

Vijayadatta welcomed him heartily, Salutations to you great saint.

May you be blessed with children and all good be bestowed on you by the Almighty, consecrated the sage accepting the salutations of the King.

Vijayadatta making him sit on a cosy seat and appealed to him, Hey Saint! It is over two and a half decades for us to get wed. Till today, we are not blessed with children. There is no puja or sacrifice that is left praying the Creator to bless us with the long cherished wish. We are worried for not having heirs to look after this all-rich and peaceful Kalinga kingdom. Please guide us for children.

I know the problem you are facing and suffering with O King! The very purpose of my visit is to solve your problem. I brought along with me an all-powerful herbal preparation. This should be administered to the Queen immediately, the learned saint ordered the King taking out a pouch containing the powerful preparation from his clothes.

Vijayadatta immediately called, who is there?

One of the maids entered the room and saluted the King. Yes! My Lord!

Present the Queen here at this instance, ordered Vijayadatta.

The maid left after saluting the host and guest, Yes! My Lord! As you please. A little while Guna Sundari walked into the room and paid respects to the Guest, Accept my respects O Great Saint.

May God grant you children the saint blessed her and said, Look this is a powerful herbal preparation. Gulp this down this moment, and handed over the pouch to the Queen. Delicately handling the pouch Guna Sundari walked towards the King and consumed the preparation after taking his permission.

Then, the saint said, Ten months from now, you will be blessed with a baby girl and swiftly walked away without uttering any word. The Royal couple were all in joy with the incident that happened to give them courage and confidence that they will have children.

Guna Sundari soon became pregnant just the way the Saint had blessed and delivered a baby girl after ten months. The total Kalinga kingdom and friendly neighbours celebrated the entry of new member into the Royal family and celebrated the occasion like a big festival.

And the time passed by when the couple were grooming her with all love and affection. Vijayadatta got his child, Rajya Lakshmi trained in all the arts and sciences he knew and appointed teachers to train her arts that were strange to him.

When Rajya Lakshmi grew old and attained the age for marriage, the Royal couple wished to perform her marriage and conveyed her their thought. Dear father, I wish to marry some person who is unbeatable in any one art or science, Rajya Lakshmi expressed her thought.

On hearing her intention and thought of mind, the news was spread throughout the country and in the neighbouring countries that the Princess Rajya Lakshmi wished to marry a person who is unbeatable in any one art.

Taking note of the news, four dynamic young persons approached the King Vijayadatta. One among them appealed to the king introducing himself as, King of Kings! My name is Narayana. I am born in a weaver's family. I am an authority and expert in weaving cloth. There is no weaver in the world that could compete with me. I urge you to give your daughter's hand to me and get her married with me.

O Great King! the second person started speaking, I am Dhana Gupta born in a trader's home. I learnt all the languages of the world including those of trees, plants, birds, serpents, animals, and the possible minute living being on earth. There is no person on this earth learning so many languages of communication. Hence, I am more eligible groom for you daughter.

King Vijayadatta! I am a Brahmin and my name is Gnananda. I am a master in all the magic arts like mesmerism, telepathy, magic, hypnotism, and many evil and good spiritual sciences. Not even a single person can withstand competing with me. Therefore, you are requested to get your daughter married to me, the third young man expressed his abilities.

The fourth young man then said, Hey My Dear King! I am Ajaya Simha born in a warrior's family. I am perfect in all the war and martial arts of the world. Moreover, I am the best in archery in the whole world. I will be more aptly suiting your princess Rajya Lakshmi.

Bhethala stopped the story there and questioned King Vikramaditya, King Vikramaditya! Whom should the King Vijayadatta select of the four and get his princes Rajya Lakshmi married to?

Bhethala! King Vikramaditya replied in a cool tone, It is to be agreed to the fact that the Weaver, Brahmin and Trader are strong contenders on par with the Warrior. Here the King Vijayadatta should remember that he and his daughter belong to Warrior's family. It would be in conformity to the Dharma if Rajya Lakshmi is married to Warrior Ajaya Simha.

Bhethala convinced by Vikramaditya's reply and zoomed off with the corpse back to the treetop.

Bhetala Stories

The Right groom