Vikramaditya Heads to Safeguard Sacrifice in Graveyard
King Vikramaditya with his chief minister and brother Bhatti was chivalrously ruling with Ujjain as his kingdom's capital.
One day, a saint named Santhisheela walked into the court of Vikramaditya and presented him a pomegranate. Vikramaditya instead of eating it right away, told his soldiers to keep it safe. Everyday Santhisheela used to visit the King and give him one pomegranate and it had become a routine to the soldiers to keep it along with the earlier ones. This went on for some days. A monkey, one day, suddenly snatched away the fruit from a soldier's hand and tried to bite it.
Surprisingly, instead of seeds, diamonds rolled out of the fruit. This scene puzzled King Vikramaditya. He ordered his soldiers to bring all the stored pomegranates to him. All the fruits were naturally filled with diamonds and other precious stones.
Next morning, with out untiringly, the saint Santhisheela walked again into the court and presented another pomegranate to the King after blessing him. Vikramaditya stopped him and asked, Hey saint Santhisheela! You are visiting me and blessing regularly. There should be a strong reason behind your visit like this. Please tell me! I promise to fulfil your desire, be it any.
Next morning, with out untiringly, the saint Santhisheela walked again into the court and presented another pomegranate to the King after blessing him. Vikramaditya stopped him and asked, Hey saint Santhisheela! You are visiting me and blessing regularly. There should be a strong reason behind your visit like this. Please tell me! I promise to fulfil your desire, be it any.
On hearing the assurance from King, Santhisheela said King Vikramaditya! I proposed to perform a sacrifice at the graveyard on the coming Dwadasi (12th Lunar Day). You are a brave and courage man. I wish you should safeguard my sacrifice from being disturbed. Vikramaditya agreed for the same.
Vikramaditya with a drawn sword, following the guidelines of the saint Santhisheela, reached the graveyard where he was performing a Homa (Sacrifice) on the Dwadasi night. Santhisheela was pleased to see Vikramaditya and said, Vikramaditya! You are true to your promise by coming here on time. There is a big tree towards south from here. On that tree, Bhethala will be hanging upside down. You should get that down here for the sacrifice. Santhisheela continued Hey King note one thing. You should not speak even a single word when you are carrying Bhethala from the tree over here.
Vikramaditya assured, As you please, saint. I will get Bhethala here.
Unfretted in the dark night, Vikramaditya reached the tree from which Bhethala was hanging, upside down. He climbed the tree, threw the corpse from there and came down. The moment Vikramaditya came down, Bhethala in a flash laughing demonic flew up and hung to the same branch.
Vikramaditya, after having this experienced for twice and thrice, thought for a moment. He climbed again. This time he tied the cadaver on his back with a cloak (an upper garment people used to wear those days) and climbed off the tree.
Bhethala immediately realised that the person carrying him was King Vikramaditya and time was drawing close for relief from the Lord Shiva's curse.
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.