Read the previous part here… “You seem to be a good man, then how did you come here? This man is a thief, and he will surely rob you. Not only that, he may injure you as well!” “I haven’t seen anyone as treacherous as him, so please leave when you still can!” The king …
It’s been a year. I started to write (regularly) a year back. The lockdown had been declared and I found myself an extra hour everyday, that I did not want to waste. And so I started to write. I didn’t have a plan. I didn’t know what I would write, for how long I would …
Read the previous part here… The figure often turned around and was on the lookout. “This is surely the thief that everyone has been searching for”, thought the king to himself, as he approached the figure, his hand on his sword, ready to strike at any moment. ततः स चौरो दृष्ट्वा तं नृपं को ऽसीत्य् …
चतुर्दशो वतेालः The fourteenth story The thief and the merchant’s daughter स त्रिविक्रमसेनो ऽथ गत्वा तं शिंशपातरोः ।भूयो ऽप्य् आसाद्य वेतालं स्कन्धे जग्राह भूपतिः ॥ १२,२१.१ ॥ प्रस्थितं च तम् उर्वीशं स वेतालो ऽभ्यधात् पुनः ।राजञ् श्रान्तो ऽसि तच् चित्रां कथाम् आख्यामि ते शृणु ॥ १२,२१.२ ॥ King Vikram went back to the tree, and …
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, who was to blame for Harisvāmin’s death ? Was it the kite, or the snake, or Padmanābha’s wife?“ “Remember, if you know the answer, and don’t tell me the truth, your head will burst into a hundred pieces!“ Listen to this episode: इति वेतालतो राजा …
Read the previous part here… Writhing in agony, he exclaimed… “Oh, when fate is against you, even good things that happen to you turn bad in the end! This delicious kheer has now become poisonous for me!” Lamenting this way, Harisvāmin started back towards the Brāhman’s house, stumbling in pain all along the way… Listen …
Read the previous part here… He then reached a village, and chanced upon the house of a Brāhman named Padmanābha, who was conducting a yagna. Harisvāmin saw many Brāhmans lined up outside the house, waiting to be fed, and so he managed to reach the doorpost, and leaned against it, silent and motionless. Listen to …
Read the previous part here… “My beloved wife! Where have you gone! Did this night, after seeing your beauty as fair as moonlight, get jealous and take you away from me?” “Or did the moon, that was vanquished by your exquisite beauty, comfort me with it’s cool as sandalwood rays earlier, only to take it’s …
Read the previous part here… त्रयोदशो वतेालः The thirteenth story The Brāhman Harisvāmin, who first lost his wife, and then his life अथ गत्वा पुनः प्राप्य शिंशपातस् ततो नृपः ।स त्रिविक्रमसेनस् तं स्कन्धे वेतालम् आददे ॥ १२,२०.१ ॥ आयान्तं च स वेतालो भूयस् तं नृपम् अब्रवीत् ।राजञ् शृणु कथाम् एकां संक्षिप्तां वर्णयामि ते ॥ १२,२०.२ ॥ King Vikram …
Read the previous part here… “So tell me, o King, why did the minister die of a broken heart? That too, on the day when the king had succeeded in his quest?” “Was he disappointed that he did not win Mṛgāṅkavatī himself?” “Or was it that he wanted to rule over the kingdom himself, and …
