VetālPanchavimshati

A death, and a question…

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 …

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When food turns into poison…

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 …

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He lost his wife, and then his life!

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 …

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Of wasted efforts…

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 …

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Hearts won, and hearts broken…

Read the previous part here… “I didn’t know what to do, so I fell at his feet and begged him to lift the curse”, continued Mṛgāṅkavatī. “When he was finally placated, he said…” “In time, Yaśaḥketu, the king of Aṅga, shall become your husband, and shall see you swallowed by the Rākṣasa, and shall kill …

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The curse – part 2

Read the previous part here… The king was taken aback by what he saw, and blood rushed to his head in anger. He unsheathed his sword, and rushing towards the Rākṣasa, jumped high up and cut off his head in one stroke. A stream of blood gushed forth from the trunk of the beheaded Rākṣasa, …

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The curse…

Read the previous part here… When she said this, the king recalled what Kuśanābha had told him, and he brought her close to him and held her affectionately, wanting to give her all the love in the world and even more. Mṛgāṅkavatī too was overpowered by affection, and agreed to accept him as her husband. …

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I have one condition…

Read the previous part here… The maiden slowly opened her eyes, which fell on the handsome king, a warrior whose wounds spoke of a hundred wars fought and won…and startled, she sprang from the couch, and hid her face in shyness. कृतातिथ्या नतमुखी पूजयन्तीव पादयोः ।फुल्लेक्षणोत्पलन्यासैः शनैर् एतम् उवाच च ॥ १२,१९.१०० ॥ को भवान् …

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