VIKRAM VETAL.

King Chandrasen and his servant Satvasheel

Yet again Vikram started walking with Betal on his shoulders and Betal started off… On the seacoast was a town named Tamralipi where a young man named Satvasheel was taking rounds of the palace to meet King Chandrasen for a job. But the King’s staff never allowed him to meet the King. Satvasheel did not loose hope and kept trying everyday. One day, while he was talking to a lady vendor selling hog plums, a man came and told them to step aside as the King’s procession was to pass by. On hearing this, Satvasheel was very happy. As soon as the King’s procession passed by, he ran after King Chandrasen. The King stopped and asked him his name and then asked him for water. He went and got water from a nearby pond by making a bowl out of a leaf. He then offered plums to the King. King Chandrasen ate two plums. The King then asked what he could do for him. He said that it was his desire to serve the King and he had been trying since many days but his guards were not allowing him to meet the King. The King then gave him a ring with the state’s coin engraved on it and asked him to come to the palace with it and when he would show it to the guards they would immediately allow him. Satvasheel next day went to the palace and the King appointed him. Satvasheel served his master with all his dedication.
Once, King Chandrasen told Satvasheel that there were many unemployed youngsters in their state and the reason for that was the lack of business. If they try to increase their business with nearby islands then it will help reduce unemployment. But for that someone must go and search for islands, approach them and try to get business from them and for that one has to be dedicated, hardworking and adventurous. Satvasheel told the King that he was ready to go for it. Chandrasen gave him a boat and Satvasheel and few associates started off. While they were sailing in the sea he saw a flag hoisted in water. Chandrasen had asked him to give all respect to the flag. Satvasheel thought that as the flag was hoisted in the middle of the sea there had to be something underneath. He jumped into the water and went down. There he saw a beautiful woman sitting with other ladies listening to music.
Satvasheel told her that he had come from Chandrasen’s country. She then asked him to take rest and offered him to take a bath before taking lunch. Just as he got into the bathtub he came out of the lake where King Chandrasen saw him. Satvasheel was surprised as he did not understand how he reached there. He told the story to Chandrasen. Chandrasen expressed his desire to visit the place. Satvasheel went along with Chandrasen to the same place. King Chandrasen fought with all the soldiers that came his way and won over the state. The princess then declared that Chandrasen had won and he was the king from that day. Chandrasen appointed Satvasheel as his representative to rule over the state and ordered the princess to get married to Satvasheel and be the queen. Just as Satvasheel and the princess bowed to King Chandrasen gooseberries fell from under Satvasheel’s belt. Chandrasen reminded him of the afternoon in the jungle where he had eaten plums from Satvasheel. Thus Chandrasen paid off his debt of plums to Satvasheel.
Betaal then stopped and asked Vikram as to who according to him was more courageous, Chandrasen or Satvasheel. He once more forced Vikram to reply or else he would behead him. Vikram replied that according to him Satvasheel was more courageous and justifying his answer said, that when Chandrasen jumped in to the sea where the flag was hoisted, he knew what was under as he had heard the full story from Satvasheel so there was nothing brave but when Satvasheel jumped, he knew nothing about it and there could have been danger to his life but he did not worry about it and went ahead. So he was more courageous than Chandrasen. Betaal praised Vikram ’s justification but since he once more had spoken, he flew away