King Vikramaditya, as usual, pulled the corpse down from the tree and put it on his shoulder. He started walking towards his kingdom. Baital could not keep silent and said to him, “While you are walking, let me tell you an interesting story.” Baital then smiled and started off with his story:
In the city of Angaj lived two brahmin brothers. The elder brother was called Sant and the younger one was known as Basant. They loved each other a lot. Both were unmarried. One day, as they were taking a stroll in the garden, they happened to see a beautiful maiden. Sant immediately fell in love with her. Basant saw his brother and remarked, “You seem to have been blown away by her beauty.” Sant smiled but did not reply.
The next day, Sant got ready to go to the garden at the same time. Basant saw him getting ready and asked, “Where are you going?” Sant lied to Basant by saying, “Oh! I have some urgent work to do. I will be back soon.”
Sant reached the garden excitedly. The maiden was already strolling there. Sant went up to her and said, “You are very beautiful. I have seen many girls but you are the first one I have liked. Will you marry me?” The maiden asked, “Do you really wish to marry me?” Sant replied, “Yes, of course! I find you very pretty.” The maiden replied, “But I am not beautiful. What you are seeing is all fake. Look! This is all just a special make-up that makes me look so beautiful.”
While telling him all this, she removed the make-up from her face. And to Sant’s despair, she did not look pretty at all; she looked rather ugly. Sant left the garden at once without saying anything.
The next day, Basant went to the garden to meet the maiden. Basant said to her, “I wish to marry you. Would you also marry me?” The maiden replied, “No. Here take a look at me without my make-up. I am so ugly.” Saying so, she removed the make-up from her face. But Basant was a gentleman. Looks did not matter much to him. So, he replied, “I am not swayed by looks. Beauty is a temporary thing. But you are good-hearted and that is what I like very much.”
The maiden was very happy to hear this. She said, “I shall give you all the happiness that a wife can give to her husband.” Basant was ecstatic. He went home and told his brother that he was going to marry the maiden. Sant was shocked to hear this. He told his brother, “The maiden is ugly. Why are you marrying her?” Sant tried to sway his brother’s decision but it was futile. Basant had made up his mind to marry the maiden.
Soon Basant married the maiden. To Basant’s surprise, the maiden looked beautiful. So, Basant asked her, “How do you look so beautiful?” The maiden laughed and said, “I am actually beautiful. I wanted to test you; that is why I put on false make-up. I wanted to find out who loved me for my beauty and who for the sake of virtues.” Basant was happy to know this.
When Sant came to know this truth, he was wild with rage. He went to Basant’s house when he was not there. The maiden was surprised to see him there. Sant angrily attacked her. But Basant reached on time and fought against Sant. In the fighting that ensued, Sant was killed. The news of a brother killing a brother spread like wildfire. There was shock and surprise on everyone’s face.
Soon, Basant was arrested by the King’s soldiers. He was taken to the King’s court. Basant told the King everything. Then the King gave his judgement.
At this point, Baital finished the story. He asked King Vikramaditya, “Vikram, tell me what judgement the King gave. If you fail to answer my question, I shall break your head into pieces.” King Vikramaditya thought for a moment and then said, “Baital! The King would have given no punishment to Basant. He must have released Basant with honour. The killing of Sant was altogether justified.”
A satisfied and relieved Baital said, “You are absolutely right. But again, you have broken your silence. So, I am going to fly away to my abode. As usual, you will chase me but I am helpless as I am guided by my own instincts.” Saying so, Baital flew off with King Vikramaditya not far behind.
