As King Vikramaditya was about to reach the crematory, where the hermit was meditating, Baital said to him, “Vikram! I have already forewarned you that the hermit is an evil being. He wants to sacrifice you also in order to enhance his demoniac powers. He will ask you to bow before the sacrificial fire, and when you do so, he will cut off your head. But when he tells you to bow, you tell him to show you how to do it.”
Hearing this, King Vikramaditya was startled, but he kept quiet. Going to the hermit, he threw Baital before him.
The hermit, seeing Baital lying at his feet, became ecstatic. He said, “King Vikramaditya, you have done a splendid job. I bless you with longevity.” Then the hermit chopped Baital’s body into pieces. He threw the pieces into the sacrificial fire.
After that, he turned to King Vikramaditya and said, “Vikram, now you also bow before this sacrificial fire to please the gods so that they may bless you with a boon to rule over the world.” Vikram, hearing these words, recalled suddenly to mind all that Baital had told him. He replied with the greatest humility, “O pious person! I am a king ignorant of the way to do such obeisance. You are a spiritual being. Please teach me and I will do as you wish.”
The hermit fell in his own trap. As he bent down, King Vikramaditya, drawing his sword, struck him upon the neck. His head rolled from his body and fell upon the ground. The hermit was dead.
Suddenly, Vikramaditya the brave heard someone laughing. It was none other than Baital who was standing at a distance. But he was different. He was a completely handsome young man now. King Vikramaditya could not believe his eyes and asked him, “Are you really Baital?” Baital laughed and said, “Yes! The hermit is dead. You have done me a great favour.” “But how did you get the name Baital?” asked King Vikramaditya. Baital replied, “The hermit was my elder brother.
He turned me into a ghost by his supernatural powers. You were his next target. He did all this to enhance his demoniac powers.”
He continued, “Vikram! I have caused you a lot of trouble during these twenty-five stories. But you exercised complete control over your nerves and patience. You also answered my questions judiciously without ever losing your temper. You are an extra-ordinary king. I grant you a boon. You shall enjoy the sovereignty of the Vidyadharas.”
King Vikramaditya thanked Baital for his generosity. King Vikramaditya said to Baital, “I have everything that a man could ask for by God’s grace. But I will gladly accept a boon from you. Please grant me the wish that the twenty-five stories told by you, along with the queries raised and their answers given by me, become famous all over the world.” Baital granted the boon and went away. But after Baital had gone away, King Vikramaditya felt there was some divine form around him.
Within no time he was proved right as Lord Shiva stood before him. He praised King Vikramaditya duly for having slain the hermit. Lord Shiva said, “Vikram! You are part of me. I created you to destroy the enemy forces and to maintain peace on the earth. I am happy to say that you performed your duties successfully. But your job is not yet over. You still have many more battles to conquer. And for this, I am giving you a sword which is indestructible. My blessings are with you. May you always win!”
Lord Shiva went away. As King Vikramaditya had finished his job, he returned to his capital Pratishthana. There, his subjects welcomed him and honoured him. There was great rejoicing everywhere.
