The Cursed Maiden

King Vikramaditya was carrying the corpse back when Baital spoke. He said to King Vikramaditya, “I will tell you a story again to pass the time.” So, Baital told a story:
There was a kingdom called Punyapur which was ruled by King Virbhadra. He had a loyal minister whose name was Satyamani.

One day, Satyamani came to the King and requested, “Sir, I want to go on a pilgrimage. I have come to ask for your consent and blessings.” King Virbhadra willingly gave permission to Satyamani to go on the journey. On his pilgrimage, he visited the temple of Lord Shiva near the sea-shore. After coming out of the temple, Satyamani watched the sea and the tides rising from it. He enjoyed the view so much that he made up his mind to spend his night on the shore. During midnight, he saw an extraordinary spectacle.
Satyamani saw a tree rising out of the sea. It was glowing. Its leaves were made of gold; the fruits and the flowers of the tree were made of diamonds, sapphires and pearls. And a more strange sight was that a young lady was sitting on the tree and playing upon the lyre. After a while, the sparkling tree went under the water.

The next day, at midnight, Satyamani again waited for the tree to rise up again. When the tree emerged, he swam up to it and asked the maiden sitting on it, “Who are you? And what are you doing here?” But she did not reply and went back. An excited Satyamani cancelled his pilgrimage. He returned to the kingdom and rushed to the King’s court to tell him about his unique experience. Satyamani narrated what he saw to the King. The King too became eager to have a look at the tree.
So, leaving Satyamani to manage the affairs of the court, the King went to the sea-shore. As soon as he saw the tree surfacing from the water, he swam up to it. The maiden was sitting on the tree, as usual, and playing upon the lyre. She said to the King, “Why have you come here?” But the king did not say anything. After a pause, the King said, “I am attracted by your beauty.” Soon, the King and the lady got married.

Then she said, “O King! Do not come near me on the moonless night.” But on the moonless night the King came there with his sword and watched her. Suddenly, a demon appeared near the jewel tree and saw the King. He became angry and attacked him. A fierce fight ensued between the two; and the King, finally, slew the demon.
The maiden was very happy and thanked the King. The King asked, “Why did the demon visit you on a moonless night?” The maiden replied, “I am the daughter of Gandharva Vidyasagar. He ate food which was cooked and served by me only. Once, while playing, I forgot to serve him food. He had to remain hungry. Angry at my folly, he cursed me that I would be visited by the demon on every moonless night. The demon harassed me and wanted to marry me. When my father cooled down a little, he offered me a boon according to which a King would come here some day and rescue me from the demon and marry me. So, here you are.”

A happy Virbhadra arrived in his kingdom along with the maiden. When Satyamani heard that the King had married the maiden, he committed suicide.
Baital ended his story and asked, “Tell me, Vikram, why Satyamani committed suicide. Answer in all fairness or I will break your head into pieces.” King Vikramaditya replied, “Satyamani died due to his own fault. He fell in love with the maiden but if he wished to marry the maiden, he should not have told the King about the tree.”


Baital exclaimed, “Absolutely right! But as you have spoken, I have no option but to leave you and return to my dwelling in the peepal tree.” Saying this, Baital flew away with King Vikramaditya chasing him once again.

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