King Vikramaditya walked with the dead body when Baital spoke. He said, “Vikram, you will never be able to stop me; try as you might. If I want, I myself will stop escaping.” King Vikramaditya did not say anything. Baital as usual started telling him a story as follows:
The king of Swarga Desh had four very beautiful daughters. Apart from being beautiful, they were known all over the world for their delicacy and softness. It is hard to describe how delicate they were. Words failed to describe them. The first princess was so delicate that when the moonlight fell on her skin, her skin got burnt and blisters used to form. The second princess was so delicate that even a rose-petal falling on her bruised and injured her body.
One day, the King gave her a flower, but the flower fell on her toe and injured it.
The third princess was so delicate that she used to faint even at the faintest noise. Once, the sound of a wooden pestle from a house far away gave her a severe headache and she fainted. And finally, the fourth princess was so tender that a mere touching of her body left dark spots on her skin for many days.
Therefore, people were very cautious when they were near any of them. For example, they never spoke loudly in front of the princess who was sensitive to a loud noise. They whispered to one another. No one touched the princess who was sensitive to touch.
Despite being known for their tenderness, many princes wished to marry them. The King himself was much worried about the future of his daughters. He was more worried about how they would live after their marriage. He was very much concerned for his second and fourth daughters.
The King had deployed several maid-servants to look after the comforts of all the four princesses. Of these maids, one was a very kind maid. She used to help the needy and give alms to beggars.
One day, one of the princesses gave the maid some jewellery as a token of appreciation. The maid was very happy. She went out of the palace for some work. Suddenly, a poor old man came near her and said, “Please help me. I am very poor. I have a daughter who is to be married but I have no money to get her married.” The maid felt very bad for the poor old man. So, she took out all her jewellery and gave it to the old man. The old man was very happy and blessed her. Then he went away. Meanwhile, the maid returned to the palace. She went to the princess’ chamber.
The princess saw that the jewels which she had given to the maid were missing. So, she asked the maid, “Where is the jewellery I gave you?” The maid told her everything. Instead of being appreciative, the princess got angry at the maid. She said, “How dare you insult me by bestowing my jewels on someone else? Get out of the palace.” So, the poor maid was thrown out of service.
Meanwhile, the King wanted to get his daughters cured. One day, a famous physician from a neighbouring country came to his court. The King told him about his four daughters and asked the physician if they could be cured. The physician began to laugh on hearing this. The King asked in surprise, “Why are you laughing? Can’t you cure my daughters?” The physician laughed again and said, “No.” Then he left the court.
Baital stopped telling the story here. He asked King Vikramaditya, “Vikram! Which of the four princesses was the most fragile? And why did the physician decline to treat the King’s daughters? If you try to shun from answering my question, I will break your head into pieces.” King Vikramaditya replied, “Baital, you will be astonished but none of the four princesses was delicate.”
Baital was really amazed to hear this. King Vikramaditya said, “It was the maid who was the most delicate of them all.” “How?” asked Baital. King Vikramaditya replied, “Compassion and warmth hold more importance. Physical delicacy does not matter. The maid was very compassionate. The physician refused to treat the princesses because no medicine in the world can change a person’s nature.”
Baital, as usual, tried to fly away because Vikramaditya had spoken but as soon as he tried to fly away, King Vikramaditya held him tightly.
Baital said, “Vikram, you are getting smarter. I will not go away but you will have to listen to my remaining story and also answer my question.” King Vikramaditya nodded his head. So, Baital continued, “After the physician’s departure, the King married off his first daughter. Her husband always kept her in a shaded place. In time, she gave birth to a baby. The whole kingdom was lighted up with earthen lamps. Sadly, the princess was herself exposed to the lights of the earthen lamps. Her skin was burnt and blisters formed on her body.”
King Vikramaditya began to laugh. Baital was perplexed. King Vikramaditya replied, “The sensitivity of the skin has nothing to do with the nature of a person. It is a kind of ailment.” Baital kept quiet and King Vikramaditya walked on.
