Baital started off with a new story as usual:
In the kingdom of Kusumavati lived a princess named Prabhavati. Her father was King Sadachar. One day, as the princess was strolling in the palace garden, a young man saw her and got attracted to her. But as he walked away in a hurry, he bumped his head into a tree. He fell unconscious on the ground.
A while later, two Brahmin pandits, father and son, passed there. Their names were Krantideva and Shantideva respectively. They saw the young man lying on the ground.
They sprinkled some water on the young man’s face and soon, the young man regained his consciousness. Then Krantideva asked him, “Who are you?” The young man replied, “I am Bhairon Datta. I hit my head against the tree and lost my consciousness.” Krantideva then went away but Shantideva stayed on. Bhairon Datta told him about the princess. Shantideva offered to help Bhairon Datta attain his lost love.
Shantideva took out a pill from his bag. He gave it to Bhairon Datta and said, “When you put it in your mouth, you will transform into a girl. And when you take it out, you will be yourself.” Bhairon Datta was very happy to get the pill.
After that, Shantideva disguised himself as an old man. Bhairon Datta put the pill in the mouth and changed into a beautiful young girl. Then they proceeded towards the palace to meet the King. The King called them and asked, “What is the matter?” Shantideva introduced Bhairon Datta as his would-be daughter-in-law and told the King that he was going on a pilgrimage. He wanted the King to allow his would-be daughter-in-law to stay in the palace till he returned as it was unsafe to leave her alone. The King agreed and said that she could stay with his dear daughter Prabhavati.
Thus, Bhairon Datta started living with Prabhavati in her palace as her friend. One day, Bhairon Datta revealed his truth to her. Prabhavati was very happy. This way, when no one would to be around, Bhairon Datta used to transform himself into his original form. So that, time passed by. Bhairon Datta and Prabhavati performed gandharva vivah.
One day, the minister’s son saw Bhairon Datta in the girl form. He found her very beautiful. He proposed to Bhairon Datta to marry him. But Bhairon Datta turned down his proposal. So, he went and told his father everything. His father went to the King and told him about his son. The King heard everything. Then he asked them to wait till the father-in-law of the young girl returned from his pilgrimage. The matter would be sorted then in a trice.
Months passed by, but there was no news of the father-in-law or his son. So, one day, the King took a decision. He said to Bhairon Datta, who was in the form of a girl, “Your father-in-law has not come back. I too am like your father. I have made my decision. You will be married to the minister’s son.” Bhairon Datta could not do anything. He came to his male form and ran away from the palace.
a long time had passed by; Shantideva was curious to know about Bhairon Datta. He was in deep thoughts when Krantideva asked him what was bothering him. Shantideva told him everything. His father became very angry and said, “Why did you give him the pill? He will misuse it.” He told Shantideva to find out what was happening in the palace. Shantideva was shocked to hear that Bhairon Datta was missing. He told everything to his father.
So, they decided to visit King Sadachar. Krantideva became a young man and Shantideva his old self. Shantideva said to the King, “I have come to take back my daughter-in-law.” But the King apologized and said that the girl had mysteriously disappeared from the palace. Shantideva was very angry. The King felt very much embarrassed. He did not want to annoy the Brahmin. So, he offered his own daughter Prabhavati, instead, in the marriage. Thus, the marriage between Prabhavati and Shantideva was solemnized. Bhairon Datta came to know about the marriage. He claimed princess Prabhavati as his own bride.
Here, Baital asked Vikramaditya, “Who was Prabhavati’s husband? Was it Shantideva or was it Bhairon Datta?” King Vikramaditya replied, “Bhairon Datta had performed gandharva vivah while Shantideva wedded legally. So, Shantideva shall remain with her legally wedded husband.” “You are right, Vikram,” said Baital but he flew off as the King had spoken.
