The Incomparable Sacrifice of Veervara

Without a word of fatigue, Emperor Vikramaditya returned to the terrifying midnight cemetery, climbed the blackened Shinshapa tree, and slung the spectral corpse over his broad back. Betal grinned: 'Listen, O King! To lighten your toil on this grim road, hear the timeless tale of King Shudraka and the peerless warrior Veervara!'

In the prosperous city of Shobhavati ruled the righteous King Shudraka. A noble Rajput warrior named Veervara from Malwa arrived in court seeking service, accompanied by his virtuous wife Dharmavati, his bold 8-year-old son Satyavara, and his young daughter Veervati.

Veervara boldly requested a daily wage of 500 gold coins. Impressed by his commanding bearing and martial aura, King Shudraka consented to his unusual terms.

Royal spies observed that out of 500 gold coins, Veervara dedicated 100 to temples, 100 to feed the poor, 100 for royal arms, 100 in general charity, and sustained his household on only the remaining 100!

Veervara kept unbroken vigil at the palace lion-gate, standing motionless through scorching heat, howling monsoons, and freezing midnight frost.

One night, during a fierce monsoon tempest at midnight, the heart-wrenching weeping of a distressed woman echoed through the palace walls.

From the royal balcony, King Shudraka called into the dark: 'Who stands vigil at the gate?' Veervara answered instantly: 'Your humble servant Veervara, Sire!'

Gripping his sword and torch, Veervara marched into the drenched forest. Unseen in the shadows, King Shudraka followed quietly behind him.

By the royal lake, Veervara beheld a radiant, weeping celestial woman adorned in gold. He bowed: 'Divine Mother! Who are you, and why do you weep in this storm?'

The Goddess revealed: 'Only if a faithful servant sacrifices his 8-year-old son Satyavara before Goddess Chandi will King Shudraka be granted a lifespan of one hundred years!'

Veervara hurried home, faithfully explaining the divine prophecy to his noble wife Dharmavati and his young son Satyavara.

The brave 8-year-old boy Satyavara smiled proudly with folded hands: 'Father! The King is our protector whose salt we eat. To sacrifice this mortal frame for his life is the highest glory of a Kshatriya!'

Veervara, his wife Dharmavati, son Satyavara, and young daughter marched in solemn resolve to the temple of Goddess Chandi, while King Shudraka watched from the shadows.

Inside the basalt sanctum, before the fierce four-armed idol of Goddess Chandi, the family knelt in deep prayer for the King's longevity.

Drawing his sword, Veervara severed his brave son Satyavara's head in a single stroke, offering it with tears of devotion at the feet of the Goddess!

Beholding the boy's sacrifice, mother Dharmavati and the young daughter embraced his form, surrendering their own lives before the altar in supreme devotion!

Seeing his entire family dead, Veervara proclaimed: 'My life is complete—the debt to my King is paid!'—and severed his own head before the Goddess!

Emerging from behind the pillar, King Shudraka wept in boundless agony: 'Alas! For the sake of a mortal king, this peerless warrior has sacrificed his entire family!'

King Shudraka drew his blade: 'To live on the blood of my servant is eternal infamy!'—and raised the steel sword to his own throat...

Suddenly, Goddess Chandi manifested in blinding golden radiance, halting the King's blade: 'Hold, righteous King! I am moved to the depths of divinity by your supreme selflessness!'

King Shudraka wept: 'Mother! I ask neither for empire nor longevity—only restore Veervara and his noble family back to life!' The Goddess sprinkled divine nectar, and the entire family awakened whole and radiant!

Seeing the family whole and embracing in joy, King Shudraka slipped away into the night shadows unseen, returning silently to his palace.

Next morning, when asked about the night, Veervara modestly hid his sacrifice: 'Sire, it was merely a distressed woman who found peace after prayer.'

King Shudraka wept before the entire assembly, revealed the breathtaking truth, embraced Veervara, and crowned him sovereign King of Malwa!

Betal posed the ultimate riddle: 'Tell me, O Emperor Vikramaditya! Among Veervara, his wife, the young boy Satyavara, and King Shudraka—whose sacrifice was genuinely the greatest and most selfless of all? Answer or your skull shatters!'

Emperor Vikramaditya declared: 'King Shudraka's sacrifice was supreme! Veervara and his family received a royal salary and ate the King's salt, fulfilling their duty of loyalty (*Swamidharma*). But King Shudraka owed nothing to anyone—for a sovereign Emperor to willingly cast away his crown and life for a mere servant is the pinnacle of selfless nobility!'