The Resurrection of the Dead Lion
पंचदश बेताल: चार मित्र और जीवित किया गया सिंह
The Fifteenth Retrieval & The Four Companions
पंद्रहवीं चढ़ाई और चार ब्राह्मण मित्र
For the fifteenth time, Emperor Vikramaditya ascended the ancient Shinshapa tree amidst the howling cremation ground, lowered the spectral corpse, and strode into the night in unbroken silence.
O King! Your perseverance is invincible! Listen now to this entertaining and profound chronicle of bookish pedantry versus practical common sense!
In the land of Kanyakubja grew four Brahmin youths. Three of them were master scholars of occult scriptures, mantras, and esoteric sciences, but utterly lacked practical common sense and worldly wisdom.
The fourth friend, named Subuddhi, possessed little bookish scholarship, but was blessed with innate discretion, sharp worldly discernment, and supreme practical intelligence.
Book-learning is fruitful only when guided by practical discretion and common sense!
The four companions resolved to journey across realms to win royal patronage and fortune with their skills, setting out along a trail through a dense, primeval forest.
The Bones in the Forest & The Pride of Vidya
वन में अस्थि-समूह और विद्या का अहंकार
Journeying through the deep wilderness, the three pedants mocked Subuddhi for lacking esoteric vidya, though out of childhood affection they permitted him to accompany them.
In the middle of the jungle clearing, they stumbled upon a scattered heap of bleached, dry bones belonging to a long-dead apex predator.
Beholding the dry bones, the eyes of the three scholars lit up with vanity. They resolved to display the miraculous power of their esoteric spells on the spot.
Brothers! Behold the perfect opportunity to prove our mastery! I can assemble these scattered bones into a complete anatomical skeleton!
The second scholar boasted he would clothe the bones with flesh and blood, while the third declared he would infuse it with living breath. Subuddhi watched with mounting dread.
The Construction & The Voice of Reason
सिंह का निर्माण और विवेक की चेतावनी
The first scholar chanted an incantation and sprinkled consecrated water. Instantly, the scattered bones flew together, forming the complete, menacing skeleton of a giant predator.
The second scholar cast his spell. Within heartbeats, crimson muscles, pulsing veins, sharp fangs, and golden fur materialized over the bones—a massive, lifelike royal lion lay before them!
Now the third scholar puffed up with pedantic vanity, stepping forward with raised hands to chant the Sanjivani mantra to infuse the beast with breath and life.
Trembling with practical horror, Subuddhi seized the third scholar's arm, shouting frantically to stop this impending catastrophe!
Fools! Stop this madness! This is no harmless beast, but a ferocious man-eating lion! The instant you breathe life into it, it will tear all four of us to bloody shreds!
The Arrogance of Pedantry & The Fatal Roar
दंभी विद्वता और प्रलयंकारी गर्जना
The third scholar shook off Subuddhi's hand with disdainful laughter, refusing to let common sense interfere with the display of his occult scholarship.
Ignorant coward! What do you know of sacred sciences! Shall I leave my miraculous Sanjivani vidya unproven because of your craven fears? I shall give it life!
Seeing that the stubborn pedants were deaf to reason, Subuddhi cried: 'Wait one moment then—let me climb this banyan tree first!' He scrambled up into the highest branches.
As the third scholar completed the incantation, life surged into the beast. Its amber eyes snapped open, its fangs bared, and a deafening roar echoed through the jungle!
Awakening with ravenous bloodlust, the ferocious predator pounced upon the three helpless scholars, tearing them limb from limb in a matter of heartbeats!
Wisdom Over Pedantry & The Solitary Return
विद्या पर बुद्धि की विजय और अकेला यात्री
Having devoured the three foolish scholars, the blood-stained lion sauntered away into the dark jungle depths, leaving the glade in eerie silence.
When the predator had vanished, Subuddhi climbed down. Looking upon the tragic remains of his friends, he wept for their folly, reflecting on the peril of knowledge devoid of wisdom.
Wisdom is truly superior to bookish knowledge! Those devoid of common sense perish like the creators of the lion!
Guided by unshakeable common sense and timely judgment, Subuddhi returned safely to his homeland, alive and prosperous.
Concluding his wondrous fable amidst the haunted cremation grounds, Betal leaned into Vikramaditya's ear with the decisive moral question of accountability.
Now speak, O King! Among them all, who bears the true guilt and moral crime for the gruesome slaughter of the three scholars?
The Riddle, The Verdict, & The Flight
बेताल का प्रश्न, विक्रम का अमर निर्णय और पलायन
Betal challenged the silent Emperor with his customary deadly ultimatum.
Was the culprit the one who joined the bones? The one who fashioned flesh? The one who gave breath? Or Subuddhi who climbed the tree without physically overpowering them? Speak the truth, O King, or your skull shatters into a hundred fragments!
Emperor Vikramaditya declared with supreme wisdom: 'The third scholar who infused life into the lion is solely guilty of the murder and destruction of his companions!'
The first scholar merely assembled bones and the second crafted muscles—that inert form posed no active peril to anyone. The fourth friend, Subuddhi, gave clear, timely warning and attempted to prevent the disaster; having no power to forcibly restrain them, he is entirely blameless. The sole culprit was the third scholar, who was explicitly warned of the predator's lethal nature and certain death! Knowing the fatal consequences, yet driven purely by intellectual vanity and pedantic arrogance, he recklessly unleashed a living monster! Knowledge devoid of wisdom and inflated by ego is the true murderer!
The flawless verdict shattered the King's vow of silence once more! With a deafening cackle, Betal slipped from Vikramaditya's shoulder and dissolved into mist, soaring back to the Shinshapa tree.
Masterful justice, O King! Vanity devoid of discretion is indeed the root of doom! But your silence is broken—and I fly! Khehehehe!
Under the ink-black skies of the moonless Amavasya night, fearless amidst the horrors of the cremation grounds, Emperor Vikramaditya drew his gleaming blade and strode back toward the ancient tree to recapture the ghost.
Betal! Each riddle you weave illuminates the light of justice, but my royal vow remains unshakable—I shall bring you back!