The Eleventh Statue: Kirtimati & The Night Watchman's Sacrifice

On the eleventh dawn in Dharanagari palace, morning sunlight streamed across the sandstone colonnade onto the thirty-two-step golden throne.

Draped in sacred saffron silks, King Bhoja approached the eleventh step of the golden throne with solemn, reverent stride.

As King Bhoja lifted his right foot toward the eleventh step, the marble dais erupted with brilliant flame-gold and diamond radiance!

The eleventh carved bronze statue—**Kirtimati (कीर्तिमती)**—opened her glowing diamond-crystal eyes, laughing with melodious temple-bell chime!

King Bhoja halted in deep reverence with folded hands, gazing in awe at the living celestial bronze maiden holding a golden perpetual lamp.

Kirtimati raised her golden perpetual flame lamp, speaking with sovereign authority:

In the grand audience hall of ancient Ujjayini, an impoverished but fiercely noble Rajput warrior named Viravara arrived with his family seeking royal service.

Warrior Viravara knelt before the throne with his loyal wife and noble sixteen-year-old son Shaktidhara, requesting a stipend of five hundred gold dinars daily.

While court ministers murmured in shock at the exorbitant sum, Emperor Vikramaditya sensed immense spiritual depth and unshakeable warrior loyalty, granting it immediately.

Disguised in a traveler's cloak, Vikramaditya secretly shadowed Viravara through the alleys of Ujjayini to see how he spent the five hundred gold dinars.

Viravara gave two hundred dinars to temples, two hundred to starving beggars, fifty to widows, and sustained his family on the remaining fifty dinars!

Through scorching heat and freezing monsoon downpours, Viravara stood alone outside the palace gates with unsheathed sword, never blinking an eye.

On a pitch-black stormy midnight with deafening thunder and torrential monsoon rain, Emperor Vikramaditya stood upon the royal balcony.

Piercing the thunder, an agonizing, heart-wrenching woman's weeping echoed from the desolate cremation grounds across the river!

Vikramaditya called down into the tempest: *"Who is on guard at the gates tonight?"*

Standing drenched in torrential rain, Viravara saluted with his steel sword: *"Your servant Viravara is here, O King!"*

Vikramaditya commanded Viravara to cross the river into the wilderness and discover why the woman was weeping so bitterly.

Wrapped in a dark warrior cloak, Emperor Vikramaditya secretly followed Viravara through the dark flooded forest and blinding lightning flashes.

Beneath an ancient lightning-struck banyan tree in the cremation grounds, Viravara discovered a radiant celestial woman weeping uncontrollably.

Viravara bowed with folded hands: *"Who are you, divine mother, and why do you weep alone in this desolate cremation ground?"*

The celestial deity revealed: *"I am Rajalakshmi—the Goddess of Prosperity of Ujjayini! Emperor Vikramaditya's lifespan has reached its end; in three days, the Emperor shall perish, and I must depart forever!"*

Devastated, Viravara fell to his knees: *"Is there no penance, no sacrifice under heaven that can avert the Emperor's death and preserve Ujjayini's fortune?"*

The Goddess revealed: *"If a pure warrior sacrifices his firstborn son upon the altar of Mother Chandi tonight, Emperor Vikramaditya shall live for another hundred years!"*

Viravara bowed and hurried home through the torrential storm, while hidden Vikramaditya watched from the shadows with a racing heart!

At home, Viravara revealed Goddess Rajalakshmi's decree to his devoted wife and sixteen-year-old son Shaktidhara.

Young Shaktidhara smiled with radiant pride: *"My single life is a grain of dust, father! The Emperor's life protects millions of subjects! Offer my head upon the altar!"*

At midnight, the family arrived at the ancient torchlit sanctum of Mother Chandi, while hidden Vikramaditya watched behind a pillar in breathless dread.

With steady hands and tears of warrior devotion, Viravara raised his sword, severing his son's head upon the altar for the Emperor's life!

Overcome by noble pride and grief, Viravara's wife placed her head upon the altar, severing her own neck to join her son in eternity!

Viravara proclaimed: *"A warrior who has sacrificed his family has no right to live alone!"*—and he drew his blade, severing his own neck upon the sacred stone!

Stepping out from behind the pillar, Emperor Vikramaditya fell to his knees before the three lifeless bodies in overwhelming tears.

Vikramaditya resolved: *"What worth is an empire purchased with the blood of such noble souls? A king who outlives his subjects is a demon!"*

Vikramaditya drew his Wootz steel blade, kneeling before the altar and placing the razor edge directly against his bare throat!

In a blinding flash of celestial golden and crimson light, Mother Goddess Mahachandi manifested, grabbing Vikramaditya's sword arm!

Vikramaditya begged for the lives of Viravara's family; the Goddess sprinkled celestial *Amrita*, instantly reviving Viravara, his wife, and son to radiant life!

Before the revived family realized who had saved them, Vikramaditya slipped away quietly through the storm back to his palace.

At dawn in Ujjayini court, Viravara reported calmly: *"The weeping woman has vanished, O King; all is peaceful throughout Ujjayini."*

Emperor Vikramaditya stepped down from his throne, weeping and embracing Viravara before the entire assembly, revealing the midnight miracle to all!

Living statue Kirtimati challenged King Bhoja: *"Have you ever placed your own neck on the sacrificial altar for a humble servant? If you possess such gratitude, ascend this step!"*

King Bhoja lowered his head in deep humility and stepped down, decreeing lifelong royal pensions and honors for the families of all fallen guards and soldiers! **The eleventh day had concluded!**