A husband, thief and lover

The husband, thief and lover

Once more Vikram carried Betaal on his shoulders and Betaal started narrating one more story. In the city of Anantpur, once Dharamdutt saw a beautiful woman while he was roaming around. Her name was Madansena. Dharamdutt fell in love with her at the first sight and started following her wherever she went. Madansena warned him not to follow her or else she would complain to her father. Dharamdutt said that he did not care about anyone and that he would jump in the river if she did not accept his love. Madansena asked him to jump and he really did so and started drowning as he did not know how to swim. Madansena was frightened and jumped to save him. Meanwhile Samudradutt’s parents’ wanted him to get married before they left for pilgrimage and so they went along with him to Madansena’s house to see her. When they reached, Madansena was not at home. After she got Dharamdutt out of the river, he told her to meet him on the full moon day or else he would sacrifice his life. When Madansena reached home, Samudradutt saw her and instantly liked her. They were engaged and got married the next day. Two thieves in the city came to know about the marriage so they came to steal the very same night. Madansena was lying on her bed. One of them saw her and admired her beauty. Meanwhile few ladies came in to decorate the room and so the thieves had to run away. At night, Madansena told Samudradutt about Dharamdutt and requested him to let her meet Dharamdutt as it was the full moon night. Samudradutt allowed her but followed her in disguise.

On her way, Madansena met the thief who had fallen in love with her. He stopped her but she requested him to let her go and promised him that she would meet him on her way back. The thief agreed but he too followed her. When Madansena reached Dharamdutt’s house, he was very happy to see her but the moment he came to know that she was married, he asked her to go away as it was a sin to leave her husband on the first night and come so Madansena went back. On her way back she was again stopped by the thief. He told her that he was shocked to know that a husband trusted his wife so much that he let her go to meet another man and the lover sent her back on learning that she was married. He too let her go. Madansena reached home and Samudradutt happily accepted her as he thought her to be very pious and honest.

After saying this, Betaal stopped and asked Vikram as to whose sacrifice was greater, Samudradutt the thief or Dharamdutt. He once more forced Vikram to reply. Vikram replied that the thief’s sacrifice was the greatest as Samudradutt sacrificed on Madansena’s request; Dharamdutt sacrificed her as she was someone else’s wife but the thief had no reason to sacrifice. He had all the chances to rob Madansena off her jewelry and also acquire her but he did not do that and he let her go. Thus his sacrifice was the greatest. Betaal admired Vikram’s wit but as he had opened his mouth to speak, Betaal once more flew away.