The Justice of King Satyadev

The justice of King Satyadev

Determined Vikram once again got Betal down and began walking. Betal as usual narrated… Haribhatt was a poor poet. Once he recited a poem in the court of King Satyadev of Vijaynagar. Princess Priyavanda, who was present in the court, liked his poem very much and sent a letter to Haribhatt. Haribhatt replied and both of them fell in love and started exchanging letters. Haribhatt was waiting to get married to Princess Priyavanda so he could be the son-in-law of the King and enjoy all the luxuries of life as he was fed up of living in a small house in poverty. He hid all the letters in a box guarded by a snake beneath the idol of Lord Ganesha. Meanwhile a thief named Kaliya had created havoc by his thefts. He was not being caught by anyone and his terror was increasing. King Satyadev asked his guards in the court as to why the thief was not being caught. Just then poet Haribhatt arrived and told King Satyadev that he wanted to talk to him in private.

Just then King Dharmadev of Magadh desh, the biggest enemy of Satyadev arrived. King Satyadev was surprised on his visit. Dharmadev revealed that he had not come as an enemy or with an army but instead he had come all alone to extend a hand of friendship as he wanted to put an end to the long term enmity between the two states and as a token of friendship he proposed to get his son Prince Indrajeet married to King Satyadev’s daughter Princess Priyavanda. King Satyadev happily accepted the proposal. When Priyavanda came to know about it, she went and talked to her father King Satyadev. She told him that she loved someone else but her father explained to her that he had taken that decision for the betterment of his subjects and being a Princess, even she should sacrifice her love for the people of their state. Priyavanda got ready to sacrifice her love. Priyavanda sent her maid servant to Haribhatt asking him to come and meet her at night in the temple. Haribhatt agreed to come. At night, when Priyavanda set out with her maid servant, Kaliya the thief was sitting in the temple. As soon as he saw Priyavanda coming towards the temple, he hid behind the idol. Just then Haribhatt also came. Priyavanda explained to Haribhatt that her love for him was true and she was marrying someone else for the people of her state and if she refused then a war would be created which could cause loss to her state. She therefore decided to sacrifice her love for the country and asked him to forget and forgive her. At this Haribhatt showed his true colors and told her to get all her ornaments and give it to him or else he would give away all the letters that she had written to him to her husband and father-in-law. Priyavanda was shocked to see Haribhatt blackmailing her. Meanwhile Kaliya was listening to their conversation hiding behind the idol. At midnight, he went to Haribhatt’s house and woke him up calling him a traitor and a man who made business out of love. He then asked him for the letters of Priyavanda. Haribhatt asked him to take it from below Ganesha’s idol. Just as Kaliya went to take it, Haribhatt removed a sword and attacked Kaliya. Both of them fought fiercely. Meanwhile, Priyavanda collected all her ornaments and reached the temple where she was waiting for Haribhatt. Kaliya came and introduced himself to Priyavanda and she got scared but he told her that he had not come as a thief but as a subject of the Princess. He gave her all the letters that she had written to Haribhatt. He also told her that he had killed Haribhatt. Kaliya noticed the King’s men coming and told Priyavanda to hide behind. The King’s men caught Kaliya and took him away. Priyavanda could not sleep that night so she went and told her father the entire story and explained how the one she loved was a traitor and a thief whom she did not know protected her dignity. King Satyadev told her that he would give his statement in the court the next day. Next morning, Kaliya was brought to the court.

Saying this, Betaal stopped and asked Vikram whether King Satyadev would forgive Kaliya as he fought for the dignity of Princess or punish him for his crimes. He forced Vikram to reply. Vikram replied that as a father, King Satyadev would forgive Kaliya as he was of great help to his daughter but more than a father he was a King and Kaliya had committed many thefts, crimes and murders and for that, death sentence was the right punishment. King Satyadev was therefore in a dilemma all night. But finally he gave Kaliya death sentence. Once again Betaal was very happy with Vikram’s judgment but since he opened his mouth to speak, Betaal flew away.