King Roopsen and his bodyguard Virvar
A woman was complaining about the difficulties she was facing due to the famine and the burden of paying the lagaan (tax). The King condoned his subjects from paying lagaan (tax) and asked his men to help his subjects from the state treasure. Just then the gatekeeper came and informed the King that a man was waiting to see him. The King asked the gatekeeper to give him water if he was thirsty, food to eat if he was hungry and ordered him to feed grass to his horse; meanwhile he would come and visit the guest. King Roopsen came and asked Virvar the reason for his visit. Virvar expressed his wish to become the King’s personal bodyguard and that he would take nine tolas of gold everyday as his salary. The King was shocked to hear this. His associate told Virvar to be insane for asking such a huge salary. The King thought there must be a specific reason for him to ask for such a big amount as his salary. King Roopsen asked Virvar to prove whether or not he was worth being paid such an amount. Virvar replied that the King took care of everyone and he would be able to sleep peacefully only if Virvar protected him and that his life was very precious. So by quoting a minute amount he would be degrading the King’s status.
The King then asked him to exhibit the proof of his skill. Virvar exhibited his skills by which the King was impressed and so he appointed him as his personal bodyguard. Virvar served his master with great enthusiasm and devotion. He took home nine tolas of gold everyday and gave it to his wife. His wife exclaimed that it was too much for them, so Virvar advised her to donate half of it to the poor, one fourth to the guests who visited their house and the rest to be kept for them. One night while Virvar was guarding his emperor, he heard a woman crying at a distance and even King Roopsen woke up. He asked Virvar to go and find out what was the reason for the woman to cry. Virvar climbed his horse and left, Roopsen also went behind him quietly so that he could test Virvar’s dedication. When Virvar reached, he asked the woman who she was and why she was crying. She replied that she was Raj Laxmi of the state and due to the pressure of Kaal, she was to leave the state because of which King Roopsen and his subjects would become poor and die. Virvar was shocked to know that a noble and kind king like Roopsen would be finished. Virvar asked her if she could do something about this, but she said she was helpless and could not do anything.
She told him, one jojan (mile) South in a cave resided Kaaldevta who was hungry. If he would come out, he would eat up King Roopsen. Virvar asked if there was any way to please Kaaldevta. She said, he was hungry and needed food but there was no one who could replace the royal family as the food for Kaaldevta. Virvar said that he and his family would replace the royal family. Meanwhile King Roopsen was listening to their conversation hiding behind a tree. As soon as Virvar left, Roopsen came out and told Rajlaxmi that he could not let Virvar die because Virvar was his subject and as a King it was his duty to protect his subjects and his conscience would not allow him to let Virvar’s family go to Kaaldevta in place of him. Rajlaxmi told him to let Virvar go as he could keep another bodyguard and if Kaaldevta’s hunger was quenched, Roopsen would rule for another hundred years. But Roopsen did not listen to her and went behind Virvar. Meanwhile, Virvar went home and explained the situation to his family. His family members immediately got ready to sacrifice their lives and went to Kaaldevta who was very hungry. Virvar and his family surrendered themselves to Kaaldevta and he ate them all. Just then Roopsen reached there. Kaaldevta was pleased with him for sending Virvar’s family instead but Roopsen said that it was not fair to sacrifice an innocent family. Roopsen sacrificed his life too by going inside Kaaldevta’s mouth.
Betaal then asked Vikram whose sacrifice was greater, Virvar or Roopsen? If Vikram would not answer Betal would kill him. Vikram replied that it was the King’s sacrifice that was greater, as it was the bodyguard’s duty to serve his master and give away his life when needed. But a King who gives away everything right from his wealth to his life for his subjects is definitely great. So the King’s sacrifice was greater. Vikram then asked Betaal to finish the story. He said there was no Kaaldevta and no death, it was just an illusion created by Laxmi to test Virvar’s dedication and all of them came out alive. Rajlaxmi then appreciated Virvar for being such a dedicated and dutiful bodyguard and Roopsen for being such a caring and noble King. Since then, Roopsen and Virvar became friends and Virvar was appointed army chief. But as Vikram had spoken, Betaal flew away.
The King then asked him to exhibit the proof of his skill. Virvar exhibited his skills by which the King was impressed and so he appointed him as his personal bodyguard. Virvar served his master with great enthusiasm and devotion. He took home nine tolas of gold everyday and gave it to his wife. His wife exclaimed that it was too much for them, so Virvar advised her to donate half of it to the poor, one fourth to the guests who visited their house and the rest to be kept for them. One night while Virvar was guarding his emperor, he heard a woman crying at a distance and even King Roopsen woke up. He asked Virvar to go and find out what was the reason for the woman to cry. Virvar climbed his horse and left, Roopsen also went behind him quietly so that he could test Virvar’s dedication. When Virvar reached, he asked the woman who she was and why she was crying. She replied that she was Raj Laxmi of the state and due to the pressure of Kaal, she was to leave the state because of which King Roopsen and his subjects would become poor and die. Virvar was shocked to know that a noble and kind king like Roopsen would be finished. Virvar asked her if she could do something about this, but she said she was helpless and could not do anything.
She told him, one jojan (mile) South in a cave resided Kaaldevta who was hungry. If he would come out, he would eat up King Roopsen. Virvar asked if there was any way to please Kaaldevta. She said, he was hungry and needed food but there was no one who could replace the royal family as the food for Kaaldevta. Virvar said that he and his family would replace the royal family. Meanwhile King Roopsen was listening to their conversation hiding behind a tree. As soon as Virvar left, Roopsen came out and told Rajlaxmi that he could not let Virvar die because Virvar was his subject and as a King it was his duty to protect his subjects and his conscience would not allow him to let Virvar’s family go to Kaaldevta in place of him. Rajlaxmi told him to let Virvar go as he could keep another bodyguard and if Kaaldevta’s hunger was quenched, Roopsen would rule for another hundred years. But Roopsen did not listen to her and went behind Virvar. Meanwhile, Virvar went home and explained the situation to his family. His family members immediately got ready to sacrifice their lives and went to Kaaldevta who was very hungry. Virvar and his family surrendered themselves to Kaaldevta and he ate them all. Just then Roopsen reached there. Kaaldevta was pleased with him for sending Virvar’s family instead but Roopsen said that it was not fair to sacrifice an innocent family. Roopsen sacrificed his life too by going inside Kaaldevta’s mouth.
Betaal then asked Vikram whose sacrifice was greater, Virvar or Roopsen? If Vikram would not answer Betal would kill him. Vikram replied that it was the King’s sacrifice that was greater, as it was the bodyguard’s duty to serve his master and give away his life when needed. But a King who gives away everything right from his wealth to his life for his subjects is definitely great. So the King’s sacrifice was greater. Vikram then asked Betaal to finish the story. He said there was no Kaaldevta and no death, it was just an illusion created by Laxmi to test Virvar’s dedication and all of them came out alive. Rajlaxmi then appreciated Virvar for being such a dedicated and dutiful bodyguard and Roopsen for being such a caring and noble King. Since then, Roopsen and Virvar became friends and Virvar was appointed army chief. But as Vikram had spoken, Betaal flew away.
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