vikram and the vampire third story - mocomi

8/14/2019 Vikram And The Vampire Third Story - Mocomi

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/vikram-and-the-vampire-third-story-mocomi 1/14

By

Sir Richard F. Burton

Volume - 4

THE VAMPIRE'S THIRD STORY

Vikram and the Vampire

Design 2012 Mocomi & Anibrain Digital Technologies Pvt. Ltd. All Rights Reserved.©

tories for Kidshttp://mocomi.com/fun/stories /

http://mocomi.com/fun/stories/


http://mocomi.com/



Vikram and the VampireIn the venerable city of Bardwan, O war-rior king! (quoth the Vampire) duringthe reign of the mighty Rupsen, flour-ished one Rajeshwar, a Rajput warrior ofdistinguished fame. By his valour andconduct he had risen from the lowestranks of the army to command it as itscaptain. And arrived at that dignity, hedid not put a stop to all improvements,like other chiefs, who rejoice to rest and

return thanks. On the contrary, hebecame such a reformer that, to someextent, he remodelled the art of war.

Instead of attending to rules and regula-tions, drawn up in their studies by pan-dits and Brahmans, he consulted chiefly

his own experience and judgment. Hethrew aside the systematic plans ofcampaigns laid down in the Shastras orbooks of the ancients, and he actedupon the spur of the moment. He dis-played a skill in the choice of ground, inthe use of light troops, and in securing

his own supplies whilst he cut off thoseof the enemy, which Kartikaya himself,God of War, might have envied. Finding

that the bows of his troops were clumsyand slow to use, he had them allchanged before compelled so to do bydefeat; he also gave his attention to thesword handles, which cramped themen's grasp but which having beenused for eighteen hundred years were

considered perfect weapons. Andhaving organized a special corps of war-riors using fire arrows, he soon broughtit to such perfection that, by using itagainst the elephants of his enemies, hegained many a campaign.

One instance of his superior judgment Iam about to quote to thee, O Vikram,after which I return to my tale; for thouart truly a warrior king, very likely to imi-tate the innovations of the great generalRajeshwar.(A grunt from the monarch was the

1

A HIGH-MINDED FAMILY




Vikram and the Vampireresult of the Vampire's sneer.)

He found his master's armies recruitedfrom Northern Hindustan, and officeredby Kshatriya warriors, who grew greatonly because they grew old and - fat.

Thus the energy and talent of theyounger men were wasted in troublesand disorders; whilst the seniors wereoften so ancient that they could not

mount their chargers unaided, nor,when they were mounted, could theysee anything a dozen yards beforethem. But they had served in a certainobsolete campaign, and until Rajeshwargave them pensions and dismissals,they claimed a right to take first part in

all campaigns present and future. Thecommander-in-chief refused to use anycaptain who could not stand steady onhis legs, or endure the sun for a wholeday. When a soldier distinguished him-self in action, he raised him to thepowers and privileges of the warrior

caste. And whereas it had been thehabit to lavish circles and bars of silverand other metals upon all those who had

joined in the war, whether they had satbehind a heap of sand or had been fore-most to attack the foe, he broke throughthe pernicious custom, and he renderedthe honour valuable by conferring it onlyupon the deserving. I need hardly saythat, in an inordinately short space of

time, his army beat every king and gen-eral that opposed it.

One day the great commander-in-chiefwas seated in a certain room near thethreshold of his gate, when the voices ofa number of people outside were heard.

Rajeshwar asked, "Who is at the door,and what is the meaning of the noise Ihear?" The porter replied, "It is a finething your honour has asked. Many per-sons come sitting at the door of the richfor the purpose of obtaining a livelihoodand wealth. When they meet together

2





Vikram and the Vampirethey talk of various things: it is thesevery people who are now making thisnoise."

Rajeshwar, on hearing this, remainedsilent.

In the meantime a traveller, a Rajput,Birbal by name, hoping to obtain em-ployment, came from the southern

quarter to the palace of the chief. Theporter having listened to his story, madethe circumstance known to his master,saying, "O chief! an armed man has ar-rived here, hoping to obtain employ-ment, and is standing at the door. If I re-ceive a command he shall be brought

into your honour's presence."

"Bring him in," cried the commander-in-chief.

The porter brought him in, and Rajesh-war inquired, "O Rajput, who and what

art thou?"

Birbal submitted that he was a person ofdistinguished fame for the use of weap-ons, and that his name for fidelity andvalour had gone forth to the utmostends of Bharat-Kandha.

The chief was well accustomed to thisstyle of self introduction, and its only

effect upon his mind was a wish toshame the man by showing him that hehad not the least knowledge of weap-ons. He therefore bade him bare hisblade and perform some feat.

Birbal at once drew his good sword.

Guessing the thoughts which were hov-ering about the chief's mind, he putforth his left hand, extending the forefin-ger upwards, waved his blade like thearm of a demon round his head, and,with a dexterous stroke, so shaved off abit of nail that it fell to the ground, and

3





Vikram and the Vampirenot a drop of blood appeared upon thefinger-tip.

"Live for ever!" exclaimed Rajeshwar inadmiration. He then addressed to the re-cruit a few questions concerning the artof war, or rather concerning his peculiarviews of it. To all of which Birbal an-swered with a spirit and a judgmentwhich convinced the hearer that he was

no common sworder.

Whereupon Rajeshwar bore off the newman at arms to the palace of the kingRupsen, and recommended that heshould be engaged without delay.

The king, being a man of few words andmany ideas, after hearing his command-er-in-chief, asked, "O Rajput, what shallI give thee for thy daily expenditure?"

"Give me a thousand ounces of golddaily," said Birbal, "and then I shall have

wherewithal to live on.""Hast thou an army with thee?" ex-claimed the king in the greatest aston-ishment.

"I have not," responded the Rajputsomewhat stiffly. "I have first, a wife;second, a son; third, a daughter; fourth,myself; there is no fifth person with me."

All the people of the court on hearingthis turned aside their heads to laugh,and even the women, who were peepingat the scene, covered their mouths withtheir veils. The Rajput was then dis-missed the presence.

It is, however, noticeable amongst youhumans, that the world often takes youat your own valuation. Set a high priceupon yourselves, and each man shallsay to his neighbour, "In this man theremust be something." Tell everyone thatyou are brave, clever, generous, or even

4






handsome, and after a time they willbegin to believe you. And when thus youhave attained success, it will be harderto unconvince them than it was to con-vince them. Thus - -

"Listen not to him, sirrah," cried RajaVikram to Dharma Dhwaj, the youngprince, who had fallen a little waybehind, and was giving ear attentively

to the Vampire's ethics. "Listen to himnot. And tell me, villain, with these ig-noble principles of thine, what willbecome of modesty, humility, self-sacrifice, and a host of other Guna orgood qualities which - which are goodqualities?"

"I know not," rejoined the Baital, "nei-ther do I care. But my habitually inspirit-ing a succession of human bodies hastaught me one fact. The wise manknows himself, and is, therefore, neitherunduly humble nor elated, because he

had no more to do with making himselfthan with the cut of his cloak, or with thefitness of his loin-cloth. But the fooleither loses his head by comparing him-self with still greater fools, or is pros-trated when he finds himself inferior toother and lesser fools. This shyness hecalls modesty, humility, and so forth.Now, whenever entering a corpse,whether it be of man, woman, or child, I

feel peculiarly modest; I know that mytenement lately belonged to some con-ceited ass. And —"

"Wouldst thou have me bump thy backagainst the ground?" asked Raja Vikramangrily.

(The Baital muttered some replyscarcely intelligible about his having thistime stumbled upon a metaphysicalthread of ideas, and then continued hisstory.)

5





Vikram and the VampireNow Rupsen, the king, began by inquir-ing of himself why the Rajput had ratedhis services so highly. Then he reflectedthat if this recruit had asked so muchmoney, it must have been for somereason which would afterwards becomeapparent. Next, he hoped that if he gavehim so much, his generosity might someday turn out to his own advantage. Fi-nally, with this idea in his mind, he sum-

moned Birbal and the steward of hishousehold, and said to the latter, "Givethis Rajput a thousand ounces of golddaily from our treasury."

It is related that Birbal made the bestpossible use of his wealth. He used

every morning to divide it into two por-tions, one of which was distributed toBrahmans and Parohitas.Of the remain-ing moiety, having made two parts, hegave one as alms to pilgrims, to Bairagisor Vishnu's mendicants, and to Sanyasisor worshippers of Shiva, whose bodies,

smeared with ashes, were hardly cov-ered with a narrow cotton cloth and arope about their loins, and whose headsof artificial hair, clotted like a rope, be-sieged his gate. With the remainingfourth, having caused food to be pre-pared, he regaled the poor, while hehimself and his family ate what was left.Every evening, arming himself withsword and buckler, he took up his posi-

tion as guard at the royal bedside, andwalked round it all night sword in hand.If the king chanced to wake and askedwho was present, Birbal immediatelygave reply that "Birbal is here; whatevercommand you give, that he will obey."And oftentimes Rupsen gave him un-

usual commands, for it is said, "To trythy servant, bid him do things in seasonand out of season: if he obey thee will-ingly, know him to be useful; if he reply,dismiss him at once. Thus is a servanttried, even as a wife by the poverty ofher husband, and brethren and friends

6






by asking their aid."

In such manner, through desire ofmoney, Birbal remained on guard allnight; and whether eating, drinking,sleeping, sitting, going or wanderingabout, during the twenty-four hours, heheld his master in watchful remem-brance. This, indeed, is the custom; if aman sell another the latter is sold, but a

servant by doing service sells himself,and when a man has become depen-dent, how can he be happy? Certain it isthat however intelligent, clever, orlearned a man may be, yet, while he isin his master's presence, he remainssilent as a dumb man, and struck with

dread. Only while he is away from hislord can he be at ease. Hence, learnedmen say that to do service aright isharder than any religious study.

On one occasion it is related that therehappened to be heard at night-time the

wailing of a woman in a neighbouringcemetery. The king on hearing it calledout, "Who is in waiting?"

"I am here," replied Birbal; "what com-mand is there?"

"Go," spoke the king, "to the placewhence proceeds this sound of woman'swail, and having inquired the cause of

her grief, return quickly."

On receiving this order the Rajput wentto obey it; and the king, unseen by him,and attired in a black dress, followed forthe purpose of observing his courage.

Presently Birbal arrived at the cemetery.And what sees he there? A beautifulwoman of a light yellow colour, loadedwith jewels from head to foot, holding ahorn in her right and a necklace in herleft hand. Sometimes she danced,sometimes she jumped, and sometimes

7





Vikram and the Vampireshe ran about. There was not a tear inher eye, but beating her head andmaking lamentable cries, she kept dash-ing herself on the ground.

Seeing her condition, and not recogniz-ing the goddess born of sea foam, andwhom all the host of heaven loved,Birbalinquired, "Why art thou thus beatingthyself and crying out? Who art thou?

And what grief is upon thee?"

"I am the Royal-Luck," she replied.

"For what reason," asked Birbal, "artthou weeping?"

The goddess then began to relate herposition to the Rajput. She said, withtears, "In the king's palace Shudra (orlow caste acts) are done, and hence mis-fortune will certainly fall upon it, and Ishall forsake it. After a month haspassed, the king, having endured exces-

sive affliction, will die. In grief for this, Iweep. I have brought much happiness tothe king's house, and hence I am full ofregret that this my prediction cannot inany way prove untrue.""Is there," asked Birbal, "any remedy forthis trouble, so that the king may be pre-served and live a hundred years?"

"Yes," said the goddess, "there is. About

eight miles to the east thou wilt find atemple dedicated to my terrible sisterDevi. Offer to her thy son's head, cut offwith thine own hand, and the reign ofthy king shall endure for an age." Sosaying Raj-Lakshmi disappeared.

Birbal answered not a word, but withhurried steps he turned towards hishome. The king, still in black so as not tobe seen, followed him closely, and ob-served and listened to everything hedid.

8






The Rajput went straight to his wife,awakened her, and related to her every-thing that had happened. The wise havesaid, "she alone deserves the name ofwife who always receives her husbandwith affectionate and submissivewords." When she heard the circum-stances, she at once aroused her son,and her daughter also awoke. ThenBirbal told them all that they must follow

him to the temple of Devi in the wood.

On the way the Rajput said to his wife,"If thou wilt give up thy son willingly, Iwill sacrifice him for our master's saketo Devi the Destroyer."

She replied, "Father and mother, sonand daughter, brother and relative,have I now none. You are everything tome. It is written in the scripture that awife is not made pure by gifts to priests,nor by performing religious rites; hervirtue consists in waiting upon her hus-

band, in obeying him and in loving him -yea! though he be lame, maimed in thehands, dumb, deaf, blind, one eyed, lep-rous, or humpbacked. It is a true sayingthat 'a son under one's authority, a bodyfree from sickness, a desire to acquireknowledge, an intelligent friend, and anobedient wife; whoever holds these fivewill find them bestowers of happinessand dispellers of affliction. An unwilling

servant, a parsimonious king, an insin-cere friend, and a wife not under control;such things are disturbers of ease andgivers of trouble.'"

Then the good wife turned to her sonand said "Child by the gift of thy head,

the king's life may be spared, and thekingdom remain unshaken."

"Mother," replied that excellent youth,"in my opinion we should hasten thismatter. Firstly, I must obey your com-mand; secondly, I must promote the in-

9





Vikram and the Vampireterests of my master; thirdly, if this bodybe of any use to a goddess, nothingbetter can be done with it in this world."

("Excuse me, Raja Vikram," said theBaital, interrupting himself, "if I repeatthese fair discourses at full length; it isinteresting to hear a young person,whose throat is about to be cut, talk solike a doctor of laws.")

Then the youth thus addressed his sire:"Father, whoever can be of use to hismaster, the life of that man in this worldhas been lived to good purpose, and byreason of his usefulness he will be re-warded in other worlds."

His sister, however, exclaimed, "If amother should give poison to her daugh-ter, and a father sell his son, and a kingseize the entire property of his subjects,where then could one look for protec-tion?" But they heeded her not, and con-

tinued talking as they journeyed to-wards the temple of Devi - the king allthe while secretly following them.

Presently they reached the temple, asingle room, surrounded by a spaciouspaved area; in front was an immensebuilding capable of seating hundreds ofpeople. Before the image there werepools of blood, where victims had lately

been slaughtered. In the sanctum wasDevi, a large black figure with ten arms.With a spear in one of her right handsshe pierced the giant Mahisha; and withone of her left hands she held the tail ofa serpent, and the hair of the giant,whose breast the serpent was biting.

Her other arms were all raised aboveher head, and were filled with differentinstruments of war; against her right legleaned a lion.

Then Birbal joined his hands in prayer,and with Hindu mildness thus addressed

10





Vikram and the Vampirethe awful goddess: "O mother, let theking's life be prolonged for a thousandyears by the sacrifice of my son. O Devi,mother! destroy, destroy his enemies!Kill! kill! Reduce them to ashes! Drivethem away! Devour them! devour them!Cut them in two! Drink! drink theirblood! Destroy them root and branch!With thy thunderbolt, spear, scymitar,discus, or rope, annihilate them!

Spheng! Spheng!" The Rajput, having caused his son tokneel before the goddess, struck him soviolent a blow that his head rolled uponthe ground. He then threw the sworddown, when his daughter, frantic with

grief, snatched it up and struck her neckwith such force that her head, separatedfrom her body, fell. In her turn themother, unable to survive the loss of herchildren, seized the weapon and suc-ceeded in decapitating herself. Birbal,beholding all this slaughter, thus re-

flected: "My children are dead why, now,should I remain in servitude, and uponwhom shall I bestow the gold I receivefrom the king?" He then gave himself sodeep a wound in the neck, that his headalso separated from his body.

Rupsen, the king, seeing these fourheads on the ground, said in his heart,"For my sake has the family of Birbal

been destroyed. Kingly power, for thepurpose of upholding which the destruc-tion of a whole household is necessary,is a mere curse, and to carry on govern-ment in this manner is not just." He thentook up the sword and was about to slayhimself, when the Destroying Goddess,

probably satisfied with bloodshed,stayed his hand, bidding him at thesame time ask any boon he pleased.

The generous monarch begged, there-upon, that his faithful servant might berestored to life, together with all his

11





Vikram and the Vampirehigh-minded family; and the goddessDevi in the twinkling of an eye fetchedfrom Patala, the regions below theearth, a vase full of Amrita, the water ofimmortality, sprinkled it upon the dead,and raised them all as before. Afterwhich the whole party walked leisurelyhome, and in due time the king dividedhis throne with his friend Birbal.Having stopped for a moment, the Baital

proceeded to remark, in a sententioustone, "Happy the servant who grudgesnot his own life to save that of hismaster! And happy, thrice happy themaster who can annihilate all greedylonging for existence and worldly pros-perity. Raja, I have to ask thee one

searching question - Of these five, whowas the greatest fool?"

"Demon!" exclaimed the great Vikram,all whose cherished feelings about fidel-ity and family affection, obedience, andhigh-mindedness, were outraged by this

Vampire view of the question; "if thoumeanest by the greatest fool the noblestmind, I reply without hesitating Rupsen,the king."

"Why, prithee?" asked the Baital.

"Because, dull demon," said the king,"Birbal was bound to offer up his life fora master who treated him so gener-

ously; the son could not disobey hisfather, and the women naturally and in-stinctively killed themselves, becausethe example was set to them. ButRupsen the king gave up his throne forthe sake of his retainer, and valued nota straw his life and his high inducements

to live. For this reason I think him themost meritorious."

"Surely, mighty Vikram," laughed theVampire, "you will be tired of ever clam-bering up yon tall tree, even had you thelegs and arms of Hanuman himself."

12






THE END

Mocomi acknowledges that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything posted. Postings may contain fact,speculation or rumor. We find images from the Web that are believed to belong in the public domain. If any stories or images that appear on the siteare in violation of copyright law, please email - mocomi and we will remove the offending information as soon as possible.

DISCLAIMER

And so saying he disappeared from thecloth, although it had been placed uponthe ground.

But the poor Baital had little reason tocongratulate himself on the success ofhis escape. In a short time he was againbundled into the cloth with the usualwant of ceremony, and he revengedhimself by telling another true story.

13


or more interesting vikram and betaal and other stories, visit:http://mocomi.com/fun/stories /


http://mocomi.com/


vikram and the vampire third story - mocomi

Documents