1: Introduction of King-Bhoja | 2: Bhoja’s Discovery: The Throne of Vikram Aditya | 3: “King Vikram Aditya Birth” Once upon a time, there was a beautiful land called Bharath Varsh and Bharath Khanda means the continent of Bharath, which we now know as India. In this place was a Famous kingdom named Dhara-nagara(modern Dhar) was located, ruled by a wise and brave king named Bhoja an Indian king from the Paramara dynasty. His kingdom was centered around the Malwa region in central India. King Bhoja was not just any king; all his people loved him because he was kind, and fair, and always thought about their happiness. He was like a caring father to everyone in his kingdom. The enemies were terror even to see him. He was a patron of Pandits, artists, and poets. Under King Bhoja’s rule, the land prospered, and people lived in peace and harmony. They celebrated every day, and it felt like a festival because the king encouraged them to be joyful and hospitable. But what made King Bhoja’s kingdom even more extraordinary was his love for knowledge and learning. He had clever scholars, amazing artists, and talented poets in his court. They all loved working for him because he supported and encouraged their talents. The famous astrologist Varahamihira, the famous author Charakasamhitha, Charaka, and astronomist Aryabhatta were in the court of Bhoja. One day, something unexpected happened that challenged the peace in the kingdom. It was a test of King Bhoja’s bravery and wisdom. Let’s find out! 2: Bhoja’s Discovery: The Throne of Vikram Aditya The Vikram Bethal stories continue… Some people came to him with a problem. Wild animals were causing trouble in their village. They were hurting the people and destroying their farms. King Bhoja felt sad for his people and decided to help. He asked his wise minister, Buddhi Sagara, to lead a hunting expedition to protect the villagers and their crops from wild animals. The king and his soldiers went into the forests and fought the wild animals. They defeated the animals with their bravery and strength and made the kingdom safe again. On their way back to the kingdom. In the middle, they came across a field. All the soldiers are hungry. They stopped at a field where a Brahmin, a wise man, was throwing stones at birds. So the Brahmin kindly offered them food from his field. But suddenly, he got angry and asked them to leave rudely. This behavior confused the king, and he thought there might be something special about that spot. So, King Bhoja decided to investigate further. Returning to the kingdom. The next day he asked his guards to bring the Brahmin to the court. Upon arriving, the King gave him precious gifts and wealth, and he agreed to allow the digging of the mysterious spot in his field. They dug the spot, and to their surprise, they found a beautiful golden throne. It was very beautiful. It consisted of nine precious gems. There were thirty-two steps to the throne. At each step, there was an idol of a woman. It was like a magical treasure! The king knew it was a special find, so he did good deeds for the poor and offered prayers to honor the throne. He brought the amazing throne back to his palace and made his kingdom even more prosperous. And so, the wonderful throne of Vikramarka became a treasured possession in the court of King Bhoja Raja. 3: “King Vikram Aditya Birth” Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… The great king Bhoja Raja performed elaborate worship rituals before attempting to sit upon a magnificent throne. However, to his surprise, the thirty-two idols started laughing. Confused, he asked why they were laughing.  The first idol, named Vinoda Ranjitha, responded, “Your majesty, this is no ordinary throne. Once, King Vikramarka ruled his kingdom from this very seat, alongside his loyal minister Bhatti, for two thousand years with unmatched valor. You are fortunate to have come across it, but before you can sit on the throne, you must possess the qualities of even one percent of the great Vikramarka. Only then will it be suitable for your kingdom. Otherwise, attempting to sit on it would lead to severe problems.” Bhoja was taken aback and asked the idols to share the story of Vikramarka, his reign, and his greatness, including his life journey.  Vinoda Ranjitha, the first idol, began narrating the story of Vikramarka. Long ago, the great Maharshi Narada was journeying, chanting “Narayana Narayana” along the way. He encountered a demi-god named Sravyaparna, also known as Gandharva, who enjoyed himself with his wife and paid no attention to Narada, the great guru of the universe. He did not respect him and even did not see. Narada cursed him to become a demon and live on Earth. Feeling extremely sorry and regretful, the Gandharva begged for forgiveness. Narada was touched by his sincere remorse and agreed to give him a chance at redemption. The condition was that the Gandharva could only be redeemed if he shared knowledge with someone worthy who truly deserved a real learning seeker. Thus, the Gandharva became a demon, taking life in a big peepal tree within a forest on Earth.  In Nandipura, a scholarly pandit named Chandra Varma lived, deeply eager to increase his knowledge more and more. Searching for a great guru, he came into the same forest where the demon was living but couldn’t find a suitable guru and felt depressed. Exhausted, he rested beneath the peepal tree, where the demon Gandhara appeared before him, scaring the pandit. However, instead of causing harm, the demon offered to teach him what he knew, explaining that he would write his teachings on peepal leaves. He set a challenging condition for the pandit to learn without eating or sleeping for six months. Chandra Varma accepted the offer. After six months of dedicated learning, the curse was lifted, and the demon returned to his true form, blessing Chandra Varma

4: “Vikramarka’s Triumph: The Regal Coronation” | 5:Expanding the Kingdom | 6 The Construction of Capital – Ujjaini Mahakali City | 7: King Vikramarka got an invitation from Indra Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… One day the minister Pallavarshi(King Suddhavarma’s daughter named Chitrarekha’s second wife of Chandra Varma)  who, after many years of serving the kingdom, found himself losing his ambitions and desiring a life of penance. Feeling the need for spiritual reflection, With this newfound purpose, he went to the forest to spend his remaining days in religious meditation.  Meanwhile, the kingdom was ruled wisely by King Bhartruhari, who seemed to have everything in life. He had married one hundred and one maidens, He was happy with all of them. One day, a saint approached King Bhartruhari and presented him with a divine fruit, claiming that it granted the eater a deathless life, forever remaining youthful. The saint, feeling that the king could make better use of the fruit for the benefit of his kingdom’s people, generously bestowed it upon him, offering his blessings and departing on his way. The king is happy with the fruit, his heart is filled with deep affection for his first wife, Mohanangi. He decided to give the fruit to her, hoping they could share eternal life together. However, Mohanangi, out of love and devotion for her husband, decided not to consume the fruit. Instead, she passed it on to her secret lover. He gave it to his mistress, the servant maid in the royal palace. The fruit eventually caught the attention of King Bhartruhari, the fruit with the servant maid, and asked her where it came from. She told him everything and the king felt very sad and upset. He didn’t know what to do. To fix everything, the king decided to set all his wives free and told them to be happy with their loved ones. Then, he ate the magical fruit, hoping to have a long and happy life. Then King Bhartruhari crowned a new king Vikramarka(King Bhartruhari’s brother) and appointed Bhatti(King Bhartruhari’s brother) as the prime minister to help him. Then, he left the palace and went to the forest to live a simple life. So, Vikramarka became the new king of the Ujjaini, and King Bhartruhari found peace and happiness in the forest, thinking about life and enjoying the beauty of nature. And they all lived happily ever after.

8: Indra was amazed by Vikramarka’s incredible skills and abilities | 9: Goddess Mahakali blessed Bhatti | 10: The Saint’s Visit to Ujjaini Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… Indra turned to VikramAdithya and said, “Vikramarka, I’ve heard about your impressive skills and abilities from Narada. On his suggestion, we invited you here to help us solve a peculiar problem.” Vikram Aditya smiled gratefully and replied, “I am honored by your kind words. Please tell me about the problem.” Indra explained the matter to Vikramarka, who pondered deeply on a solution. He suggested creating flower balls with jasmine flowers and placing poisonous insects inside them. Vikramarka then handed the flower balls to Rambha and Urvasi, instructing them to dance while holding the balls. Rambha, fearful of dropping them, held the balls tightly. On the other hand, Urvasi danced gracefully while delicately holding the flower balls. However, during Rambha’s dance, the insects inside the balls got disturbed, and bit her hands, causing her to drop the balls. After the dance completion, Indra asked for Vikramarka’s opinion. Vikramarka shared, “Rambha danced well, but she lost her concentration due to the insects. Urvasi danced better with full focus and concentration, making her the winner.” Rambha protested, “I was disturbed by the insects; it’s because of their presence.” Vikramarka laughed and pointed out that the same type of flower balls were given to Urvasi, yet she remained undisturbed. Rambha accepted her defeat, and Indra praised Urvasi for her exceptional dancing skills. Everyone in the court agreed with Vikramarka’s judgment. Indra was impressed by Vikramarka’s expertise and praised him for his remarkable abilities.  Indra admired Vikramarka’s skills and talent, presenting him with a divine golden throne and blessing him to rule his kingdom for a thousand years while sitting on it. With great honor, Vikram Aditya returned to his kingdom. Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… 9: Goddess Mahakali blessed Bhatti Bhatti joyfully welcomed his brother Vikramarka with a warm hug, expressing how much he missed him during his absence. Vikramarka shared his experience of Indra’s hospitality and the gifts he received. But Bhatti felt distressed, wondering why Vikramarka had not taken him along during his stay at Indra Loka. He expressed his desire to be with Vikramarka until his last day and serve him faithfully. Vikramarka reassured Bhatti that they were inseparable and that he couldn’t live without him. However, Bhatti was determined to find a solution, so he went to take guidance from Bhadra Kali. Bhatti performed penance at the temple, and the goddess appeared before him. He humbly praised her and revealed his cherished wish to serve Vikramarka for a long time. Bhadra Kali granted him a boon to live for 2 thousand years but made it conditional that he must bring Vikramarka’s head. Agreeing to the condition, Bhatti returned to the kingdom and woke Vikramarka from his sleep, telling him about Kali’s request. Vikramarka, without hesitation, accepted, and Bhatti carried out the task. He presented Vikramarka’s head to Kali, who blessed him with an extended lifespan. Bhatti, doubting his mind, asked if the boon would come true. Kali assured him that his life would indeed be extended and praised his intelligence. Vikramarka was later revived, and both of them were overjoyed. Now, Vikramarka was troubled as he would rule for only one thousand years, while Bhatti had a longer life. But Bhatti had a clever plan. He suggested that Vikramarka rule for six months and spend the other six months exploring new places while he looked after the affairs of the kingdom. Following this plan, Vikramarka could enjoy a longer life. Vikramarka embraced Bhatti tightly and praised him for his wisdom. They returned to their kingdom happily. As Bhojaraja listened to the story, he contemplated Vikramarka’s qualities and wondered if he could match up to such a great king and Kali worshipper. The next morning, Bhojaraja resumed his daily routine of bathing and worship before attending the court. As he attempted to step onto the second idol, named Madanabhisheka, it continued the story of Vikramarka. Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… 10: The Saint’s Visit to Ujjaini There was a big forest close to a place called Ujjaini. Inside that forest lived a saint named Satyaseela, who was sly and clever. He had a wish to capture a creature named Bethal. To achieve this, he decided to meditate and pray to the goddess Kali. When he performed his penance sincerely, Kali appeared in front of him, and he shared his desire with her. The goddess Kalamata said, “Your desire is quite challenging. However, I will bless you if you perform a Yagna (a sacred ritual) and present one thousand heads of the emperors” and she disappeared.” The saint began his Yagna as instructed by the goddess. However, he used cunning tricks to several emperors into coming to participate in the Yagna Gundam. Thus, he could present nine hundred and ninety-nine heads. Only one remained. That’s the Vikramarkas as per the saint’s list.  The saint had heard about Vikramarka and Bhatti and he had a plan. He came to Ujjaini and started visiting Vikramarka daily, presenting him with blessed fruits. These fruits were carefully stored by Vikramarka. One day, by accident, a monkey snatched one of the fruits, and the guards chased after it. The fruit fell and broke, revealing a surprising amount of diamonds, everyone was amazed. Vikramarka then examined the other fruits and discovered that they all contained valuable diamonds. Realizing that the saint needed something other than money, Vikramarka thought about how he could assist him. The following day, when the saint arrived and offered fruit, Vikramarka opened it to find diamonds once again. He spoke to the saint, saying, “Mahatma! Please tell me what you desire from me. I am here to serve you. The saint was delighted and said, “Raja! I want to perform the Yagna in the Kali temple located in the nearby forest. Can you please help me complete it? Could you come on the night of Krishna Paksha Chaturdasi?”

11: Introduction of Bethal | 12: Vikramarka and the Bethal | 13: The pain story of Vasavi Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… Once in the beautiful place of KailasaGiri, Parvathi Devi shared her wish with Lord Shiva. He asked her with a smile, “What do you desire, Devi?” “I want to tell you some amazing stories that nobody has ever heard before,” said Lord Shiva. Parvathi Devi happily agreed. Lord Shiva said, “I can fulfill your wish. Let’s go to the temple where we can sit peacefully. Since it’s nighttime, nobody will disturb us.” Every night, Lord Shiva would tell stories to Parvathi Devi. One day, the temple priest was busy with his work until late at night and returned home. On his way back, he remembered that he had left behind the prasadam (holy offering) vessel in the temple. He went back to get it but found no one there. However, he could hear some words being spoken. Curious, he peeped through the door of the temple’s inner sanctum. To his surprise, he saw Parvathi Devi sitting on Lord Shiva’s lap, listening to his stories. The priest quietly listened to the stories and went home very late. When his wife asked him why he was so late, the priest told her it was a secret and urged her not to tell anyone. But his excitement got the better of him, and he couldn’t keep it to himself. He shared all the stories with his wife. women are known for their open and talkative nature. The next day, the priest’s wife couldn’t keep the stories to herself and shared them with all her friends. Soon, the stories spread to everyone. When Parvathi Devi heard about this, she asked Lord Shiva. With his divine powers, found out the truth. He called the priest and the priest explained to Lord Shiva about what happened. Lord Shiva became angry and cursed the priest to become a ghost. The priest cried and begged for forgiveness. The priest pleaded for redemption, Lord Shiva said, “In the future, a king named Vikramarka will be born. You will get a chance to tell him these stories and ask him a question. If he can’t answer, your curse will be lifted.” As a result of the curse, the priest turned into a ghost and lived on a peepal tree in the forest, waiting for the day he would meet King Vikramarka. 12: Vikramarka and the Bethal Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… As Vikramarka arrived at the Kali temple, he was greeted by a cheerful saint who seemed delighted to see him. Vikramarka respectfully addressed the saint, saying, “Mahatma, I am at your service and ready to fulfill your wishes.” The saint smiled and replied, “You are indeed noble-hearted. I have a task for you. You go into the forest,” he pointed with his hand in a particular direction, “and go deep inside. There, you will find a peepal tree, and from one of its branches, a corpse hangs upside down. I need you to bring that corpse to me.” Curiosity Vikramarka inquired, “Why do you seek a corpse, sage?” The saint explained, “Within that lifeless body resides a ghost named Bethal. By occupying this ghost, I can gain more power, which would enable me to help you and your people even further.” To carry out the task, Vikramarka set forth into the deep forest. After a long journey, he discovered a big peepal tree, and there, suspended from one of its branches, was the lifeless corpse. With his sword, Vikramarka cut the rope and gently laid the corpse over his left shoulder, preparing to return to the saint. Suddenly, the spirit within the corpse, known as Bethal, spoke up, “Who are you, and why are you taking me with you?” “I am Vikramarka, the king of this land. The saint desires your presence, and so I am taking you to him. Are you indeed the spirit known as Bethal?” Vikramarka inquired cautiously. “Yes, I am Bethal,” the ghost replied, “but I shall accompany you only on one condition.” Vikramarka asked, “What condition do you have in mind?” “I have an interesting story to share with you during our journey. It will help ease your comfort forgetting the long walk. After the tale, I shall present you with a hidden riddle to solve. However,” Bethal warned, “if you speak a word during our journey, I shall return to my resting place. Similarly, if you intentionally avoid my questions at the end of the story, your head will be split into a thousand pieces.” Vikramarka understood and accepted the challenge bravely. He nodded in agreement, and together moved journey through the heart of the forest. 13: The pain story of Vasavi Vikram Bethal’s stories continue… Vikramarka ran after the corpse. He reached the peepal tree. He pulled the corpse on his shoulder. He started out on foot toward the crematorium. Then Bethal began the second tale. “Vikram! Listen to my 2d tale. It will truly reduce your burden. This is the tale of Vasavi. Listen with care. Once upon a time, in a town, there lived a service provider named Keerthisetti. He had a daughter Vasavi. She changed into captivating together with her beauty. She got here to the wedding age. A Brahmin younger guy changed into a dwelling at Equal Street. They befell to satisfy many times; they have been interested in every other. Gradually they fall in love. They have been satisfied with their mystery meetings. Meanwhile, the service provider looked for an appropriate younger dealer for his daughter. The dealer changed into similarly wealthy because of the service provider. Keerthsetti celebrated his daughter`s marriage in a grand manner. Vasavi went to her husband`s residence. Here is her mother-in-law’s regulation’s residence, Vasavi changed into now no longer satisfied. Her husband is probably wealthy however he couldn’t win her heart. He changed into pleased with his spouse`s beauty. He changed into harmless and sensitive. He cherished his spouse. He couldn’t

14. The Tale of Four Brothers: Wisdom, Foolishness, and Common Sense Vikram Bethal stories continue… Vikramarka having agreed to Bethal’s proposal, settled down to listen carefully as Bethal began his tale. “In the holy city of Kasi, there once lived a learned Brahmin who had four sons. Unfortunately, these young men were lazy and lacked common sense, spending their days idly swimming in the nearby river. Realizing that his life was coming to an end, the Brahmin called his sons and shared his last words of wisdom with them. He expressed his disappointment that they had not acquired knowledge or a means of livelihood. He urged them to seek education at the nearby Gurukul, where his childhood friend served as the Guru. The Brahmin’s final wish was for his sons to learn the mantras and tantras, which would enable them to live fulfilling lives. The next day, the Brahmin passed away.” The four sons set out on their journey to the Gurukul, where they met the Guru and explained their situation. The Guru was happy that they were the sons of his old friend and welcomed them into his Gurukul. Despite their initial laziness and lack of wisdom, the Guru patiently taught them the mantras and tantras, and over time, they acquired some educational skills. Observing their progress, the Guru called his four disciples one day and imparted a valuable lesson. He acknowledged their newfound wisdom but expressed concern about their lack of common sense. He advised them to use their knowledge wisely for the betterment of society and themselves, warning against any misuse of their newfound abilities. Grateful for their Guru’s guidance. The next day they thanked and respected their Guru and started their journey. Where they stumbled upon a pond, thirsty, they drank from the pond and decided to rest for a while. During their rest, they noticed a heap of bones nearby. One of the brothers proposed a test of their skills, suggesting that they restore the scattered bones into a complete skeleton. The others agreed, and they set to work. The second brother chanted the mantras, and in a flash, the bones were assembled into a skeleton. Proud of their achievement, the first brother used his knowledge to give the skeleton flesh and blood, while the third brother added limbs and skin, completing the figure. However, the fourth brother remained silent and hesitant to contribute. Encouraged by his siblings to bring the creature to life, he expressed his reluctance, arguing that they had already proven their abilities and should not breathe life into such a dangerous and cruel animal. The three brothers told to last brother like “Don’t you want to prove your abilities?” they surprisingly asked. “I got confident in our Guru. It is already proved. It is a cruel animal. It will eat us” he said. “We are giving it life. How can it eat us?” “It doesn’t know all these things. Remember our Guru’s words. He asked us to use our common sense,” the fourth brother requested. The three brothers burst into laughter and teased him. The eldest brother said, “I command you to use your knowledge to give it life.” The fourth brother replied, “Dear brothers, you are all my elders, and I respect you. But please allow me to go to a secret place to hide.” “Ha! You’re such a weak,” they laughed. “But fine, if it satisfies you, go ahead and hide. We will take care of the rest.” “I will climb this tall tree,” the fourth brother said. “I’ll sit on one of its thick branches, and from there, I’ll chant the mantras.” The three brothers continued laughing, thinking he was being overly cautious, and permitted him to do so. The fourth brother climbed the tree and found a hidden spot among the branches. He sat securely on a large branch, leaned against the sturdy trunk, closed his eyes, and started chanting. All of a sudden, the lion’s body stirred. It stood up and looked around, spotting the three brothers nearby.  It roared hard. It was hungry. It jumped on the first one and ate him. The other two brothers ran in terror. But it did not leave them. It jumped on the running brothers and ate them. It began to eat slowly. The fourth brother saw this and began to weep silently. After two hours the lion went on its way. The fourth brother climbed down the tree. He wept before the half-eaten dead bodies of his brothers.  On his way back to the city, the fourth brother’s skill of giving life proved to be limited, and he felt his knowledge was of little use. The story ends, and Bethal then asks Vikram, “The four brothers are indeed skilled, but do you agree that the fourth brother acted selfishly? He seemed timid and only concerned about saving himself. What is your opinion?” Vikramarka remained silent, but Bethal reminded him of the consequences if he didn’t answer. With no choice, Vikramarka replied, “Bethal, the fourth brother is not selfish. He simply trusted his Guru’s words and showed wisdom by not giving life to the lion. The other brothers lost faith in their Guru, wanting to test their skills rather than the Guru’s teachings. They were eager to prove themselves and lacked common sense. Their actions were foolish, not brave. On the other hand, the fourth brother displayed prudence and developed his common sense after receiving his education. Therefore, his actions were appropriate and correct.” Bethal agreed with Vikramarka’s response, and despite the unkept promise, he flew away into the sky. The moral of the story is this: Knowledge is valuable, but wisdom is priceless. While the brothers possessed impressive skills, they lacked the wisdom to use them responsibly. They were eager to test their newfound knowledge without considering the consequences. In contrast, the fourth brother, though hesitant and labeled “timid,” displayed true wisdom by using his common sense and remembering his Guru’s teachings. The story emphasizes the importance

15. The Delicate Queens of Sundara Nagar | 16. The Behavior of the Brahmin Student: A Lesson in Dedication and Responsibility The Vikram Bethal stories continue… Vikramarka returned to his position and gently pulled the corpse along with him. As he continued his journey, he praised the Raja’s patience and attentiveness. He then offered to narrate another tale, hoping that the king would listen with equal interest. In the ancient kingdom of Sundara Nagar, there was a wise and courageous king named Suravarma. He was not only known for his excellent governance but also for his deep appreciation of beauty. The king was blessed with three more beautiful and delicate wives, whom he loved dearly. One day, King Suravarma was sitting with his first queen, feeling relaxed and playful. In a light-hearted mood, he plucked a beautiful rose and playfully tossed it toward the queen’s face. However, fate had a different plan, and the flower accidentally hit her right cheek with force, causing her to scream in pain and lose consciousness. Alarmed, the king called for the royal doctor, who tended to the queen until she gradually regained consciousness and recovered from the injury over several days. The following evening, the king visited his second queen in her palace. They sat together on an open balcony, enjoying the enchanting view of the full moon rising. As the moon’s radiant rays fell upon them, the king delighted in the sight. Unfortunately, his joy was short-lived, as the queen suddenly started crying out, complaining that the moon’s rays were burning her delicate skin. Concerned for her well-being, the king took her inside and called her maids to attend to her. After a while, she felt better and eventually fell asleep. On the third night, Suravarma spent time with his third queen, engaging in delightful conversation. However, their serene moment was interrupted by a sudden crushing sound nearby. The sound proved unbearable for the delicate queen, and she immediately burst into tears, collapsing to the floor in a faint. Observing the damage on her face and hands, the worried king carefully lifted her and carried her to his chamber. He called for the royal doctor, who attended to her until she recovered. Later, the king learned from the royal physician that his third queen was extremely delicate. The first queen fell ill from some touch of a rose, the second from the moon’s rays, but the third suffered from the sound. Suravarma realized that the delicacy of his queens made it challenging for him to enjoy their company, and he knew he had to take necessary precautions and measures to ensure their well-being. Bethal concluded the story, turning his attention back to Vikramarka. “Raja, among the three queens, who do you think was the most delicate?” he asked. Vikramarka pondered the story for a moment and then replied, “Without a doubt, all three queens are more delicate. However, considering the first two were affected by direct contact of a rose and moon rays, respectively, while the third queen suffered from small sound, she was undoubtedly the most sensitive and delicate of them all.” As Vikramarka’s answer reached Bethal’s ears, the mystical creature transformed and flew away once again, leaving the king to contemplate the tale and its lesson.

17: The Tragic Tale of Gunanadha: A Story of Fate and Destiny | Conclusion: Bhoja Raja’s Journey to the King Vikramarka Throne The Vikram Bethal stories continue… Bethal began narrating his next story while Vikramarka. The tale took place in the city of Cholapur, where lived a kind Brahmin named Devananda. He had a son named Gunanadha, who was the apple of his eye. Devananda doted on Gunanadha, showering him with love and care. One day, Devananda was invited to a grand wedding celebration. As he entered the hall, his eyes fell upon a young woman named Madhu Mathi. Her beauty was like the full moon shining in a clear sky, and her smile could melt even the coldest heart. Devananda felt a warmth spread through him, something he had never experienced before. Gathering his courage, Devananda approached Madhu Mathi’s family and expressed his interest. He was surprised to find them to be so hospitable! Devananda and Madhu Mathi were soon married, and their life blossomed with love and laughter. Gunanadha adored Madhu Mathi, who treated him like her own brother. One sunny afternoon, Devananda, Madhu Mathi, and Gunanadha decided to take a refreshing dip in the river that flowed near their home. The water was cool and inviting, washing away the day’s heat. As Madhu Mathi waded deeper into the river, she suddenly lost her footing and slipped into a hidden ditch. The current was strong, and before anyone could react, she was swept away. Gunanadha, a strong swimmer, dived in without hesitation. He fought the current with all his might, but the river was too powerful. With a heavy heart, he realized he couldn’t save his beloved Madhu Mathi. Tears streamed down his face as he watched the river carry her away. Devastated by the loss, Gunanadha’s world turned upside down. He couldn’t bear the empty space Madhu Mathi left behind. He stopped eating, stopped talking, and wandered aimlessly through the streets like a lost soul. He felt as though his own life had been washed away with Madhu Mathi. One day, his feet led him to the doorstep of a childhood friend. His friend, knowing about the tragedy, welcomed Gunanadha with open arms. He offered him a place to stay, hoping that time would heal his wounds. Days turned into weeks, and Gunanadha continued to be shrouded in grief. One afternoon, his friend’s wife noticed him sitting forlornly under a tree. Hoping to bring him some comfort, she prepared a bowl of his favorite sweet dish. With a gentle smile, she placed the bowl in front of him. Just then, a magnificent eagle soared across the sky, its sharp eyes spotting a sneaky snake slithering on the ground. With a swift swoop, the eagle snatched the snake and carried it high above the tree. The snake, writhing in pain, spat out its venom in a desperate attempt to escape. Unfortunately, a few drops of venom fell into Gunanadha’s sweet dish, unnoticed by anyone. Lost in his thoughts, Gunanadha picked up the bowl and began to eat. The sweet taste did little to lift his spirits, but he continued mechanically. Suddenly, a sharp pain ripped through him. He realized he had been poisoned! Before anyone could help, the poison took its effect, and Gunanadha collapsed. The news of Gunanadha’s death spread like wildfire, sending shockwaves through Cholapur. Bethal, a wise man known for his riddles, approached King Vikramarka with a question that puzzled everyone. “Your Majesty,” Bethal began, “who is to blame for Gunanadha’s tragic demise? Was it the eagle, the cunning snake, the carelessness of his friend’s wife, or perhaps even Madhu Mathi’s untimely death?” King Vikramarka, known for his wisdom and fairness, listened patiently.  The eagle was simply following its nature, the snake was fighting for its life, and Gunanadha’s friend’s wife only wanted to offer him comfort. Even Madhu Mathi’s death, though heartbreaking, was an accident. Things do occasionally occur that are out of our control. We call it destiny, fate, or simply the way things unfold.” King Vikramarka’s words resonated with everyone. Gunanadha’s death was a sad reminder that life can be unpredictable. But even in the face of tragedy, there is always kindness and love to be found, just like the kindness offered by Gunanadha’s friend and his wife. The story teaches us to accept what we cannot change and to cherish the love and joy we have in our lives. 18. Conclusion: Bhoja Raja’s Journey to the King Vikramarka Throne The Vikram Bethal stories continue… The next day, when Bhoja tried to sit on the throne the third idol, stopped him and told more stories. Thirty-one idols shared many stories about Bhoja Raja and challenged him if he was worthy of the Vikramarka throne. Bhoja couldn’t answer the challenges. Every story praised Vikramarka’s greatness. On the thirty-second day, a wise idol named Jnanaprakashavalli told the final part of Vikramarka’s rule. It went like this: Once Vikramarka fought a king named Salivahana, who defeated his army. Then Bhatti, Vikramarka’s brother, said, “Raja, our thousand-year journey is coming to an end. Tomorrow we will die.” Vikramarka understood and took the throne given by Indra to a place called Ujjani. There, he dug a pit placed the throne covered it with soil to keep it safe. After that, they reached the Kali temple. Vikramarka told Bhatti, “Bhatti, in the future, a king named Bhoja Raja will find this throne and rule for a year. Then the throne will go back to Indraloka.” Then Vikramarka released the spirit, Bethal, from a curse given by Lord Shiva. Bethal turned back into a Brahmin and said goodbye, returning to his village.  Bhatti wanted to die before Vikramarka died. He stopped his breath by himself. Later Vikramarka died. Many years later, Ujjani Empire got buried under clay and sand. A Brahmin found the land and started growing crops there. Later, King Bhoja acquired that land and discovered Vikramarka’s throne. When the thirty-second idol finished the story, it told