Chaturang Katha-E-505-The Strange Sacrifice

The Strange Sacrifice

THE STRANGE SACRIFICE is yet another story riddle from the vetala, and a strange one this time. If the heads of two people are interchanged, what about their identity? who is who? The Story leads pto this point in a most interesting manner. This issue also brings you MADANASENA. A wife is made to realize the value of marriage and its sanctity- a lesson beautifully taught, and eternally relevant.  

Summary of this comics:-
There are two stories about the wise King Vikramaditya and a cunning Vetal,
Story 1: The Strange Sacrifice. Once, the son of a washerman saw a beautiful girl at a temple and lost his heart to her. He made a vow to the Mother Goddess that if he were to marry that girl, he would offer his own head to the deity. By the grace of the Goddess, they were married. Some time later, he was traveling to his 'in-laws' home accompanied by his wife and a friend. On the way, they came across that very temple of the Goddess. The washerman's son remembered his vow. He entered the temple and, with a sword, severed his own head. When he failed to emerge for a long time, his friend went inside to check on him. The friend feared that people would suspect him of having killed his companion out of desire for the latter's wife. Seized by panic, the friend, too, cut off his own head. Finally, when the wife entered and found both men dead, she prepared to take her own life as well. At that moment, the Mother Goddess appeared and said, "Do not grieve! Reattach these heads to their respective bodies, and they shall come back to life." In her panic, the wife accidentally placed her husband's head upon her friend's body, and her friend's head upon her husband's body! The Vetala's Question: Now tell me, O King—who is that girl's true husband? King Vikram's Answer: The body upon which the husband's head is placed shall be deemed the true husband, for a human being's identity lies in their mind and head.
 

Story 2: Madanasena. There was a beautiful girl named Madanasena. A few days before her wedding, a merchant named Somadatta developed a fondness for her. Madanasena gave Somadatta her word that, after her marriage but before going to her husband, she would definitely come to meet him. On her wedding night, Madanasena revealed the entire truth to her husband. Her husband was astonished by her honesty and granted her permission to go and meet Somadatta. On her way, she encountered a thief. Madanasena told him the whole truth as well, saying, "On my return journey, I will give you all my jewelry; for now, please let me pass." Even the thief heeded her words. When she finally reached Somadatta, he realized the error of his ways. He reflected that it would be a sin to deceive a woman who remained so devoted to her husband. Consequently, he sent Madansena back with the utmost respect. On her return journey, when she encountered the thief again, his heart, too, melted, and he refused to accept the jewelry. Vetala’s Question: Vikram! Tell me—among all these individuals, who was the greatest and most virtuous? King Vikram’s Answer: The greatest of them all was the thief. For her husband had abandoned her out of fear or anger; Somadatta, too, had let her go out of fear of social disgrace; but the thief—whose very profession was stealing—overcame his own greed to honor Madansena’s unwavering integrity. The moment King Vikram delivered his answer, Vetala flew away once more and perched back upon the tree! Moral: Children, the lesson we learn from these stories is that a person’s true identity lies in their mindset and character—and that even an enemy or a thief will respect honesty.

• Title                        : THE STRANGE SACRIFICE
• Serial No.               : 505
• Pages                     : 36
• Script                     : English
• Publisher               : India Book House Pvt. Ltd.
• First Published in : ......