The Noble Servant

King Vikramaditya walked through the dark, spooky forest with the vampire Betal on his back. “O King,” whispered Betal, “the night is long. Let me tell you a story to pass the time.”

In the kingdom of Varanasi, there was a temple dedicated to the Goddess Durga. A brave young man named Dhaval lived there. He was a loyal servant to the King. One day, Dhaval saw a beautiful woman praying at the temple. Her name was Madhavi. They fell in love and were married with the blessings of their parents. Dhaval and Madhavi lived happily. Madhavi’s brother, a young man named Jay, also became Dhaval’s close friend.

One year, Dhaval, Madhavi, and Jay decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Devi temple in the mountains. When they arrived, the temple was filled with a powerful, divine energy. Dhaval was overcome with devotion. He knelt before the statue of the Goddess. “O Mother,” he prayed. “You have given me everything—a loving wife, a good life. I surrender myself to you completely.” In a trance of deep prayer, Dhaval offered his very spirit to the Goddess. His eyes rolled back, and he fell into a deep magical sleep on the temple floor.

Jay, the brother, saw this. He panicked. “Oh no! Dhaval has collapsed! If I go back alone, people will think I harmed him out of jealousy.” Terrified and confused, Jay also knelt and prayed. “O Mother, take me too!” The powerful energy of the temple overcame him, and he too fell into the same deep swoon beside Dhaval.

Finally, Madhavi entered the temple. She saw her husband and brother lying motionless on the floor. She thought they were dead. She cried out in grief. “Mother Durga! Why have you taken them? I cannot live without them!” She prepared to give up her own life in sorrow. Suddenly, a golden light filled the room. The Goddess Durga appeared. “Stop, my child,” said the Goddess gently. “Your devotion has pleased me. I will return them to you.” The Goddess sprinkled holy water on the two men. “Arise!”

But in the blinding divine light, a strange miracle happened. The souls and forms of the men were mixed up! When they stood up, they looked different. The man with Dhaval’s head had Jay’s body. The man with Jay’s head had Dhaval’s body. They were both alive, but swapped! Madhavi was shocked. She looked at the two men. One had her husband’s kind face but her brother’s clothes and body. The other had her husband’s strong body but her brother’s face.

Betal asked, “Now tell me, King Vikram. Who is her true husband? The one with the husband’s body, or the one with the husband’s head? Answer me, or your head will shatter into a thousand pieces!”

King Vikramaditya replied wisely without hesitation. “The answer is simple, Betal. The head is the most important part of a human being. It contains the brain, the memory, the voice, and the identity. The body is just a vessel. Therefore, the man who bears Dhaval’s head is her true husband, regardless of whose body he has.”

“You are right!” shrieked Betal. “But since you spoke, I must go!” And with a whoosh, the vampire flew back to his tree, leaving the King to chase him once again.

Moral of the Story: The mind and intellect define who we are, more than our physical appearance.

Moral of the Story: The mind and intellect define a person, not the body.