patr 1

On the dark night of Amavasya, a handsome and strong man was strolling through the streets of Ujjayini. The guards were alert, diligently performing their duty. Their voices occasionally broke the silence, echoing through the streets:

"May the people sleep in peace; Emperor Vikramaditya's guards are awake!"

The man continued walking through the streets of Ujjayini. Suddenly, he felt a strong urge to visit the nearby garden outside the city. He reached the city gate, where he heard the stern voice of a guard:

"Who goes there? Why are you wandering aimlessly in the middle of the night?"

The young man replied, "I wish to go outside the city."

The guard asked, "Are you a foreigner? Do you not know that the gates of Ujjayini do not open before sunrise?"

Without saying a word, the man extended his right hand. Seeing the royal seal on his finger, the guard trembled and immediately said,

"Victory to Emperor Vikramaditya! My lord, I did not recognize you. Please forgive my offense."

The emperor said, "Guard, the royal rules apply to all equally. There is no need to fear."

The gatekeeper opened the gate. As he watched the emperor leave, he murmured to himself,

"Emperor Vikramaditya is truly great. While his people sleep peacefully, he stays awake. He disguises himself and roams the city to understand the sorrows and problems of his subjects. He personally visits the homes of the poor and needy to alleviate their hardships. One branch of the intelligence department does the same work, bringing the people's sufferings to the emperor's attention. The emperor is truly noble. To serve such a king is an honor."

Emperor Vikramaditya wandered in the garden. After some time, he stopped beneath a huge mango tree. On the tree, a parrot and a mynah were having a conversation.

The emperor was astonished—birds speaking in human language!

The parrot said, "Midnight has passed. Move away from the nest's entrance so that I can rest inside."

The mynah replied, "If you want to rest, find another place. If you wish to stay here, you must take responsibility for protecting and caring for our children. At sunrise, I will leave to gather food. The children will be left alone. Snakes and hawks may harm or even kill them. If you promise to look after them, only then will I allow you inside the nest."

The parrot scoffed, "Our culture is a male-dominated one. Women are full of deceit. A woman can never be equal to a man. Raising children is a woman's duty, not a man's."

The mynah retorted, "A woman's sacrifice and devotion are renowned throughout the world. She is the embodiment of selflessness. Have you not heard how Queen Damayanti abandoned the luxuries of the palace to endure hardships with King Nala in exile? How Queen Sita considered it her fortune to accompany Lord Rama into the forest? She endured exile due to false accusations, yet never forgot Rama for even a moment. Have you not heard the wise saying, 'Where women reside with dignity, there the gods dwell'? A woman is called a man's 'better half'—man and woman complete each other. They are like the two wheels of a chariot—one without the other makes life dull and incomplete. Thinking that only men are significant is your false belief. The allure of a woman is extraordinary. Have you not seen moths sacrificing themselves for the flame of a lamp? What attraction compels them to give up their lives?"

"Let me tell you about Queen Leelavati. Kings, princes, warriors, and scholars alike were mesmerized by her beauty, yet they failed to fulfill her conditions and ended up in prison, leading a life of misery. They knew it was impossible to win Queen Leelavati, yet their desire to attain her never ceased. Even though they understood that pursuing her meant inviting lifelong suffering, they could not resist."

The parrot was intrigued, "Beloved, are you telling the truth? Tell me more about Queen Leelavati and her story. Though, to me, you are more beautiful than Leelavati, I still wish to know everything about her."

The mynah said, "Spare me your unnecessary flattery. I know very well the nature of men."

The parrot pleaded, "My love, forget all that and just tell me the story of Queen Leelavati."

The mynah replied, "Very well, listen carefully..."

To be continued...