Hearing the mention of the death penalty, the princess's maids became frightened. They looked at each other, and the senior maid said, "We accept your condition."
King Vikram opened the door and handed the maid the bodice. He then accompanied the maids in the chariot and arrived at Kanchanpur. They stayed in the royal guesthouse of Kanchanpur, which was vast and equipped with all the comforts for King Vikram.
Days passed, but no arrangement was made for King Vikramaditya to meet the princess. Frustrated, he told the maid, "Fulfill your promise."
The maid replied, "Noble man! We are royal attendants. How can we ask our mistress to meet an unknown man? If we try and the princess gets angry, we will be imprisoned in the dungeon for life. Instead of this request, ask for something else. Why are you so determined to ruin our lives? You do not know about the dungeons of Kanchanpur—they are nothing short of hell."
King Vikram said, "You must do this for me. Do not worry; I would even sacrifice my life for your well-being."
The maid replied, "Your sacrifice will not restore our happiness. The mere thought of the dungeon makes us tremble with fear."
King Vikram said, "Let go of unnecessary fear and arrange my meeting with the princess."
The maid asked, "Do you not fear for your life? If the princess refuses, you will be imprisoned immediately. Do not be stubborn. Accept enough wealth from us and free us from our promise. Return home at once."
King Vikram replied, "Do not try to advise me. Do not try to scare me with the fear of death. I know my intellect and valor well. No one can harm you."
The maid said, "You speak as if you are an emperor or possess divine powers."
King Vikram replied, "Lady, do not try to learn more about me. Who I am and where I come from is of no concern to you. But I assure you that the day I leave Kanchanpur, you will know who I truly am. Now, without delay, arrange my meeting with the princess. I have returned the bodice and kept my promise; now it is time for you to fulfill yours."
The maid consulted the other attendants who had accompanied her to the Chamundi Mata temple and said, "The unknown man staying at the guesthouse insists that we keep our promise. We must find a solution. Keeping him in the guesthouse for long could bring misfortune upon us. If the princess Lilavati finds out and questions us about his stay, what answer will we give? This is a tangled puzzle, and solving it has become essential. We must work together. If someone is willing to sacrifice their life for the queen's vow, what can we do? At the right moment, we must complete this task."
One day, Princess Lilavati, adorned with sixteen embellishments, sat joyfully by the palace balcony. Her friends and attendants engaged in playful banter. The queen asked, "How do I look?"
One companion said, "You look very beautiful, but a woman is incomplete without a man. The harmony of male and female voices creates the melody of life's symphony. Without it, there is no sweetness, just as a bird cannot fly with one wing. Without the union of man and woman, a happy household is impossible, nor can one reach the destination of worldly life."
Another friend added, "O graceful swan, find yourself a mate. Time waits for no one. Soon, beauty and youth will begin to fade. Old age will knock at your door, and you will be left alone to mourn the memories of your lost youth and beauty."
The princess laughed and said, "You all are my well-wishers and love me dearly. Why don't you find me a swan?"
At that moment, a clever maid spoke, "Mistress, a swan has arrived and is staying in the royal guesthouse. He is determined to fulfill your vow. Please grant permission and set the date for his trial."
Princess Lilavati asked, "Does he know about my vow? Has he been informed that if he fails, he will never see the light of day again?"
The maid replied, "Yes, mistress, he knows everything. He is handsome and brave. He claims he has never tasted defeat in any aspect of life."
Princess Lilavati laughed and said, "If the moth is eager to sacrifice itself on the flame, then bring him to the royal court for his trial without delay."
To be continued…