part 9

Chandranayani became distraught while waiting. A desolate forest, a lone woman—fear gripped her heart. As even the charioteer did not return, her heart filled with apprehension. The wait became unbearable, and she, too, set out toward the goddess's temple.

As soon as she entered the temple, she saw the severed bodies of her husband and the charioteer, with blood scattered all around. A scream escaped her lips, and she fainted. No one knew how long she remained unconscious, but upon regaining her senses, she wept bitterly—

"Oh Lord! With my husband gone, what is the purpose of my life? A widow's life is lonely and devoid of honor. Only death can end my sorrows."

Chandranayani picked up a sword, intending to sever her head, but an invisible force held her hand and said, "A woman's sacrifice is forbidden in the temple."

The divine voice continued, "I am the Goddess myself. Suicide is a sin. I am not pleased with the sacrifice of your husband and charioteer either. This is a temple where devotees seek relief from suffering, not a place to surrender their lives. The Goddess is the mother of the world, and in her compassionate embrace, there is no place for death and sorrow. I will not let you offer your head. A woman's sacrifice is strictly prohibited here."

Chandranayani pleaded, "Mother! My life is meaningless. All my happiness perished with my husband. Why should I live? Let go of my hand."

The Goddess replied, "I will not let you die."

Chandranayani asked, "If sacrifice is forbidden in your temple, then why didn't you stop my husband and the charioteer?"

The Goddess explained, "Daughter! Why don't you understand? I am a woman. I cannot touch a man. How could I have stopped them?"

"Do not offer yourself in sacrifice. Ask for a boon instead."

Chandranayani said, "Mother! If you are so compassionate, then revive my husband and his charioteer."

The Goddess replied, "Have you lost your mind? No one returns from the embrace of death. Ask for some other boon."

Chandranayani insisted, "Mother! Either accept my sacrifice or grant life to my husband and the charioteer."

The Goddess said, "I do not wish to defile my temple. I will bring your husband back to life, but you must abandon the idea of sacrifice."

Chandranayani objected, "Mother! The charioteer sacrificed himself after seeing my husband dead. I am not so selfish as to revive only my husband and abandon his loyal companion."

A long debate ensued between Chandranayani and the Goddess. Eventually, the Goddess said, "Chandranayani! I am pleased with your noble sentiments. I will grant life to both. You must join their severed heads and torsos, and I will infuse them with life."

Chandranayani's joy knew no bounds. Without delay, she joined the heads and torsos of her husband and the charioteer. The divine Goddess appeared and revived them with the nectar of life. But Chandranayani made a mistake.

In her haste, she accidentally attached the charioteer's head to her husband's body and her husband's head to the charioteer's body. Once revived, both men began to argue—one claiming that Chandranayani was his wife, and the other asserting the same.

King Vikramaditya turned to the lamp and asked, "O radiant lamp! Tell us, whose wife is Chandranayani? Is she the wife of the man with her husband's torso and the charioteer's head, or the one with the charioteer's torso and her husband's head?"

The flame of the lamp flickered and responded, "You have placed me in a dilemma, but I am a lamp—I have witnessed the wedding ceremony. I cannot be deceived. In the marriage ritual, the groom and bride's hands are joined together. Therefore, she is the wife of the one with her husband's torso."

Upon hearing the lamp's answer, Princess Lilavati became enraged. She stepped down from the throne, approached the lamp, and ruthlessly extinguished it. Instantly, the spirit emerged from the lamp and returned to Vikramaditya.

King Vikramaditya said, "Princess Lilavati, do not be angry. The lamp was a witness to the wedding. If you are not satisfied with its answer, then provide the true judgment. Deliver justice."

Queen Lilavati found herself in a dilemma—whether to respond or remain silent. To give an answer, she had to speak.

King Vikramaditya, sensing her hesitation, took advantage of the situation and said, "You are seated on the throne of justice. Delivering judgment is your duty. Speak the truth. Make an immediate decision, or it will be concluded that you lack the ability to render justice."