Vikramaditya`s Throne

NO. i-rs
R.Y JO
Illustrated Classics From India
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presents complex historical facts and intricate mythology in a format that would appeal
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No. 598 • Rs 30
INDIA BOOK HOUSE
M ahalaxm i Chambers, 5th Floor, 22 Bhulabhai Desai Road, M um bai 400 026, India.
© India Book House Pvt. Ltd. 1975 Reprinted: July 2005 ISBN: 81-7508-322-0
Printed at Tritop Art-n-P rint, U n it No. 104, Anand Raj Industrial Estate,
1st floor, Sonapur Lane, Bhandup (West), M um bai - 400 078.
mRAMDITVA’S
THRONE
IN D R A , K IN (5 O F T H E <S O D S ,H A D P L E A S E D S H IV A . A S A REW ARD
SHIVA 6 A V E H IM A N E X Q U IS IT E T H R O N E .
1
IN D R ft TR EA SU R ED T H E T H R O N E
I 5 H A L L N E V E R PART W ITH
IT, EXCEPT T O S O M E - r - '
V O N E MORE W ORTHY
K O F IT T H A N I.
J
2
PPiRVPfn R E L E N T E D .
( TH IS T H R O N E W IL L R E A C H T H E E A R T H IN THE
R E I6 N O F R A J A V IK R A M A D IT Y A . C E N T U R IE S
L A T E R IT W IL L BE F O U N D BY R A JA B H O J A .
W H E N H E T R IE S T O M O U N T IT Y O U W IL L STOP
H IM A N D T E L L H IM S T O R IE S F R O M T H E LIFE /
O F V lfC R A M A D IT Y A . IF H E IS M A 6 N A N IM O U 5 E N O U G H T O H E A R A L L
S. O F Y O U O U T ,Y O U W IL L BE
V
FREE O F T H IS C U R S E .
^
,
DEAREST, YOU
ARE MY VERY
•v LIF E .
^
4
THE M A ID (5AVE IT TO H E R
LOVER. - A C O W H E R D . B U T THE S T A B LE -B O Y , U N F A IT H F U L TO
THE Q U E E N , G>AVE IT T O H IS
BELO VED — A M A ID ._________________
DEAREST, EAT T H 15 FRUIT.
A N D I CAN BE SURE THAT
D EATH W ILL N O T SNATCH
Y O U FR O M M E .
TH E e /R L W H O C A R R IE D T H E
C O W -D U N 6 WAS O V E R JO Y E D .
I SHALL G O
HOME AN D
B ATH E, BEFORE
EATING T H E
FRUIT.
f
I S H A L L GIVE T H IS M A 0 IC
F R U IT T O M Y B E LO V E D ,
W H O F A IT H F U L L Y CARRIES
T H E C O W -D U N G F O R M E .
£
o
5 H E TH R E W T H E F R U IT O N T O P
O F HER BASKET O F DUNG AN D
W ALKED M ER R ILY D O W N TH E
OUST THEN B H A R TR IH A R l, O U T O N
A H U N T , PASSED T H A T W AY.
W HEN B H A R TR IH A R I L E A R N T TH E
TR U TH H E WAS U T T E R L Y D IS G U S T E D
W ITH T H E W O R LD .
T H E R E IS N O G REATER E N E M Y T H A N
A TTA C H M E N T, A N D N O G R E A T E R
H A P P IN E S S T H A N R E N U N C IA T IO N .
AFTER. C O N FIR M IN G ) T H A T IT WAS THE
5A M E FRUIT, H E S E N T FOR AN AN 6ASEN A.
H E C A L L E D H IS B R O T H E R
V /K R A M A D /T Y A TO H IM .
I HAVE D E C ID E D T O
BE C O M E AN A S C E T IC .
Y O U S H A L L R E I0 N IN
M Y PLA C E .
8
V/KRA/AADITYA BECAME K IN G . H E R U L E D H I5 K IN G D O M W ELL, PLEASING ALL H IS
SUBJECTS A N D A TTEN D IN G TO \
EVERY S M A LL REQUEST
O F TH E IR S .
* Pi GHOST OR DEMON THAT INHABITS CORPSES
W HEN V/KR AM ADITYA R E F U S E D T O
ANSW ER­
S’! CERTAIN K IN S H A D A S O N ,
W HO W HILE O N A H U N T , CAME
U P O N A B R A H M A N PERFORMING)
R E L IG IO U S R IT E S O N THE B A N K
" THE K IN G 'S S O N CO M M AN DED THE
B R A H M A N TO H O L D H IS H O R S E
W H ILE H E D R AN IC W ATER. TH E
B R A H M A N R EFUSED. ”
" THE PR IN C E, E N R A G E D , STRUCK. H IM
W ITH H IS W H/P. TH E B R A H M A N R A N
A N D C O M P LA IN E D TO T H E IC IN G . THE
K IN G WAS A N G R Y . H E C O M M A N D E D
TH A T TH E H A N D W HICH STRUCK.
TH E B R A H M A N B E C U T O F F . ”
“ A S THE O R D E R WAS A B O U T TO B E
C A R R IE D O U T TH E BR AH M AN
R E LE N T E D A N D IN TE R V E N E D SAVING,
‘ O K IN G THE PR IN C E ACTED O U T O F
IG N O R A N C E . / A M S U R E H E W ILL N O T
R EPEAT TH IS C R IM E . F O R M Y S A K E
L E T H IM B E P A R D O N E D *
T E LL M E O ICING, O F T H E T W O ,T H E
BRAHM AIS A N D T H E K I N 6 , W H 0 vW AS.
M O R E V IR T U O U S ?
H E A R IN G TH ESE W ORDS TH E K IN G
FO R G AV E TH E PR IN C E A N D THE
BRAHM AN R E TU R N E D H O M E ? ’
TH E I C I N 6 M
OF c o u r s e !
i
B U T VIKRAM ADITYA W ENT A FTE R H IM
A N D O N C E A & A /N P LA C E D H IM O N
H IS S H O U L D E R .
THE M O M E N T I//K R A M A D IT Y A
S P O K E ,T H E VETALA D IS A P P E A R E D
FR O M H IS S H O U L D E R A N D WAS
BACK. O N T H E TR E E .
I S H A L L T E LL Y O U
A N O T H E R STORY.
BUT YO U M U S T
ANSW ER M Y
Q U E S T IO N
WHEN I FINISH.
O R E L S E ...
m
IN TH IS W AY THE VETALA T O LD
2 4 S T O R IE S A N D 2 4 TIM ES
V/KR AM AD /TYA BR O KE TH E SILEN C E
A N D R E P LIE D . B U T W H E N THE 2 5 TH
S T O R Y W AS T O L D V /K R ft/M D /T Y A
D ID N O T K N O W TH E A N S W E R TO
T H E G H O U L ’S Q U E S T IO N A N D
D ID N O T S P E A K A W ORD. TH E
G H O U L W AS F O R C E D TO S T M
O N H IS S H O U L D E R
A N D C O U LD N O T
ESCAPE BACK.
TO H IS TREE.
O (C IN 6, T H E
SO R C ER ER
IN T E N D S
T O K IL L
YOU.
-------------------- ^
T H IS K IN S ^
IS COURAGEOUS,
CLEVER A N D
COMPASSIONATE.
I M U ST WARN
HIM O F T H E
SORCERER
•
V.
..
’
>
■ -
'
.
11
WHEN Y O U TAKE
M E T O H IM H E
W ILL ASK Y O U TO
BO W BEFORE THE
SACRIFICIAL F IR E .
W H E N Y O U DO
S O HE W ILL
S LA Y Y O U .
E l/E R V T H /N G H APPENED A S TH E
VETALA H A D W ARN ED. i--------------N O W B O W T O T H E SAC R IFIC IAL FIRE
YOU W IL L HAVE
SHO W ME H O W .
B E IN G A KING
\ I HAVE NEVER
\
BO W ED
/
\
BEFO R E, r *
TO
A
1 3
J5
%
A S SO O N A S THE SORCERER WAS S L A IN THE VETALA BEC AM E A B R A H M A N
A N D M A D E A N O FFER IN G O F THE S O R C E R E R ’S H E A D . T H E N Y O U HAVE M A D E T H E E IG H T -F O L D
.P R O S P E R IT Y Y O U R S . W H A T W ILL
YOU HAVE FR O M M E ?
THE M A 6 N A N IM O U S VIKR AM AD ITYA
WAS R EADY W ITH H IS R EQ U EST.
S O O N V IK R P iM K D IT Y rfe FAM E
S P R E A D F ftR A N D W ID E A N D H ie
S U B JE C T S L O V E D A N D RESPECTED
H IM .
T H E R E IS N O
K IN G A S GREAT
AS O U R S .
IN h e a v e n IN D R A W A S
W OR.R.IED.
THE AUSTERITIES OF
VISHWAMITRA THE
S A G E A R E B E C O M IN G
IN T E N S E . T H E Y W IL L
S O O N B U R N U P TH E
THREE W O R L D S .
H E S E N T F O R R ftM B H F ) F IN D U R V A S H I,
T W O O F T H E B E S T ftP S fiR fi D AN C E R S
O F H IS C O U R T .
THE MORE S K ILF U L OF YOU
TW O M UST S O T O VISHW AMITRA’S
G R O V E A N D D IS T U R B H IS
P E N A N C E . Y O U W /L L BE
W E L L R E W A R D E D IF
V O U SUCCEED.
13
TH E <30D e W ERE S O D E L IG H T E D W ITH T H E D A N C IN G O F B O T H TH AT T H E Y
C O U L D N O T M A K E U P T H E IR M IN D S . T H E S A G E N A R A D A A T L A S T MPtDE A
S U G G E S TIO N .
IN D R A S E N T F O R M Fl T A L I H IS
C H A R IO T E E R . \----------------------- y
6 0 TO K IN S V IK R A M A D IT Y A /
O F U J J A IN I. IN V IT E H IM ,
O N M Y B E H A LF , TO M Y
C O U R T TO JU D O E A
D A N C IN 6 C O M P E T IT IO N .
I/IK R A M A D IT Y A , A L O V E R O F TH E
A R T S , N A T U R A L L Y ACCEPTED THE
IN V IT A T IO N . H E R E T U R N E D W ITH
M A T A L ! IN H IS C H A R IO T .
THE G R EAT D A Y D A W N E D A N D B O T H A R T IS T E S G AVE O F T H E IR BEST:
V IK R A M A D IT V A E X P L A IN E D f) N D
IN D R P l W A S P L E A S E D B Y H IS
K N O W L E D G E O F T H E S U B JE C T .
Y O U R P E C !S IO N S H O W S
K N O W L E D 6 E A N D \NSI6HT.
T A K IN G L E A V E O F IN D R F l, V /K R R M F D !T Y A R E T U R N E D T O U J J P ilN I W IT H
A L L H IS G IF T S . THERE H E S E T U P T H E T H R O N E A N D O N A N
A U S P IC IO U S D A Y M O U N T E D IT. m
-------------------- ~ZjKL
F R O M T H E D A Y H E M O U N T E D T H E T H R O N E , H IS R U L E W AS G L O R IO U S IN
E V E R Y W A Y . H E W AS T H E O V E R L O R D O F A L L T H E K IN G S O N E A R T H . H E
V A N Q U IS H E D A L L E V IL M E N . P O V E R T Y W AS U N K N O W N A N D F A M IN E
A N D G R IE F U N H E A R D O F . S A V A N T S A N D S C H O L A R S P R O S P E R E D
U N D E R H IS P A T R O N A G E .
TH E N S U D D E N L Y , D A Y A FTE R DAY, A N U M B E R . O F EV/L O M E N S STRUCK. U JJA /N /.
O N L Y T H E N D ID V/KR F)/V)PlD ITYf) R EM EM BE R F \N IN C ID E N T W H IC H H A D
O C C U R R E D YEAR S FKbO. H E H A D P L E A S E D S H IV A W IT H H IS P E N A N C E . S O -
HE TO LD THE ASTROLOGER. A B O U T IT.
I TH O U G H T T H I5 BOON
W OULD MAKE ME IMMORTAL
FOR IT IS IM P O S S IB LE
T H A T A T W O -A N D -A -H A L F jk Y E A R -O LD GIRL COULD A
S O E V E R B E A R A SO N .
VIKR fiM AD ITYA IM M ED IATELY S U M M O N E D
THE VETALA P iN D TO LD H IM A L L .
R O A M TH E W H O LE
W O R L D T IL L Y O U
L O C A T E TH E BO Y.
TH E N C O M E
BACK TO M E.
T H E WAYS O F D ESTIN Y
A R E M Y S TE R IO U S .
THE O M E N 6 BE6PEAK
L THE BIRTH OF
A
y o u r fo e .
.* 3
THE V E TA LA D ID AB H E WAS
T O L D . A T L A S T H E C AM E TO
PR AT/SH TH AN A TO THE H O U S E
O F A PO TTER.
PRAY W HO
IS THIS
LITTLE BO Y'
MY BON
5 H A L IV A HANA.
A FEW H O U R 5 LATER V/KRAM ADtTYA, UNABLE TO BEAR THE P AIN , D IE D . AFTER HIS
21
THE CITY O F D H A R fi REPLACED U J J P /N / P S THE CAPITAL CITY. IT W P S R U L E D
B Y R P J P B H O JP t, P JU£>T, CPPP&LE P N D B E L O V E D K IN G .
HE
3 E 6 P N LO O K IN G FOR. Pi G O O D V P N T P & E POINT.
AH ! H E R E le 'A M O U N D R I0 H T IN
T H E C E N T R E O F IT. I’ L L B U IL D A
P LA T F O R M F R O M W H IC H I’ L L
i h —- iV
W ATCH T H E F JE LD .
O N E D A Y , R A J A 8 H O J A .O U T O N A
H U N T IN G E X P E D IT IO N , P A S S E D B Y
T H E F IE L D .
H O W J U IC Y A N D T H IC K
T H E S E CAINES A R E .
T H E Y M U S T BE
V
d e lic io u s !
y
THE B R A H M A N W HO WAS WATCHING
T H E M FR O M THE PLATFO R M HEARD
T H E M . I---------------------------------------— --------- 1 O K IN G , COAAE W ITH
Y O U R F O L L O W E R 5 .B E M Y
GUESTS. Q U E N C H YO U R
T H IR S T O N T H IS J U IC Y
S U 6A R C A N E .
J U S T T H E N TH E BR AH M AN
C AM E D O W N T O
S H O O A W A Y SO M E
C R O W S,j
TH E TH IRSTY M E N W E R E O N L Y
W A ITIN G F O R TH E IN V IT A T IO N .
TH E M O M ENT
m e on
LEV EL
& R .O U N D he
O K IN S , H O W CAN Y O U BE S O WICKED.
YO U A R E T H E PROTECTOR O F T H E
WEAK.. W IL L Y O U DESTROY A POOR
B R A H M A N ’S CROP5 ?
B Y T H E N TH E B R P lH M P N H A D M O U N T E D TH E PLATFO R M fie P H N .
H E C A L L E D O U T TO T H E M .
O
K IN 6 ,W H E R E A R E Y O U
G O IN G f W H Y D O Y O U R E F U S E
M Y H O S P IT A L IT Y
COME
BACK A N D ...
£
RAJA BH O JA WAS N O W C O N W N C E D TH AT THERE WAS
SO M ETH IN G U N U S U A L A B O U T T H E P LA T F O R M .
H E W ENT U P TO T H E B R A H M A N .
I W I5 H T O B U Y T H IS FIELD
FROM Y O U . H O W MUCH
S
15 IT W O R TH ?
y
m wm
"8
4r
v r
A S M UCH AS Y O U
D E E M FIT.
B U T W HEN T H E Y T R IE D T O R E M O V E T H E T H R O N E , TRY A S TH E Y M IG H T
THEY C O U LD N O T SH IFT IT A N IN C H . .
'
-------------------------------—
W \\v
26
R A JA BHOJA C O NSULTED H IS M IN ISTER .
7
T H I5 M U 5 T BE A DIVINE ^
T H R O N E .IT W ILL HAVE TO
BE H O N O U R E D WITH SACRED
RITUALS IF IT 15 TO BE
MOVED A N D IF IT 15 N O T TO
BRIN<3 VOU IL L -L U C K .
SO THE O FFER IN G S WERE M A D E A N D THE
TH R P N E WAS SH IFTED W ITH EASE.
RAJA B H O JA H A D IT C AR R IED TO DHARA WHERE IT WAS PLACED IN A SPECIALLY
BU ILT H A L L .
28
R A JA BH O JA WAS ASTONISHED
iE D
A N D ASHAM ED, i------------
1
Y O U A R E R IS H T . O N E W HO
PR AISES HIS O W N VIRTUES
IS N O B E T T E R T H A N A
F O O L . D O T E L L M E O F THE
M A 6 N A N IM IT Y
O F H IM TO
W H O M T H IS
THRONE
BELO N6ED.
IN THIS) MANNER. R A JA BH O JA M A D E TH IR TY-TW O ATTEM PTS TO M O U N T THE THRONE.
EACH TIME A STATUE TOLD H IM A STORY DESCRIBING THE M AG NANIM ITY O F RAJA
V IK R A M A D IT Y A .H E H A D TO H O N E S TLY A D M IT TO H IM S E L F THAT
H E WAS N O W H ER E N E A R T H E GREAT VIK.RAMADITYA AS FAR
F\S K IN G LY VIRTUES WENT.
A T L A S T A F T E R THE T H IR T Y -S E C O N D STATU E H A D T O L D IT S S T O R Y A B O U T
R A J A V IK R A M A D IT Y A 'S G R E A TN E S S A N D R A JA B H O JA H A D P A T IE N T LY A N D
H U M B LY H EAR D / T - r D O M O T R E M A IN S IL E N T . Y O U TO O
A R E A G R E A T ,G L O R IO U S ,6 E N E R O U S
ICING. Y O U R PATIENCE A N D
^
M A G N A N IM IT Y HAVE RELEASED
L.
US FROM A CURSE.
M m
R A JA B H O J A W AS U T T E R L Y
B E W ILD E R E D , i----------------------- cFROM W H A T C U R SE ? H O W
HAVE I H E LP E D Y O U ?
>
BY L IS T E N IN G
P A TIE N TLY TO
O U R TALES ON
THE VIR TU E S
O F RAJA
VIKRAM ADITYA.
THEY TO LD Hl/V\ A LL A B O U T PARVATl’S
C U R SE A N D H O W SHE H A D RELENTED.
TH E N IS T H E R E A N Y
W IS H O F
YOURS THAT
WE CAIN
FU LFIL f
30
R A JA B H O JA PLAC ED TH E T H R O N E IN A S H R IN E IN L A ID W /TH B R IG H T G O LD
A N D TH E N IN E PR EC IO U S G E M S .U P O N IT H E PLA C E D THE IM AG ES O F S H IV A
A N D PARVfiTI A N D W O R S H IP P E D B O T H , THE TH R O N E A N D TH E D E IT IE S .
THEN M O UNTING THE THRONE H E R U LED WISELY A N D
W ELL TILL THE E N D O F H IS D A Y S .
31
Illustrated Classics From India
Vikramaditya’s Throne
This is the story of how the magnificent throne of Raja Vikramaditya was destined to be discovered centuries
later by Raja Bhoja. It is said that, due to a curse, thirty-two apsaras were turned into statues that supported
the throne. Raja Bhoja was instrumental in releasing them from the curse by patiently listening to each of
their stories, thirty-two in all, on the life and adventures of the magnanimous Vikramaditya.
The story of the throne, the thirty-two stories as narrated by the statues, and the twenty-five stories told by
Vetala to Vikramaditya on one of his adventures, are all contained in the original Sanskrit work Vikrama
Charita, written between the 11th and the 13th centuries. The stories changed as they traveled across
several regions of the country and were retold in different languages. Today we find many different versions
of the same stories coming from different parts of the country.
Editor: Anant Pai
Script: Kamala Chandrakant
Illustrations: Nana W agh
Cover: V. B. Khalap
Related Titles
Vikramaditya • Raja Bhoja • Chandragupta Mauiya
Baladitya and Yashodharma • Samudra Gupta
Ashoka • Harsha • Lalitaditya
ISBN
81-7508-322-0
Made
i
INDIA BOOK HOUSE
i
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