In the story from "Baital Pachisi," set in the region of Gaud, there was a king named Gunashekar who followed the advice of his minister, Abhaychandra, to stop worshipping deities like Shiva and Vishnu, and to cease charitable acts such as giving cows, land, and offering pinda (rice balls) for the dead. The minister argued that harming others leads to a cycle of birth and death, and emphasized the importance of protecting all forms of life. After the king's death, his son Dharmaraja ascended the throne and, in a fit of anger, banished the minister from the city. One day, Dharmaraja took his three queens—Indulekha, Taravali, and Mrigankvati—to a garden. Each queen suffered an injury or ailment caused by different elements: Indulekha was hurt by a fallen lotus, Taravali was affected by moonlight, and Mrigankvati developed blisters from the sound of pounding rice. Baital, the ghost narrating the story, posed a question to the king about which queen was the most delicate. The king concluded that Mrigankvati was the most sensitive, as she suffered the most without direct contact with any harmful object. Upon this answer, Baital vanished, leaving the king to pursue him again.

by Somadeva in Hindi Short Stories

Writen by Somadeva

Category Short Stories