Queen Chatura and King Vikram

- If someone understands the secret of the diamond necklace, Queen Chatura will win... but no one knows the secret.

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- "Don't lie. You came through the window and stole it."

T he court of King Vikram was in session.

King Vikram and Queen Chatura were seated on the throne.

The respected people of the city,

the wise men,

the poets, and

the craftsmen had gathered in the court.

It was King Vikram's rule that after official work, new and interesting discussions would take place.

The king asked, "Is there any new matter today?"

Vetal Bhatt said, "Maharaj, a wealthy merchant has come seeking justice."

The king asked, "What is the matter?"

Vetal Bhatt began explaining:

A wealthy merchant from Gujarat did business in Malwa. He used to buy and sell goods and always made profits. His name was Dhanpati.

Dhanpati loved Ujjain very much. For eight months he stayed in Gujarat and for four months in Ujjain.

He loved traveling. He would spend two days at home and four days traveling to new places, enjoying himself.

One day while traveling, he reached a village by the river.

The riverbank was lush and green, with coconut trees, mango groves, neem trees, and banyan trees. Dhanpati loved the place.

Near the river, there was a beautiful garden. In the garden stood a charming house surrounded by flowers. Seeing this, Dhanpati was pleased. He asked a passerby, "Brother, whose house is this?"

The man replied, "This is not anyone's personal house, it belongs to everyone."

Dhanpati said, "Then it must be a temple."

The man said, "No, it is a rest house. Travelers stay here."

Dhanpati felt happy.

He was looking for such a place to stay and relax. So, he decided to stay for a few days.

He entered the garden and was delighted.

The flowers, the flower beds, the vines, and the decorated pavilions - it all seemed like a heavenly garden.

In the middle stood a beautiful house.

As he walked ahead, a man greeted him respectfully.

The man politely asked, "Do you have any luggage?"

Dhanpati replied, "No. Who are you?"

The man said, "I am the caretaker of this garden."

Dhanpati asked, "Who is the owner?"

The man replied, "I am both the caretaker and the owner."

His name was Sevakraj.

Sevakraj arranged everything for Dhanpati.

He gave him a beautiful room which Dhanpati liked very much. From its window, a large lake was visible along with a hill, a banyan tree, a small shrine, and a tall palm tree. In the evening, the view was beautiful.

Dhanpati kept watching.

Sevakraj came to check if everything was fine.

Dhanpati said, "I am very happy. This lake looks beautiful. Tomorrow, I will take a bath there."

Sevakraj replied, "No, Sethji. No one bathes in that lake."

Dhanpati asked, "Why not?"

Sevakraj explained, "Once, a traveler stayed here. He went to bathe in the lake, but a crocodile caught him. However, he bravely dragged the crocodile to the shore and killed it. But he was injured badly and died at the bank of the lake. People later built a shrine there in his memory. It is said that his spirit comes out of the shrine at night, bathes in the lake, and returns. Since then, no one bathes there."

Hearing this, Dhanpati felt uneasy. Still, he kept looking out of the window daily and thought about the traveler. At night, he imagined seeing shadows.

He told himself, "It's just my imagination."

One night, he dreamt of the traveler. Suddenly, he heard the window open. A man climbed in. Dhanpati sat up in fear. The man came straight towards him.

He was dressed like a traveler. He said, "I am the traveler. I have come to take your necklace."

He attacked Dhanpati and took his real pearl necklace.

He even stabbed Dhanpati, who fainted.

Hearing the scream, Sevakraj and others rushed in.

They treated Dhanpati. When he woke up, he touched his neck and found the necklace missing.

Dhanpati said, "The traveler stole my necklace and escaped."

Everyone searched but found nothing.

Dhanpati returned to Ujjain.

Later he went back to Gujarat and then returned to Ujjain.

One day in the market, he saw the same man. Same face, same clothes, same appearance.

He caught him and said, "You are the traveler!"

The man said, "Yes, I am a traveler."

Dhanpati said, "Come to court or return my necklace."

The man said, "I do not have your necklace."

Dhanpati said angrily, "Don't lie. You came through the window and stole it."

The man denied.

Dhanpati dragged him to the royal court.

The matter reached King Vikram.

Both sides were heard. Sevakraj and others were also called.

The king asked, "Are you sure this is the man?"

Dhanpati said, "Yes, I cannot forget his face."

King Vikram warned the traveler, "Tell the truth or your punishment will double."

The traveler said, "I am innocent. I never stole anything."

Queen Chatura, who was silent till now, spoke, "Maharaj, please investigate properly before calling him guilty."

King Vikram felt challenged.

He asked, "So you mean Seth is lying?" Queen Chatura said, "No. Seth is not lying but his belief is not entirely true."

Everyone was surprised.

The king asked Queen Chatura to solve the matter with proof.

She agreed and asked for three months.

The traveler was kept in custody. Queen Chatura thought deeply. She changed her appearance and became a gardener. She talked to the workers and made friends.

She asked, "Brother, does anyone become rich doing this work?"

The worker said, "About three years ago, Narayan worked here. He is now rich."

Queen Chatura decided to find Narayan.

Narayan had become a big farmer and village chief.

Queen Chatura disguised as an astrologer went to him.

She predicted his past and future.

Narayan was unimpressed until she said, "You must have seen real pearls and fake pearls."

Narayan agreed and took her aside.

Queen Chatura said, "You have a necklace which brought you wealth."

Narayan became nervous and gave her a gold bracelet to keep the matter secret.

Queen Chatura returned to Ujjain and told King Vikram.

Narayan was caught and brought to the court.

Queen Chatura said, "Narayan is the real thief."

The king asked Dhanpati, "Is this the man?"

Queen Chatura answered, "No. Seth does not remember. He is not lying but what he says is not fully true."

She explained everything.

"Seth's mind was stuck with the traveler's story.

He dreamed of the traveler stealing the necklace.

He screamed and fainted.

Narayan came, saw him unconscious, and stole the necklace."

Everyone was amazed.

The king asked Narayan, "Tell the truth."

Queen Chatura showed the bracelet.

Narayan trembled and confessed everything.

Queen Chatura was proven right. Everyone praised her wisdom. But King Vikram felt uneasy because Queen Chatura had won again.

Still, life continued happily.