5 - Kingly duties

Summary

In this episode of 'Stories from India,' host Narad Muni, a mythological character with eternal life, narrates the tale of King Vikramaditya and the mysterious Rishi who gifts him mangoes containing precious gems. The story unfolds with puzzles and moral lessons, highlighting the king's wisdom and the Rishi's enigmatic nature. The episode also touches on the differences between betals and vampires, and promises future stories from the epic 'Ramayana.'

Takeaways

• 🎵 The podcast 'Stories from India' focuses on Indian mythology, legends, and folktales.
• 👤 The host, Narad Muni, is a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.
• 🎶 Narad Muni is also a traveling musician and storyteller who shares stories through his podcast.
• 🕊 The episode features a 'Betal', a creature often likened to a vampire but with distinct differences.
• 🍎 The story involves a wise man, or 'Rishi', who gifts King Vikramaditya mangoes that contain valuable jewels inside.
• 🤴 King Vikramaditya, despite a dark backstory, ruled with wisdom and fairness, listening to his people's problems and addressing them.
• 📜 The Rishi's gifts to the king were initially perplexing but later revealed to be incredibly valuable, prompting the king to seek the Rishi's motives.
• 📖 The Betal tells King Vikramaditya a story involving three Rishis, each with heightened sensitivity to different stimuli.
• 🏆 King Porus is highlighted as a character who, despite being defeated by Alexander the Great, earned respect and some of his land back due to his dignified stance.
• 📚 The podcast will delve into the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of Indian mythology, in future episodes.
• 📝 Listeners are encouraged to provide feedback and corrections to improve the podcast's content.

Q & A

What is the podcast 'Stories from India' about?

The podcast 'Stories from India' is about myths, legends, and folktales from India, hosted by a character named Narad Muni, who is a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge of the past, present, and future.

What is the significance of the betal in the podcast?

The betal is a creature in Indian mythology that is often compared to a vampire but has some differences. It is a reanimated corpse that loves to hang upside down on trees and is known for creating lateral thinking puzzles and telling stories.

How did King Vikramaditya become a king?

King Vikramaditya became a king by having his older brother killed, which is a backstory that might be considered quite dark. Despite this, he proved to be a fair and wise ruler.

What is the role of a Rishi in ancient Indian society as depicted in the podcast?

A Rishi in ancient Indian society was a wise man who was treated with great respect. Kings would often grant their wishes or listen to their predictions, which were usually vague and meant for the future.

Why did the Rishi give King Vikramaditya mangoes as gifts?

The Rishi gave King Vikramaditya mangoes as gifts, which initially seemed ordinary, but later revealed to contain valuable jewels inside, symbolizing the hidden value and wisdom that can come from unexpected places.

What was the king's reaction when he discovered the jewels inside the mangoes?

The king was surprised and immediately called the treasurer to examine the jewels. He decided to distribute the extra wealth to the people and wanted to speak to the Rishi to understand the motive behind the gifts.

What was the Rishi's request to King Vikramaditya in return for the gifts?

The Rishi requested King Vikramaditya to meet him at the crematorium on the next new moon night, where he would give further instructions.

How did King Vikramaditya manage to capture the betal without it escaping?

King Vikramaditya managed to capture the betal by not speaking a word, which prevented the betal from becoming less solid and escaping.

What is the story told by the betal about the three Rishis and their sensitivity?

The story told by the betal is about three Rishis who were sensitive to different stimuli: the taste of rice, the smell from a serving girl's hands, and the presence of a hair under mattresses. The third Rishi was deemed the most sensitive due to the visible physical effect on him.

What is the significance of the story told by the betal in the context of the podcast?

The story told by the betal serves as a lateral thinking puzzle and a metaphor for the importance of attention to detail and the ability to discern hidden truths.

What is the difference between a betal and a vampire according to the podcast?

A betal is a reanimated corpse that can fly and talk, often found hanging from trees near cemeteries. It is not a vampire, which is a fictional character made famous by Bram Stoker's Dracula, nor is it a zombie.

Who is the character of the week mentioned in the podcast, and what is known about him?

The character of the week is King Porus, a great warrior who ruled parts of the Punjab region around the 3rd Century BC. He is known for his encounter with Alexander the Great, where he impressed Alexander with his dignified stance and was treated with respect.

What is the next topic the podcast will cover?

The next topic the podcast will cover is the Ramayana, one of the two greatest epics of Indian mythology.

How can listeners provide feedback or suggestions for the podcast?

Listeners can provide feedback or suggestions by leaving a review on the podcast's website, SFI podcast.com, or by tweeting at the handle SFI podcast.

Outlines

00:00

🎵 Introduction to Stories from India Podcast 🎵

The podcast 'Stories from India' is introduced by the host, Narad Muni, a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and omniscience. The show's format includes discussing Indian mythology stories and a 'Character of the Week' segment. The host, a traveling musician and storyteller, mentions the episode's focus on the BAL, a creature akin to a vampire but with distinct differences. The story of King Vikramaditya is teased, hinting at his controversial ascension to the throne and his reputation as a wise ruler. The episode also foreshadows a story involving a Rishi, a wise man, and the king's interaction with him.

05:00

🍎 The Rishi's Gift of Mangoes and the Discovery of Jewels 🍎

A Rishi visits King Vikramaditya's court and gifts him a ripe mango, which the king passes on to his treasurer. This gift-giving continues daily, with each mango being stored. Eventually, the king is tempted to eat one and discovers a large ruby inside, not a seed. The royal jeweler confirms its immense value. The king orders the treasury to examine the rest of the mangoes, revealing more precious jewels. The treasurer advises the king to continue accepting the gifts without questioning the Rishi's motives, but the king insists on understanding the Rishi's intentions, leading to a meeting where the Rishi requests a meeting at the crematorium on the next new moon night.

10:01

👻 The King's Encounter with the Bethal and the Rishi's Challenge 👻

The Rishi instructs King Vikramaditya to fetch a Bethal from a nearby tree at the crematorium. The king attempts to capture the Bethal multiple times, only for it to escape each time he speaks. The Bethal tells a story to pass the time, involving three Rishis with heightened sensitivities to various stimuli. The story serves as a lateral thinking puzzle, testing the king's wisdom. The Bethal's story within the story involves a king and three Rishis, each demonstrating extraordinary perception regarding rice grown near a crematorium, a serving girl's diet, and a single human hair under mattresses.

15:04

🏰 Conclusion: The King's Wisdom and Upcoming Stories 🏰

The king correctly identifies the third Rishi from the Bethal's story as the most sensitive due to the physical evidence of his reaction. The Bethal, acknowledging the correct answer, escapes. The podcast concludes with the king continuing to capture and learn from the Bethal in future episodes. The host provides cultural context about Bethals, distinguishing them from both vampires and zombies, and hints at the story of King Porus and the upcoming epic of Ramayana. The host invites feedback and comments, thanks the listeners, and signs off with an invitation to join for the next episode.

Keywords

💡Narad Muni

Narad Muni is a mythological character from Hindu mythology, known as a sage who is often depicted as a traveler and a divine messenger. In the context of the video, Narad Muni is the host of the podcast, symbolizing the storyteller's role in passing down ancient tales. His character is used to introduce the audience to the myths and legends of India.

💡Eternal Life

Eternal life refers to living forever, without aging or dying. In the script, Narad Muni is described as having been given the gift of eternal life, which is a common theme in myths and legends where characters are granted supernatural abilities. This gift allows him to have knowledge of the past, present, and future, setting the stage for the podcast's exploration of timeless stories.

💡Betal

Betal, also known as Vetal in some regions, is a creature from Indian folklore that is often likened to a vampire but has distinct characteristics. In the video, the Betal is introduced as a creature that can be reanimated and is associated with a story that may have inspired a tale by Hans Christian Andersen. The Betal's role in the script is to challenge King Vikramaditya and tell stories, adding a layer of mystery and intrigue to the narrative.

💡Vikramaditya

Vikramaditya, also known as King Vikram, is a legendary king from Indian history, known for his wisdom and justice. In the script, he is depicted as a fair ruler who listens to his people's problems and seeks to solve them. His character is central to the story involving the Betal and the mangoes, illustrating the theme of wisdom and the unexpected outcomes of generosity.

💡Rishi

A Rishi in Hinduism is a sage or seer who is revered for their wisdom and spiritual power. In the script, the Rishi is a character who visits King Vikramaditya's court, bringing gifts and predictions. The Rishi's visit and interaction with the king highlight the cultural respect for wisdom and the mystical elements of Indian mythology.

💡Mango

In the script, the mango is used as a symbolic gift from the Rishi to King Vikramaditya. It is not just a fruit but contains a precious jewel inside, which is revealed only after the king follows the Rishi's instructions. The mango represents the idea of hidden value and the wisdom of not judging things by their outward appearance.

💡Crematorium

The crematorium is a place where bodies are burned as part of funeral rites in many cultures, including some traditions in India. In the video, the Rishi instructs King Vikramaditya to meet him at the crematorium, setting a mysterious and somewhat eerie backdrop for the unfolding events. The location adds to the atmosphere of the story and the supernatural elements associated with the Betal.

💡Lateral Thinking

Lateral thinking refers to the ability to approach problems by using creative thinking and coming up with solutions that are not immediately obvious. In the script, the Betal is said to be great at creating lateral thinking puzzles, challenging King Vikramaditya to solve them in silence, which is a test of his wisdom and ability to think outside the box.

💡Porus

Porus is a historical figure who ruled parts of the Punjab region in the Indian subcontinent around the 3rd Century BC. In the script, he is mentioned as a character who will be discussed in future episodes, known for his bravery and the respect he earned from Alexander the Great. Porus's mention in the script foreshadows the exploration of historical legends and their impact on culture.

💡Ramayana

The Ramayana is one of the two major epics of ancient Indian literature, known for its stories of heroism, devotion, and duty. In the script, the host announces the upcoming discussion of the Ramayana, indicating a deep dive into one of the most revered and influential narratives in Indian mythology. The mention of the Ramayana sets the expectation for future episodes to explore its rich themes and characters.

Highlights

Introduction to 'Stories from India' podcast, which explores myths, legends, and folktales from India.

Host Narad Muni, a mythological character with the gift of eternal life and knowledge of past, present, and future, is also a traveling musician and storyteller.

The episode features a 'Betal', a creature often likened to a vampire, with distinctions to be highlighted later in the podcast.

The story's moral emphasizes the importance of consuming gifts immediately rather than storing them, leading to unexpected outcomes.

Betals are showcased as adept at creating lateral thinking puzzles, adding an interactive element to the storytelling.

The narrative potentially inspired 'The Princess and the Pea' from Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales.

King Vikramaditya's backstory involves a morally complex path to kingship, including the murder of his older brother.

Despite a dark past, Vikramaditya rules with fairness and wisdom, engaging daily with his subjects' concerns.

A wise man, or 'Rishi', visits the court with a unique request to gift the king, deviating from traditional court interactions.

The Rishi's gift of a mango to King Vikramaditya leads to a surprising revelation of a precious jewel hidden within.

The king's decision to distribute the newfound wealth among his people reflects his just rule.

The Rishi's request for the king to visit the crematorium on the new moon night sets the stage for a mysterious encounter.

King Vikramaditya's repeated attempts to capture the Betal without speaking reveal the creature's unique properties.

The Betal tells a story of three Rishis, each with heightened sensitivity to different stimuli, challenging King Vikramaditya's analytical skills.

The king's correct answer to the Betal's riddle results in the creature's release, adding a layer of moral complexity to the narrative.

Cultural notes differentiate the Betal from both vampires and zombies, providing a deeper understanding of Indian folklore.

The character of the week, King Porus, is highlighted for his dignified response to defeat by Alexander the Great.

Upcoming episodes promise to delve into the Ramayana, one of the two great epics of Indian mythology.

The host invites feedback and corrections, emphasizing the collaborative nature of the storytelling process.

Transcripts

[Music]

[Applause]

[Music]

hello and welcome to stories from India

a podcast where we talk about myths

Legends and folktales from India I'm

your host narad money and I'm a

mythological character myself

I was given the gift of eternal life and

knowledge of the past the present and

the

future by profession I'm a traveling

musician and a

Storyteller so the way I'm doing my job

is by

podcast during each episode we'll be

talking about a story from Indian

mythology followed by a character of the

week

segment a quick note before we start

Today's

show this episode features a BAL

a betal is a creature that has often

been approximated to a

vampire this is probably okay in the

context of today's show but I'll mention

some differences between Beals and

vampires at the

end this week we'll see why when someone

gifts you a fruit it's best to eat it

right away instead of storing it we'll

also learn how Beals are great at

creating lateral thinking

puzzles we'll also hear the story that

may have inspired the princess and the

PE story from Hans Christian Anderson's

fairy

tales King Vikram adiya was a great king

from about 2,500 years

ago how he got to be a king is not so

great

however when he was a prince and second

in line to his father's throne in a move

that might be straight out of The

Godfather he had his older brother

killed he used a poisonous scorpion

according to One Source a very painful

way to die instead of a quick

death despite the nasty

backstory vikramaditya whom I'm just

going to call Wick proved to be a fair

King and he ruled with great

wisdom Wick held Court every day listen

to the problems of his people and did

everything he could to fix them I mean

fix the problems not fix the people

people one day A wise man came to his

court now wise men or Ries were treated

with great respect and Kings would move

mountains to grant their smallest

wish a typical Rishi would go to a

king's court be well received eat good

food and drink sleep well for a few days

and then

leave the payoff to the king would be

that the Rishi would make a prediction

or if he had some special powerups he

would even Grant a

wish the predictions were almost always

wague and were meant for some time in

the future when the Rishi was safely

away from the

scene the wishes were usually vague

enough that it would be impossible to

rule out magic wish

fulfillment so it was a pretty good deal

a win-win for all

involved now the Rishi who came to court

today first ran into to the Royal

secretary do you have an appointment the

secretary

asked I don't said the

Rishi you'll have to take a token and

wait your turn meanwhile you can fill in

this form check here and here for your

dietary requirements how long you'll be

staying and most importantly check here

to indicate your speciality wish

prediction or other please describe fill

in the form and we'll get back to you

with a decision in a day or two sorry to

make you do all this this but we had a

couple of freeloaders last month they

skipped out on us without so much as a

thank you I don't think they were real

Ries I spotted them right away their

ropes were all wrong but who was going

to believe me anyway that's why we have

this process now are you trying to say

something he asked the Rishi the Rishi

who had been trying to interrupt said

yes if I could just have a minute I just

want to give the king a

gift the secretary almost dropped his

clipboard in amazement and then slowly

said

you're passing on the palace day and the

food and the wine and you want to give

the king a gift anyway no quit

proo yes that's right said the

Rishi oh my God this is one for the

record book said the secretary I'm going

to tell my grandchildren all about this

Mac hold the queue he shouted just as

another RI was about to be let into the

courtroom after a 2-day wait we got to

Fast Track this guy said the secretary

indicating the

Rishi the Rishi walked in and the king

and everyone else bowed because that's

how Ries and Kings worked back then the

Rishi without a word presented the gift

to the king a mango it was

ripe M thanks said the king but the

Rishi was already walking

out the king didn't want to eat the

mango so he gave it to his treasurer

because who doesn't keep perishable

fruit mixed in with their

money and nothing further was said about

it the next day the Rishi was

back change your mind about the food

asked the

secretary but no the Rishi wanted to

give the king another gift it was

another mango and again pretty much the

same thing happened and again the mango

went to the treasury

this happened for a number of days until

one day the King was in his garden when

the Rishi arrived and presented the

mango of the

day after he had left the King was

actually finally tempted to eat it his

Minister who was a bit paranoid advised

him not to it could be poisoned he

warned the king didn't seem to think

much of the idea it's a raw mango with

the skin on how could it be poisoned he

asked the

minister Snow White's mother did it said

his

Minister you do have a point said the

king conveniently there's this monkey in

the garden I can't

stand he tossed the mango at the

monkey the monkey picked up the mango

and started eating

it and soon it finished eating it and

tossed away the seed

except it wasn't a seed it was a large

Ruby very shiny and very

real the Royal Jeweler examined it and

declared it to be the most valuable gem

he had ever

seen the surprised King immediately

called the treasurer and asked for the

rest of the

mangoes the treasurer who hadn't been in

the garden was only too happy he had

been wondering if by asking him to store

the mangoes the King was subtly hinting

that he was planning to demort him to

the position of royal grer or

something every mango was sliced up and

every one of them contained a huge

precious

Jewel we've hit the jackpot exclaimed

the

treasurer indeed said the king but we

must distribute the extra wealth to the

people and I must speak speak to the

Rishi tomorrow when he arrives

again no no no said the treasurer you

can't do that what if he stops he's like

the goose with the golden egg we should

keep receiving the eggs and not ask any

more

questions I can't in my good conscience

do that I can't accept anything of value

from people without knowing their

motives said the king he had a point of

course so when when the Rishi arrived

the next day the king bowed before him

and asked what he could do for the Rishi

in exchange for the generous

gifts the Rishi said I have only one

request for you

King on the next new moon night you must

come to the

crematorium I will wait for you there

and give you further

instruction the king readily

agreed while in the back backr the

secretary shook his head and thought to

himself quit Bru after

all and on the appointed night the king

arrived and saw the

Rishi the Rishi had started a little

fire and was chanting some

prayers he paused and instructed the

king to go fetch him a Bethal from the

banan tree on the other side of the

crematorium a Bethal is a reanimated

corpse that loves to hang upside down on

trees like a

bat the king quickly reached the tree

and managed to catch one without much

difficulty but within minutes the Bethal

managed to escape and go back to his

tree this happened a few times until the

king realized that the Bethal only

managed to escape the moment the king

said

something the king's voice made the

Bethal less solid briefly and allowed

him to

escape since I have Universal knowledge

I could try to explain the mechanics

behind how that works but you wouldn't

understand it because some of the

underlying science hasn't been

discovered

yet maybe in the 25th Century when I'm

telling this story to a different

audience I might throw in those

details so anyway on the next iteration

of Capture the Flag I mean capture the

Bal the king did not speak a word

but the Bethal spoke to him

instead he said we have a long way to

go no we don't thought the king but he

wouldn't say it because the king thought

the Bethal was just trying to trick him

into saying something so that he could

Escape back to his

tree the Bethal

continued to pass the time let me tell

you a

story and and this is the story that

follows Once Upon a Time said Bethal

there were three holy men three

rashes they were known to be very

fastidious which means they were fussy

and paid great attention to very Minor

Details they wandered about the land

Palace hopping like many rashis back

then once at the palace of famous King

the first Rishi showed

up he was received warmly and even sat

at the king's own table for

dinner and the food was

rich at least the king himself had never

any cause for

complain however after the very first

bite the Rishi was

offended I refuse to eat rice that is

grown from Ash he

said

everyone was surprised that the Rishi

could discern something like that from

one pite of the

rice the king immediately launched an

investigation it was soon discovered

that the rice did indeed grow in a field

right next to a

crematorium speaking from my unlimited

knowledge I can positively assert that

there is no nutritional difference

between rice grown near a crematorium

and rce grown further away but

psychologically there was a huge

difference the king ordered a change of

supplier right

away the Rishi left and after a while

the second Rishi showed up at the same

Palace he too was warmly

received as he was being served food and

drink he remarked to the serving girl

that she must have drunk a lot of goat's

milk I did didn't said the girl afraid

now because the king might think she had

been drinking out of his

stock the King was curious and had

someone

investigate no the serving girl never

drank goat's milk from the king's

supplies said the

investigators but we talked to her

mother in the girl's childhood she fed

almost exclusively on goat's milk a fact

that the girl herself didn't

recall again everyone was amazed by this

rishi's

Powers he left after a while and then

the third rishy showed up he too was

warmly received but this time dinner

passed by without

incident when it was bedtime the Rishi

was shown to his

room and he had a great big luxurious

bed with seven

mattresses the maid had just laid out

brand new sheets for him and

everything the next morning the king

like the good host that he was stopped

by to ask if the Rishi had slept

well the Rishi said no he hadn't and

showed him a big red mark on his

back again the matter was

investigated and it was discovered that

under the seven mattresses there was a

single human

hair the shape and length of the hair

exactly match that of the mark on the

rishi's

back the king apologized for the

discomfort and the Rishi went on his

way that's the story said the

Bal all three Ries were sensitive to

some sort of

stimulus the taste of the rice the smell

from the serving girl's hands and the

presence of the hair

now Wick can you tell me with certainty

which of the three Ries was the most

sensitive I have already said a number

of times that Wick was smart and here he

proves it the third one said Vick right

away the first two Ries could have

gotten their information about the rice

and the serving girls some other way too

not necessarily from tasting the food or

from the smell of the girl's

hands but the third one had a visible

physical effect on him so I put my money

on

him Bingo said the Bal your answer is

right but also you spoke Sonam

off and the Bal flew off back to his

tree we'll leave it here this week the

king did go back and grab the betal

again and again and heard more stories

but those are for future

episodes a few notes on the show a betal

is not a

vampire a vampire is a fictional

character that was mostly made famous by

Bram Stoker's

Dracula a Bethal is a corpse that can

fly and talk and tell stories and listen

to some

extent it's not a zombie either

it mostly hangs out or rather hangs down

from trees near

cemeteries Wick and the Bethal do this a

number of times 25 in the most common

versions but more or less in some other

retellings the Rishi and King

relationship is an interesting one it is

rooted in cost division in ancient

Indian

Society the there are a few different

terms Rishi sadhu sasi joogi but it's

easy to think of them simply as wise men

though they may not always act

wisely the character this week is a

legend king porus ruled parts of the

Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent

around 3rd Century

BC he was a great warrior and is often

depicted riding an

elephant when a huge Army arrived from

the

Northwest porest did his best to defend

his

land since the Army was that of one of

the greatest conquerors of all

time bis's best was not good

enough Alexander the Great soon had him

in Chains when porus was brought before

him he could see a marked difference

between porus and all of the other kings

Alexander had

defeated seeing his proud and dignified

stance Alexander asked porus how he

would like to be

treated forus answered that he would

like to be treated no different than how

Alexander himself expected to be

treated this impressed Alexander so much

that not only did he let poris go he

even gave him some of his land

back today this incident is what porus

is mostly known

for

next week we'll start on the

ramayan this is one of the two greatest

epics of Indian mythology and I'm so

excited to start

this the character next week is a girl

who abducted a prince so she wouldn't

have to marry his

cousin since I'm several thousands of

years old my memory may not be perfect

at

times so if you see any errors in my

podcast I'd appreciate it if you could

Point them out to me if you have any

comments or suggestions you can leave a

review on the site it's SFI podcast.com

the site is also linked in the show

notes you can also tweet at SFI

podcast the music is from purp

planet.com that's

purple-planet.com as always I'm grateful

to family and friends for all the

support and help and thank you all for

listening the the feedback I have

received has been very

useful I'll see you next

[Music]

week