14th STORY OF BHETHALA

THE STORY OF VYSYA SON

Vikramadithya didn’t give up. He had again bound Bhethala and walking towards Bruhadaranyam. Bhethala also didn’t give up. He was telling a story.

Bhethala said, “Oh Vikramadithya Maharaja! In a city by name Alaka Puri, there was a Vysya businessman Eswara Setti. He had a daughter by name Ranga Valli. She was in teen age. A Brahmin young man in that city had in love with her. She also loved him. Every night, they used to meet at a secret place. They were enjoying with each other’s company. Days had passed. One day a Vysya young man by name Ranga Nadha Setti came from another city. He had approached Eswara Setti and requested for his daughter. Eswara Setti had accepted it.

He had performed the marriage of his daughter Ranga Valli with Ranga Nadha Setti. Neither Ranga Valli nor her Brahmin lover tried to reveal their affair to their parents. After marriage, Ranga Nadha Setti had taken Ranga Valli to his house. Since Ranga Valli had gone to her mother-in-law’s house, she was sad and fell ill.

With the grievance of loss of her lover’s company, within few days Ranga Valli had died. By hearing this news, her Brahmin lover wept and wept. Hence, he also died. Ranga Nadha Setti, husband of Ranga Valli also died with the grievance of his wife’s death.

Bhethala asked “Vikramadithya Bhupala! [Means king] Among the three people i.e. Ranga Valli, her lover and her husband, who is great. Can you tell?”

Vikramadithya said, “Ranga Valli and her lover had loved each other and enjoyed with each other. Hence, they died because of departure. Hence, they are not great. But the innocent husband, Ranga Nadha Setti had died with grievance on her wife’s death. Hence, he is great.”

Immediately Bhethala had escaped from Vikramadithya.