8th STORY OF BHETHALA

THE STORY OF KARPATIKA

When Vikramadithya was brining Bhethala towards Bruhadaranyam, Bhethala started to tell another story.

Once, there was a king Chanda Simha, ruling a country with Brahma Puram as capital. He was good and kind to people. One day a worrier, by name Karpatika approached the king Chanda Simha and requested him for a job. The king Chanda Simha had appointed Karpatika as his personal security guard.

Karpatika was serving the king sincerely. One day the king had gone to the forest for hunting along with soldiers. The king’s horse was active. It had run with high speed. No other soldiers and the king’s fellow men could follow him. After certain distance, the king had noticed that his army and fellow men were not able to follow him. He had stopped the horse. When the king observed only Karpatika was following him. The king was tired and thirsty. He sat under the shade of a big banyan tree. Karpatika had observed the surroundings. He had seen a Goose berry fruit tree. He had run there and brought two fruits to the king. The king got immediate relief from thirst. Mean time Karpatika had found a lake nearby. He had brought water in a leaf of lotus and given to the king. The king admired his service.

After reaching the capital, the king Chanda Simha had promoted Karpatika as the Chief of security guards. Days were passing. Chanda Simha wanted to marry Simhala Princess. He had heard that she was beautiful and good nature. He had sent Karpatika to know the other particulars. Karpatika had approached a businessman to travel by his ship to Simhala Country. [The Present name of Simhala is Sri Lanka] On the way, they met a severe cyclone. Their ship had broken. A big shark had swallowed Karpatika. He had torn off the fish’s stomach with his sword and came out. By then he had reached an Island. There he had found a beautiful temple of Goddess Kalika Devi. There he had seen a beautiful young princess. She was with her servant-maids. He was in love with her, at first sight. He had approached her servant-maids and conveyed his love message to her. She had watched him, and said, “Go and have bathe in the well in the temple. Then come here.”


Karpatika had stepped down into the well. He sank in the water. Surprise! He was in his city Brahma Puram. It was made sensational about Karpatika’s arrival. He had visited the king Chanda Simha. The king asked him “What happened? What is the progress in your work?” Karpatika had narrated everything without hiding anything.

The king felt wonder. He decided to go there. Karpatika and the king had started in a ship. They had recognized the island where Karpatika had seen the Kalika Devi’s temple. Both of they went into the temple. The king had performed pooja [devotion] etc devotion to Goddess. There came the previous beautiful young princess along with her servant-maids. Karpatika had shown her to the king. She had seen the king. She felt love with the king. She had sent the message to the king through her servant-maids. The king asked her to come to him. She had approached him with pleasure. Chanda Simha asked her “Oh Beautiful girl! Who are you?”

She said, “I’m the princess of Naga Loka.[i.e. the world of snakes] My name is Nagini. I’m in love with you. Please accept me.”

Chanda Simha called on Karpatika and said, “Oh Nagini! He is my loving friend. He is loving you. You accept him.” He convinced her to accept Karpatika’s love proposal. She had agreed and married Karpatika. Chanda Simha said, “Karpatika, that day you had given two goose berry fruits to satisfy my thrust and saved my life. As a return gift, I’m giving this girl who is like diamond among women to you. You enjoy life with her.” He had taken send off from Nagini and Karpatika. He had sunk in the well and returned to Brahma Puram.

Bhethala completed the story and said, “Vikramadithya Rajendra! Who done great work in between Karpatika and the king Chanda Simha? Explain.”

Vikramadithya said, “Karpatika had done his service to his master. To satisfy the king’s thrust and to save his life, being king’s personal security guard, it was his duty. It is not a great work. But the king Chanda Simha had given Nagini who felt love with him to Karpatika to express his thankfulness. Thus he fulfilled the desire of Karpatika, because Karpatika had loved the princess Nagini. Without any doubt, this is great.”

Because the silence was broken, Bhethala disobeyed Vikramadithya.

OUT COMING SKILLS: By reading this story, children can absorb that it is gentle to show gratefulness and thankfulness towards the service-oriented people for their service. Though we pay for their service, it is gentle to show gratitude towards them. The King Chanda Simha had shown such gentle behavior in this story.