THE STORY TOLD BY KOMALA VALLI,

IDOL ON THE 3rd STEP

On the third day, by morning Bhoja Raja had woken up and finished his daily works. There was same case with his ministers, courtiers and people. All of they were very interested to hear the stories of Vikramadithya. After bathe, and devotion to God, the king Bhoja Raja had taken food with delicious dishes along with his guests, friends, relatives and subordinates. They had taken the betel leaves at the end of their meals. Bhoja Raja got ready to go to the court, Chitra Kutam. He dressed up with beautiful silk and ornaments.

All of they had gone to the court building, Chitra Kutam. Bhoja Raja had donated money, gold, cows and land to Brahmins, scholars, musicians, poets, artists and poor public. All the ministers, sub-ordinates of Bhoja Raja, courtiers and public had attended in the Chitra Kutam already.

The purohits [priest] had performed pooja with Deepa [light], Dhupa [perfume smokes], Niveydyams and mantras. The music party was making sweet music by their music instruments. Bhooja Raja had put namaskar to people and then to the throne. He had climbed up two steps on the throne. There was no objection. He felt secured. With such confidence, he was putting step on to the third. The idol on the third step had clapped its hands and laughed aloud. To prevent his trial to climb up on to the throne, it said, “Oh Bhoja Rajendra. Why do you come here? Yesterday the idol on the 2nd step, Madanabhi Sheka Valli had told you many things. It seems you didn’t pay ears properly. You had heard all the stories with comfort. In spite of that, you came here again. If you hear them properly, you should not come here. Vikramadithya had ruled this country for 2000 years with the help of his wise minister Bhatti with condition of 6 months in administration of kingdom and 6 months in touring on world and forests. He had ruled his kingdom by sitting on this throne. If you have such adventure and other good qualities as one among 1000 of Vikramadithya, you can climb up this throne. Otherwise you can return by the way on which you came here.”

Bhoja Raja said, “Oh beautiful young girl! You are like my daughter. I don’t know the specialties and good qualities of your king Vikramadithya as a whole. You please tell me about his adventures. I’m very much curious and interested to hear. As well, my people also are very curious to hear them. You please tell us.”

With pleasure and pleasant smile, the idol on 3rd step started …

“Bhoja Rajendra! Listen. My name is Komala Valli. [The meaning of this name is ‘The delicate Garland] I’m the idol on this 3rd step”…

Komala Valli continued…

Vikramadithya and Bhatti used to take 1/6th part of the crops’ yield and income of public as tax. They used to treat people as if the people were their own lives. Days were passing.

In those days, there was a Brahmin scholar in Ujjain city by name Veda Kovida. [The meaning of this name is ‘a scholar in Vedas’] He had learnt 4 Vedas, 6 Sciences, 18 Epics and 64 Arts. He was rich enough. Since longtime he had no children. Hence, he was doing penance to God. Due to God’s boon, he had a son. He was growing. Veda Kovida had celebrated appropriate functions to his son according to his age such as Bara sala [Cradle Ceremony and name declaration], Upanayanam [Thread marriage] and Aksharabhyasam [Starting of education] etc. He was calling his son as Vedantha Kovida. He was educating his son personally. Vedantha Kovida was at the age of 7 years.

One day on solar eclipse, Veda Kovida had gone to take holy bathe in the sea along with his son Vedantha Kovida. At the seashore, he was taking the bathe. His son, the boy was beside him. Suddenly there came a large crocodile. It had dragged the boy into the seawater. It had swallowed the boy. By watching that, Veda Kovida had screamed like anything. He came out of water. He was beating on his chest and fore head. He was crying aloud. He cried as “Alas! What an injustice is this? When moral king, Vikramadithya is ruling the country, how the people in his kingdom can get death in improper ways. How people can die before long life of 100 years? In such case, my son’s age is not even 7 full years. How the crocodile had swallowed him? It is not my sin, my family sin and my race people’s sin. This king, Vikramadithya is ruling against morals. He is doing immoral. Otherwise my son won’t die by the crocodile.”

Like this, he was scolding the king. He had run away from seashore to Ujjain city. He had reached the fort entrance. He had approached the main i.e. royal entrance of King’s court. There he stood, cried aloud. He was beating his head with a handball size rock. He was bleeding with injures. He was spreading that blood on the entrance door and rang the bell, which was hung there to ring for justice.

By hearing the bell sound, Vikramadithya was shocked. He called on Bhatti and said, “Bhatti! What a surprise is this? Until date, we didn’t hear the bell ringing. Today it is ringing. What might be the reason? My dear Minister! Listen with keen observation. Somebody is crying aloud. Who is crying like that? Until date, we didn’t hear such disturbances. You go immediately. Know the things. Go immediately.”

Bhatti said, “Yes Maharaja!” Immediately he had gone to the entrance of royal fort. What did he see there? A Brahmin was looking like a flowered Moduga tree. [Moduga tree is a big one with yellow and thick red big flowers] With bleeding body, the Brahmin was like that tree. He was crying and hurting his own body. By watching such scene, Bhatti was puzzled and shocked. He felt sorrow. His body was trembled. [Brahmin means a man of Satwika Gunas. He will be always peaceful and patience. That’s why, by watching a Brahmin in such a terrible situation, Bhatti reacted like that]

Bhatti had approached near to him, held his hands as console and spoken to him with sweet and soft voice. He said, “Brahminothama! [Means you are the best among Brahmins] You are kind and soft people. In spite of such Brahmanism, is it right to behave like this? You learnt all Vedas and Sasthras i.e. subjects [Sciences]. We are ordinary people. What we can say to you? What is the difficulty now you have? Please let me know. Let us go to the court of king.

The Brahmin Veda Kovida said, “If the king does immoral, his people in his kingdom will get sorrows and difficulties. If you want to hear my sorrow, I tell you. I’m living in this bad city. My name is Veda Kovida. I had a son after long time after my marriage. Now his age is 7 years. I’m teaching him all the education and arts. I’m bringing him up in such a way as he become as scholar. I’m protecting him like eyelid to eye. On Solar ellipse day, we had gone to seashore to have a holy bathe. While both of we were taking bathe, a crocodile had came, dragged my son into water and swallowed him. While you are ruling the country, why my son had lost life within 7 years instead of long life of 100 years? You might disobeyed the morals and Manu moral Sasthra. [It was fame in ancient India. It taught people and kings how to behave and how to perform their duties] Otherwise, there won’t be such incidents to happen. When I lost my son, then why should I live? What is the meaning of my life and use of my life? I’ll give up my life at the entrance of your royal fort. This sin belongs to you.”

Bhatti had consoled him with patience and obedience. He said, “Oh Brahmin! Don’t cry. Be patience. We will bring your son back alive. Let’s go to king Vikramadithya.”

Bhatti was succeeded to bring the Brahmin Veda Kovida to the king. He had explained everything to the king like piercing of a bead on to a thread. Those words were like arrows to Vikramadithya’s ears. He felt very bitter. He thought, “Oh God! What an impact of time, it is! A crocodile had swallowed a kid. In such case, why should I have this kingdom? Nobody will accept to say that the justice and morals are in our kingdom.”

By thinking like that, Vikrmadithya immediately got down of the throne. He had gone to the temple of Goddess Bhadra Kali. Bhatti had followed him along with Veda Kovida. Vikramadithya had devoted Bhadra Kali Devi. He said, “Oh mother! Please be appearing to me.” As per his boon she appeared to him. He said, “Mother! In my kingdom, a crocodile had swallowed a Brahmin kid. I might have done something wrong. Please let me know what it is. Please bless me to get back the Brahmin’s son alive.”

With pleasant smile, Goddess Kalika Devi said, “My dear son. Your ruling turn of 6 months is completed by yesterday. You should leave to forest to spend next 6 months. This is the mistake did by you. You get succeed in your every trial.” She had given some Vibhuthi Powder, lime fruit and holy water to him.

After taking her blessings, Vikramadithya returned to the palace. He said, “Bhatti! By yesterday itself, I should go on tour. My turn of 6 months to be in ruling of kingdom is over.”

Bhatti verified the calendar and said, “Yes brother! We didn’t notice. Okay. You go on to rescue the Brahmin boy. I’ll look after the kingdom.” Vikramadithya said, “Bhatti. I’m so fortunate by having you as my brother and minister. By the way, I can have every benefit. Nothing is impossible for me because of your help.”

He had taken a diamond carpet, a copper vessel, a long stick, cheppals [shoe] and 18 types of weapons. He called on Bhethala. Along with Veda Kovida, he had started from Ujjain city. He said, “Oh Brahmin scholar! Where you had taken bathe when the crocodile dragged your son into water.” Veda Kovida had shown the spot and said, “Oh great king! We had taken bathe in this ghat only.”

Vikramadithya said, “Veda Kovida. You are the best among Brahmins. Now you please go home by leaving sorrow. Be with happiness, peacefulness and patience. Within 6 months, I can get back your son alive. There are no needs of you to search for him here and there. You feel as if your son is at your home.” Veda Kovida convinced by his condolence. With peace, he had gone to his house.

Vikramadithya decided himself, as “I should not return to Ujjain unless I get back Brahmin’s son alive.” He had worn cheppals [shoe] and sat on the diamond carpet. He was travelling on the sea by floating on golden carpet. He was beating the water of sea with long stick and making large disturbance. With such loud disturbance, the crocodile had approached him. By watching its extra-ordinary large size, he decided to do not hurt it with weapons like sword. He had thrown his copper vessel towards it. The crocodile had opened its mouth as large as possible and swallow it. Vikramadithya had jumped into its mouth at the same moment. He had reached into its stomach. What a surprise! He had seen a beautiful and wide city there. It was with beautiful, big and colorful buildings. There were beautiful gardens and roads. It was just like AmaraVathi, the divine city of God Indra.

Vikramadithya was wandering on the roads and watching the wonders. There were some Brahmin boys going on the road. Among them, there was the son of Veda Kovida. He caught hold of him and asked “Oh boy! Who are you?” He said, “Oh great king! The great Ujjain Mahan Kali city is my native. I’m the son of the great scholar, Veda Kovida.” Vikramadithya felt happy. He had taken the boy into his hand and came out of the crocodile’s stomach by tearing its stomach with sword. He made the boy to sat on the diamond carpet on seawater. He didn’t like to spoil the city, which was in the crocodile’s stomach. Hence, by praying Goddess Bhadra Kali, he spread Vibhuthi powder on the crocodile’s body. The crocodile’s stomach injure had vanished. The crocodile got alive and gone on its way.