Loyalty – A Tale of Sacrifice and Devotion
The Unforeseen Encounter
The sovereign state of Vidarbh flourished under King Gokhale’s righteous rule. One fateful day, during a tiger hunt on the northern forest outskirts, the king, riding at breakneck speed, found himself solitary in the heart of the dense jungle. It was there, amidst the rustling leaves and whispered secrets of the forest, that King Gokhale glimpsed a formidable tiger prowling through the undergrowth.
With practiced precision, the king swiftly dismounted and drew his bow, but fate intervened as his arrow missed its lethal mark. The tiger, infuriated and undeterred, lunged toward the king. In that perilous moment, a man wielding an axe leapt from the thicket, striking down the mighty beast with a single, decisive blow.
The Humble Woodsman
Breathless with relief, King Gokhale expressed his gratitude. “You have saved my life. Who might you be?”
“I am Ram Sharma, a humble brahmin who earns his livelihood by cutting and selling wood,” the man answered modestly. Seeing the courage in Ram Sharma, the king offered him a position as captain of his guard, a role he accepted not for the reward, but from a sense of duty.
Whispers from the Graveyard
Time passed, and Ram Sharma proved his merit as captain, ever vigilant in his duty. One evening, the king shared troubling rumors about eerie moans emanating from the ancient graveyard behind the palace. Despite the danger associated with the forsaken temple within, Ram Sharma volunteered to investigate.
His courage unwavering, Ram Sharma ventured into the shadows of the graveyard. Among the twisted branches and creeping vines, he discovered an old woman weeping. Her mournful cries spoke of a dire prophecy—the imminent death of King Gokhale, preventable only by a sacrificial offering.
A Father’s Heartbreak
Her words struck Ram Sharma with horror. The price for the king’s life was the sacrifice of a young boy at the temple of the goddess Kali. With heavy heart, he decided that it must be his own beloved son who would bear this burden.
As he carried his sleeping son to the temple, fate conspired once more. Unbeknownst to Ram Sharma, the king, concealed within the darkness, had overheard the cruel test laid before him.
The Divine Intervention
Inside the temple, just as the captain raised his sword for the unthinkable act, a celestial presence halted his hand. The goddess Kali herself appeared, her voice soothing as she praised his willingness to sacrifice all for another. In a moment of divine grace, she decreed that such loyalty and love would not demand a cost. The king would be spared, and Ram Sharma’s son unharmed.
From Protector to Advisor
With his heart lighter than it had ever been, Ram Sharma returned home, offering prayers of gratitude. The following day, the king summoned him, eager to hear of the night’s findings. Ram Sharma, with gentle humility, described the encounter only as an act of compassion towards a grieving old woman.
King Gokhale, moved by the depth of his captain’s devotion, appointed Ram Sharma to his council, marking the beginning of a trusted friendship that would anchor the kingdom through its future trials. Thus, etched into the tapestry of Vidarbh’s history, was a tale of undying loyalty, proof that true honor resides in the hearts willing to give selflessly.