One Who Revived The Dead
The Corpse and the Vampire
King Vikram climbed the tree once again and brought down the corpse. The night was dark, and a sharp wind tormented him. Jackals howled, and the eerie laughter of ghosts echoed from all directions. As the king began to walk, the vampire possessing the corpse observed, “I should not be surprised if you are taking these pains for the sake of others and not for yourself or your dear ones. For I know the story of Madhav. Let me narrate it to you, O King. Divert your attention to this story, and you may feel lighter with your burden.”
The Story of Madhav
The vampire continued: On the banks of the river Yamuna, there was a prosperous village. The landlord of the village had a son named Madhav. Being an only child, Madhav received indulgent treatment from his parents.
Madhav was intelligent but ambitious and hasty. When he grew into a young man, he declared to his parents, “What joy is there in living in a village? There are greater comforts and joys in the town. Let us go and settle there.” Although his elderly parents were reluctant, they agreed to move to the town to avoid disappointing their son.
They sold their estates and their house and left the village. In the town, they bought a nice house, and Madhav decided to open a large shop that would cater to the needs of households. He traveled to distant cities, purchasing goods in large quantities and storing them in his home.
Tragedy Strikes
However, one unfortunate night, the house caught fire and was reduced to ashes. Madhav’s parents perished in the blaze. It was so sudden that he remained in shock for a long time. When he finally recovered, he found himself reduced to beggary. In the town, there was no one to offer him consolation or help. After a few days, he resolved to end his own life.
The Mendicant’s Intervention
At midnight, he approached a lake, planning to drown himself. Just as he was about to jump, a commanding voice called out, “Stop!” He turned and saw a mendicant seated under a tree. Madhav approached him and asked, “Why did you stop me?”
“You could not have died even if I had not stopped you. You are destined to live for a hundred years!” said the mendicant.
“What! I must endure a hundred years of suffering? I cannot bear even one more day of this miserable life! What should I do?” Madhav cried in agony.
“My son! You are not disgusted with your life, but with the misery that has befallen you. Would you not want to live if you could become rich again?” asked the mendicant.
“I would! How can I become rich again?” Madhav inquired.
“You can give away days from your own life to the dead. They will live again. Although your own life will be shortened, you will gain wealth,” the mendicant explained.
The mendicant then taught Madhav a brief mantra. The next morning, Madhav set off for the city.
The Transformation of Wealth
The richest merchant in the city had died that day. Madhav approached the merchant’s son and proclaimed, “I can breathe life into your father. How much will you pay me for this miracle?” The merchant’s son nearly dismissed Madhav as a madman but reconsidered and said, “I will give you one lakh gold mohurs!”
Madhav recited the mantra into the dead man’s ear and whispered, “I give you a year from my life.” To his astonishment, the merchant sat up alive. Madhav received the reward and returned to the town, where he rebuilt his destroyed home.
Word soon spread about his miraculous ability. Wealthy individuals brought the corpses of their loved ones to him, begging him to revive them. Madhav happily accepted large sums of money but was clever enough to withhold more than a month of his life for anyone.
The Loss of His Wife
After a while, Madhav married and continued his business of selling days from his own life. People left happily with their loved ones revived, unaware that their joy would be short-lived, as Madhav only granted each person a month.
Tragedy struck again when his wife suddenly died. The townspeople expected him to restore her to life, but he did nothing of the sort. He sat beside her lifeless body for some time before making arrangements for her cremation. After this, he abandoned his home and wealth, walking into the forest, never to be seen again.
The King’s Revelation
The vampire paused for a moment and asked, “O King, what can explain Madhav’s strange behavior? Why did he not revive his dead wife, and why did he leave all his wealth behind? Speak, O King! If you know the answers and remain silent, your head will be shattered to pieces!”
King Vikram answered, “Madhav realized that while he was accumulating wealth, he was simultaneously shortening his life, depriving himself of the chance to enjoy it. This contradiction vexed him; he understood that he had only a few years left to live and wanted to spend that time pursuing peace. By not reviving his wife, he made it seem as if he had lost his miraculous powers, which deterred others from following him.”
The vampire slipped away as soon as the king finished speaking. King Vikram sighed but resolved to return to the tree, braving the rain and bitter wind.