The Strange Musician
The Encounter with the Vampire
Amidst the eerie laughter of spirits, King Vikram returned to the lonely tree at the center of the cremation ground. With resolve, he climbed the tree and brought down the corpse.
As he began to walk with the corpse on his shoulder, the vampire possessing it remarked, “O King, I have no words to praise your bravery and perseverance. You are destined to be rewarded with something most precious. However, I hope you will not be as whimsical as Gunkirti and abandon the reward when it comes to you. Let me tell you a story to divert your attention from your labor.”
The Tale of Sadanand
The vampire continued, “Long ago, there lived a gifted musician named Sadanand, a wizard of the veena, on the banks of the river Sonavati. His fame spread far and wide, attracting kings who offered him positions as court musician.
Despite these offers, Sadanand chose to remain where he was. He welcomed eager students wishing to learn from him, and his disciples, numbering in the hundreds, scattered throughout the country, with some becoming well-known musicians themselves.
As Sadanand aged, he stopped accepting new students and embraced a retired life. One day, a young man named Gunkirti approached him, expressing his deep yearning to learn the veena.”
Gunkirti’s Aspiration
Sadanand advised Gunkirti to seek out one of his talented disciples who were teaching veena, but Gunkirti insisted, “O great master, your gifted musicians may strive, but none have mastered your perfection. Nothing short of your training can satisfy me.”
Touched by Gunkirti’s earnest aspiration, Sadanand accepted him as his last disciple. With no other students to distract him, Gunkirti received Sadanand’s full attention, leading to a deep bond that felt more like father and son.
Tragically, Sadanand fell ill. Despite Gunkirti’s best efforts to care for him, the musician’s health continued to decline. On his deathbed, Sadanand summoned Gunkirti and said, “My son, I am about to depart this world. It is a pity that your training cannot be completed, but I will leave you a treasure.”
The Magic Veena
Sadanand revealed the existence of a magical veena that had been passed down through generations. “Even a novice can sound like a master with this instrument,” he promised. After performing Sadanand’s last rites, Gunkirti discovered the veena and, amazed by its enchanting sound, played before the king’s court.
The king and courtiers were captivated, and Gunkirti was appointed as the chief musician, receiving honor and acclaim. However, despite his fame, Gunkirti felt unfulfilled, directing young aspirants to other teachers instead of accepting any disciples himself.
Inner Turmoil
Despite the king and queen’s admiration for his talent and character, Gunkirti’s happiness eluded him. One night, the king privately revealed that the princess wished to learn veena from him and found Gunkirti’s lack of excitement puzzling.
That same night, Gunkirti left the palace and journeyed to his guru’s house. There, in a moment of defiance, he shattered the magical veena against a stone and cast the fragments into the river. He spent the following years meditating in his guru’s room, practicing tirelessly on an ordinary veena, while the king respected his solitude.
The Return
Two years later, Gunkirti returned to the palace and told the king he was ready to teach the princess the art of playing the veena. The king welcomed him back and restored his previous status. Gunkirti took on the responsibility of teaching not only the princess but also other deserving students. Within a year, he was fortunate enough to marry the princess.
The Vampire’s Challenge
The vampire paused, then asked Vikram, “Why was Gunkirti unhappy with his achievements? Why did he destroy the magic instrument? What led to his change of heart? Answer, or your head will roll off your neck!”
King Vikram replied, “Gunkirti was not driven by fame. A true artist, he sought perfection. The acclaim he received came from the virtue of the magic veena, not from his own achievements, which is why he found no joy in it. He destroyed the magic veena to resist the temptation to rely on its power, believing his talent would flourish only with the ordinary instrument. He refused to teach out of humility until he believed he was worthy after rigorous practice.”
As soon as King Vikram finished speaking, the vampire, along with the corpse, vanished. With the intermittent lightning illuminating his path, the king made his way back to the tree.