Two Suitors
Introduction
In the realm of fantasy, King Vikram faced an unusual circumstance when a vampire appeared before him. This vampire carried a corpse and soon began to narrate a tale that would hold the king’s attention.
The Tale of Princess Mohini
The vampire recounted the story of Chitasen, the King of Alaapri, who had a lovely daughter named Mohini. Many princes sought her hand in marriage, but the king was adamant that he would choose a suitable bridegroom. According to tradition, he invited all the princes from neighboring lands to his palace on a specific day for Mohini to make her choice.
However, the day before the princes were to arrive, Mohini ventured into a forest with her maids. There she discovered a captivating lake. Despite her maids’ warnings about bathing in unfamiliar waters, she could not resist the cool, soothing water and joyfully splashed about.
As time passed, her maids urged her to come ashore. When she emerged, they gasped in horror. The beautiful princess had turned ugly, her appearance marred beyond recognition. Heartbroken, Mohini wept and cursed her bad luck.
The King’s Despair
King Chitasen and Queen were devastated upon seeing their daughter’s transformation. They summoned the finest physicians, but none could cure the curse that afflicted her—it was clear that the lake was enchanted.
In desperation, they consulted a yogi who indicated that although Mohini’s predicament resembled a grave ailment, there was hope. To restore her beauty, she needed to drink water from a distant lake called Sanjivi.
A Quest for the Magic Water
The next day, the king’s minister announced to the gathered princes that their beautiful princess had lost her looks. Whosoever could find the lake and bring back its water would win her hand in marriage. While most remained silent, Jayant, the prince of Malay, stepped forward decisively. He vowed to undertake the hazardous journey and retrieve the magical water.
As Jayant embarked on his quest, another prince, Vijay of Vins, also sought the lake, believing he could discover its secret. Meanwhile, Jayant entered a different forest, where he faced a wolf and, in a courageous act, beheaded it. To his surprise, the slain beast transformed into a gundharva, who revealed that Jayant’s bravery had freed him from a curse. Grateful, the gundharva offered guidance.
The Discovery of the Lake
The gundharva informed Jayant that the lake Sanjivi lay amidst the distant Meru hills, explaining that he would age significantly before reaching it. However, Jayant’s resolve remained unwavering. He chose to wear the gundharva’s magical sandals, which would transport him instantly to the lake and back.
Meanwhile, Vijay, lingering by the lake that had disfigured Princess Mohini, witnessed the hermit emerging from the water unscathed. Curious, he implored the hermit for the secret to regain the princess’s beauty.
The Price of Beauty
The hermit revealed that the lake was created with his yogic powers, and only he could bathe in it without consequence. He offered a solution: if he took a dip in the lake and emerged ugly, the princess would regain her lost beauty. Vijay accepted the challenge, plunging into the water.
He returned to the palace transformed into an unattractive figure but was welcomed by the joyful king and queen, who celebrated the restoration of Mohini’s beauty through his sacrifice.
The Arrival of Jayant
Just then, Jayant arrived with the sacred water from the lake Sanjivi. He declared that the princess could regain her beauty by drinking it and that he should be rewarded with her hand. A dilemma ensued—the king and the minister were unsure whom to favor. Although Vijay’s act was noble, he bore the curse of ugliness.
The princess looked at Jayant, inquiring about the potency of his magical water. Jayant, eager to prove its worth, insisted on testing it on Vijay. He offered Vijay the water, but without staying to witness the outcome, Jayant hurried away toward his homeland.
Conclusion
Vijay drank the water, and instantly his handsome looks returned. Consequently, he and Princess Mohini were united in marriage. King Vikram listened intently to the vampire’s tale and pondered the motives of the princes involved. With a knowing smile, he commented on Jayant’s desire for prestige over true affection, concluding that the princess’s heart had always belonged to Vijay.
With this realization, the vampire vanished, leaving King Vikram in deep contemplation of love, beauty, and the intricate nature of human desires.