Once more King Vikramaditya bore the corpse through the midnight burning ground, silent as stone, keeping his promise to the yogi. And Betaal, the spirit within, said with a grin in his voice: “Hear a tale, O King — but if you know the answer to my riddle and stay silent, your head will burst into a hundred pieces.”
And Betaal began. “To the gate of King Shudraka came a warrior named Veeravara, seeking service. ‘My wage is five hundred gold coins a day,’ he said, and the court gasped — but something in the man's calm eyes made the king agree. And Veeravara gave most of that great sum each day to the gods and the poor, kept only a little for his wife, son and daughter, and stood guard at the palace gate, night after night, sword in hand.
“One stormy midnight the king heard, far away, a woman weeping bitterly. ‘Who weeps in my city?’ From the gate Veeravara answered, ‘I will learn, Maharaj,’ and walked into the dark — and the curious king secretly followed. In a lonely place Veeravara found a shining lady in tears: she was the Fortune of the kingdom herself. ‘A calamity comes,’ she said. ‘In three days the king must die — unless a hero's son is offered to the Goddess of his own free will.’ Veeravara went straight home and told his family. His young son folded his hands: ‘Gladly, father — what better use for my small life than to save our king?’ At the Goddess's temple the boy bowed and gave up his life; his mother and sister, unable to bear the parting, gave up theirs beside him; and Veeravara, last of all, raised his sword to follow them, for he would not outlive his family. At that instant the king sprang from the shadows: ‘Stop! O Goddess, take my life instead — but let this faithful family live!’ And the Goddess herself appeared, pleased beyond measure. ‘Such a servant and such a king this land has never seen,’ she said. ‘I take no life — I give.’ And at her word the whole family rose alive, and blessings rained upon the kingdom.”
“Now answer, King Vikram — of them all, whose greatness was highest?” And Vikram spoke: “The king's. Veeravara and his family were sublime, yet they walked the path of a servant's duty, for guarding the master is the servant's dharma. But the king owed nothing — and still he offered his own life, his kingdom's very sun, for the family of a gatekeeper. Sacrifice beyond all duty is the rarest greatness.” “Well answered!” cried Betaal — “but you spoke!” And away he flew to the ancient tree.