Raja Bhartrihari was sitting in his magnificent court. The ministers and courtiers were in their respective seats. Some affair of the state was under discussion. Some courtiers were expressing their own opinion. The king was consulting his ministers on the points being raised.
Suddenly a yogi arrived there in the dress of a monk raising his signature slogan in a loud voice. He walked straight to the throne and once again voiced his slogan “Alakh Niranjan!”
Raja Bhartrihari had great respect for yogis, ascetics, sadhus, spiritualists and holy men. He rose up from his throne and welcomed the holy visitor.
“Welcome to my court, holy sir, ” spoke Bhartrihari.
“May you live a long life!” the yogi said raising his hand in blessing posture.
“Please honour me by gracing your seat,” Raja Bhartrihari pointed to a seat.
“I am on a rowing visit, king. No time to sit.”
“I am at your service, O holy sir”, said Raja and added, “What can I do for you?”
“We don’t take services of others, ruler.”
“Holy sir! Then for what mission do you honour me with your visit?”
“Raja! We have a divine object and we wish to reward it to you,” the yogi revealed.
“Why me, sir?”
“Because we think you are the only deserving person for it,” announced the yogi.
“That is very kind of you to consider me worth something. But it is a mystery yet to us all what divine object you are going to reward me with? Or is it a secret?”
“No secret, Raja Bhartrihari. Of course, you must know about the object I want to gift you. It is your birth right.”
All the eyes fixed on the glowing face of the yogi. Curiosity was writ large on every face.
The yogi dipped his hand in his saffron bag and produced a shining ball like fruit.
“Raja,” the yogi spoke extending the fruit towards him, “This is a divine evergreen fruit. He who eats it shall become evergreen youth and repository of virility.”
The king stared at the fruit in wonderment as did others. Then, he asked in low tone,” Holy sir! Why did you not partake it yourself?”
“Raja, virility or physical beauty is not our aim. We only seek God. I chose you for this fruit because a king like you who is icon of righteousness, charitability and justice must live evergreen for the benefit of the subjects. In you the fruit will serve a noble cause. Take it, Raja Bhartrihari.”
Bhartrihari received the fruit reverently with both his hands and put it to his forehead, “Holy sir! How may I partake it?”
“Nothing particular. After taking bath you may eat it with pious mind. No conditions are attached to it.”
“How may I ever thank you, holy sir?” spoke Bhartrihari feeling really grateful.
“Serve your subjects well and earn their blessings”, responded the yogi and then he walked away. He disappeared without any trace as the spies and the soldiers of the king failed to locate the yogi. Some mysterious character he was.
Now Raja Bhartrihari got thinking. He could not help thinking of his beloved queen Anangasena and her charms that according to his view deserved to be immortalised. He visualised her evergreen, ever beautiful and ever lovingly youthful giving him pleasure forever. On the contrary if he himself ate the magic fruit he may become evergreen youth and virile but his beloved Anangasena would grow old naturally. His youthfulness shall lose all meaning with his beloved queen not being in the same state. The very thought was mortifying. He could never see Anangasena an old shrivelled woman while he himself would be an energetic youngman full of virility.
He made up his mind to give the fruit to his beloved Anangasena to make her ever youthful and beauteous. Raja Bhartrihari joyfully walked to the palace visualising the flushed face of Anangasena when he would surprise her with the divine gift. He went straight to the bed chamber of the queen and placed the fruit on the bed infront of her.
“What is this?” She gazed wonderously at the glowing fruit and exclaimed, “How divine!”
“Divine it is my darling,” said Raja looking into her eyes. “It is a miracle fruit. You won’t believe what it can do?”
“Tell me.”
“Anyone who partakes it, it makes his or her youthfulness and physical beauty evergreen and immortal,” Raja gushed excitedly expecting Anangasena to squeal in delight and incredulity.
But the queen reacted with great self-control. “Really?” she said and examined the fruit closely from various angles. “That is amazing.”
“Wonder why I brought it here?” Raja asked.
“Master, how can I have any idea?”
“The idea is that you partake this fruit for my pleasure. I want to see your tantalizing beauty and youthful vigour immortalised. Remain abloom forever my dearest Anangasena!”
“Dearest master mine,” spoke the queen with artificial spiritedness, “I want you to take this fruit for me. Let me be blessed with your loving virility.”
“No, no, my Anangasena. Don’t disappoint me, please. How can I tolerate myself being evergreen youth while the queen of my heart withers away? It will mortify me. No, no, no!”
“I can’t do the same injustice to you,” the queen protested putting on an act.
“You will do it for me, dear Anangasena. My love, for my pleasure you must do it. I beseech you”.
Bhartrihari was almost begging. The queen smiled inwardly at the love blind man and sighed.
“Alright, my master, if that is your wish, ” the queen said obligingly and added, “I can’t disobey the royal wish and the order of the king of my heart.” The queen congratualated herself for thinking of those words mentally. She now knew she was more clever than she thought she was.
Bhartrihari said gleefully, “Darling Anangasena! Let me see you partake the divine fruit with my own eyes.”
The queen flinched and said, “Such a divine fruit can only be taken after proper bath and worship. We must observe the rules or something may go wrong.”
“May be, you are right,” spoke Bhartrihari and departed urging her to eat the fruit as soon as possible. Anangasena promised she would.
After departure of Bhartrihari the queen sat playing with the divine fruit and thoughts. She also had a love sick mind like that of Bhartrihari. Her mind was always full of the vision of the rippling muscles of her paramour Sunder, the master of the royal stable. Her nostrils savoured the musky smell of her stud. She could do anything to please her lover. So, Anangasena decided to present the divine fruit to Sunder to immortalise his virility. The very thought excited her. Anangasena hid the fruit and lied to Bhartrihari at night that she had consumed the fruit.
At past midnight when she went to meet her lover Anangasena presented the fruit to him and revealed its magic effect. She asked him to eat the fruit right there for her pleasure. The lover said the fruit eating could wait. He wanted to talk to Anangasena in thanks. The queen would not mind it. The two lovers got lost in amorous talks for a long time. Then the queen got up in haste and rushed to her chamber after asking her lover not to forget to eat the fruit.
Sunder sneaked out of the garden with the fruit in his hand. He had no wish to eat the fruit and wanted to give it to his lady love, the palace maid. The magic effect of the divine fruit, Sunder told her. He wished her evergreen youth. The maid took the fruit and showed it promising Sunder that she would consume it when her duty was over. She was little enthusiastic about it. Why should she become evergreen while the fruit had no power to improve her material fortune? To mop the palace floors forever? To slave for royals without any end? It did not make sense.
The maid admired Raja Bhartrihari for his kindness and justice loving dispensation plus charitability. She thought such noble ruler deserved to become immortal to serve the people forever. He would prove a blessing for Malwa Union, the maid thought. Raja Bhartrihari was her choice for the fruit. So, the maid presented herself to the king and humbly prayed him to accept the divine fruit she had to offer. The fruit would make the king evergreen and immortal, she revealed.
Raja Bhartrihari stared at the divine fruit.
There was no mistaking it was the same fruit he had given to Queen Anangasena.
He asked, “Fair maid! How come this divine fruit ended up in your hands?”
The maid told Raja Bhartrihari the truth. The master of the stable, Sunder was at once called to the presence of the king and questioned as to how the fruit came into his possession. Raja wanted to know the truth and any falsehood would attract execution.
Sunder trembled with fear. A chill had gone down his spine. If he revealed his clandestine affair with Queen Anangasena the king would surely get him beheaded. And if he told some lie it was sure to be found out sooner or later. Again the punishment would be execution. He was in a hopeless situation.
He opted for the sensible way of telling the truth. Why lie and die as well? Sunder told the king that the fruit was passed on to him by Queen Anangasena and about their illicit relationship.
The revelation shocked Bhartrihari. He could never imagine that the woman he loved so much and trusted would ever betray him. Raja ordered the master of the stable to be out of his sight at once and never show his deceitful face again. Then, he in utter sad mood went to his palace with the divine fruit in his pocket.
The queen welcomed him with open arms as usual but the king was in different mindset that day. With arched eyebrows he looked hard at the queen. Anangasena had never seen Bhartrihari in such ugly mood before. Something was gravely wrong. A chill went down her spine.
“Dear Ananga!” spoke Bhartrihari and put the divine fruit before her. “The divine fruit was not partaken by your lover Sunder. Give it to some other paramour of yours to keep his virility evergreen so that you may enjoy him forever.”
Anangasena turned pale. She stood speechless. In shame she stared at the floor.
Bhartrihari spoke not one word more. In utter contempt he spat at the floor and walked out.
Queen Anangasena was feeling sorry for her betrayal and treacherous behaviour. Her heart was sinking and the world appeared dark to her. She feared that Bhartrihari would get her executed. Anangasena immolated herself and died in shame, fear and humiliation.
The news of the immolation by Anangasena upset and mortified Bhartrihari. He loved the queen like his own life. Inspite of her treachery he had not been able to rebuke or punish her. Her act of self immolation filled him with a deep sense of loss. He was feeling disenchanted with life, court, kingdom and worldly relationships. He wanted to renounce the world and become an ascetic to seek peace in spiritualism. Having thus made up his mind, he sent for his dear brother Vikramaditya.
The younger sibling at once presented himself as he know his brother was in grief. After touching the feet of Bhartrihari he asked, “What is it, dear brother?”
“My dear Vikramaditya,” Bhartrihari spoke and added sadly, “You know about the murky and tragic incidents of my palace?”
“Very painful for both of us, brother. Must be heart breaking for you.”
“Brother! I have lost all interest in life and kingdom. Thoroughly I feel disenchanted. I want to relinquish the throne to you.”
“O brother, brother, my dear brother! It is all the work of destiny. No one can do anything about it. Even the greatest grief passes over and time heals all wounds. Forget the past and think of the future.”
Bhartrihari sighed and said, “Yes, brother mine, I am thinking of the future but on different lines. I have learnt my lessons from the past mistakes. It is about time I retired from the mundane life and made penance for my errors. You must take charge of the kingdom and liberate me.”
“Brother! Do a rethink. I beseech you,” urged Vikramaditya.
“My dear Vikrama! I have done all the thinking that was required. My decision is final. My mind no more belongs to this world of betrayls and deceits. Don’t feel sorry for me. I am on the right track. I want you to be an illustrious ruler who shall certainly bring joy to this land.”
“I see that you have made up your mind,” said the younger brother shaking his head sadly. “So, what is your command for me?”
“Take charge of the Malwa Union as new ruler and discharge your duties you had already been doing for a long time for my sake. It is time to play for real.”
“But brother, how can I live without you?”
“I have learnt my lessons, Vikram, and now you too must learn to live without me. That is life, my wise brother. You have an old head on your young shoulder. You will prove a better ruler than me, I am sure of that. You are so talented and this land is lucky to have one like you. Now, prepare to accept your responsibilities as a ruler and that is my last order as the king of Malwa Union.”
Vikramaditya bowed his head to his king brother who was abdicating throne in his favour. Shortly later the royal announcement was made that Bhartrihari was set to renounce the world and Prince Vikramaditya would be coronated as willed by the incumbent king.
A few days later, in a simple ceremony Prince Vikramaditya was crowned as the new ruler of Malwa Union according to the wish of the abdicating ruler and the succession tradition of the kingdom as Vikramaditya was the natural successor in the line. Now Vikramaditya was the new ruler of Malwa Union.
Bhartrihari in due tradition renounced the world in a simple ceremomy and got initiated into asceticism by Guru Gorakhnath.
