...Liberation of the Betal in the Village...
Agni brings water from the houses around the village and pours it over Neer. Neer regains consciousness. Then Agni helps him up, gives him water to drink, and hugging him, says —
Agni: "Are you okay,Neer?"
Neer: "Yes...I'm fine. What happened to me? And how did we get here? That Brahmarakshas... is it destroyed?"
Agni: "Yes,Neer. It is destroyed."
Neer: "Did you destroy it?"
Agni: "Yes.When you fell unconscious in the forest while saving me, Gurudev sent me a message that it was no ordinary demon. It couldn't be destroyed by any weapon or mantra. It could only be ended by the chant of the Narayana Kavach. I chanted that... and it was liberated."
Neer: "So Gurudev helped you in killing that demon?"
Agni: "Yes.Now don't talk too much, rest. You used all your spiritual power to save me, which is why you fell unconscious."
Neer (Surprised): "But how do you know that I used all my spiritual power?You were unconscious at that time."
Agni: "Gurudev told me."
Neer: "It's nothing like that,Agni. We were together... so it was my duty to save you. And I didn't use my spiritual power to save you, but to destroy that Brahmarakshas." (Neer starts avoiding eye contact.)
Agni (Smiling): "Yes,alright, I understand. Now rest, understood?"
Neer: "Alright...Anyway, where can I win against you."
Agni: "What did you say?"
Neer: "Nothing."
Agni: "Alright,you rest. I'll arrange for food." (Agni goes out and brings some food from a house.Both eat. They had now been staying in that house for a few days. They had inspected the entire village. Now they were both healed and had also regained their spiritual powers.)
While staying in the village, they had a strange feeling — as if a secret or fear was hidden in every corner. When they asked the villagers, no one was ready to say anything. As if everything was being hidden. One day, while wandering, they reached a broken hut where an old Baba lived.
Neer: "Pranam,Baba."
Old Man: "Who are you two?You don't seem to be from this village. Where are you from? What do you want from me?"
Neer: "We have come from a distant Gurukul,Baba. We have to go further for a task. But we found something strange in this village, as if a secret is hidden."
Old Baba (In a somewhat harsh tone): "There is nothing strange here,son. You people move on towards your destination. You will find nothing here."
Neer: "Look,Baba, this is my friend Agni, he is very thirsty. Will you give us some water to drink?"
Old Man: "Alright,come inside. I'll give you water."
(Both go inside the house. The Baba gives them water. Just then, suddenly, a burning piece of wood is about to fall on the Baba, which Neer nimbly catches and throws outside.)
Old Man (In a frightened voice): "I...it has come... no one can escape from it... get out of here, or prepare for death."
Agni: "Who has come,Baba? Who are you talking about?"
Old Baba (Trembling): "Betal...!"
Neer: "Betal?"
Old Man: "Yes,Betal. He comes to the village every Amavasya (new moon night) and takes a sacrifice of someone."
Neer: "Oh,so that's why there's a strange fear spread in this village..."
Agni: "So how can it be fought,Baba? How can the village be saved from that Betal? Who is he, after all?"
Old Man: "He lives on the oldest Banyan tree in the village...blue body, eyes filled with blood, a crown on his head, a garland around his neck, and long sharp teeth. He hangs on the tree. Whoever goes towards that tree never returns."
Neer: "Who is that Betal,Baba? How did he become a Betal? How can he be liberated?"
Old Man: "When someone's deep desire remains unfulfilled,when they are betrayed — in love, in trust, or due to a curse — then that soul wanders in the form of a Betal, until it attains liberation or its unfulfilled desire is completed."
Neer: "Do you have any more information about this Betal?"
Old Man: "Yes,son. This Betal is no ordinary soul. Its story is five hundred years old. I heard it from my father, and he from his father."
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Chapter 18: The Tale of the Betal - The Love Story of Raghav and Neelima
Old Baba (Taking a deep breath): "His name was— Raghav. He was born into a respected family in this very village. Since childhood, he was devoted to serving his parents. He was the most obedient and powerful disciple of his Gurukul. Looking at his beauty, it seemed as if Kamadeva himself had descended on earth." "He was the center of attraction for every woman,yet he was a celibate, disciplined. Serving his parents and Guru was his only duty. He had saved this kingdom from enemy armies many times." "One day,Gurudev sent him to fetch flowers from the grove. There he saw an extremely beautiful young woman. Until now, Raghav had never looked at any woman... but today his gaze wouldn't move away. That young woman looked like a celestial nymph from heaven. Raghav was mesmerized. That young woman, having taken flowers from the grove, started walking towards the ashram... and Raghav followed her." "Suddenly,Gurudev stopped him —" Gurudev: "Raghav,where are the flowers? For the first time, you have been delayed in your task." (Raghav,startled, comes to his senses, bows in respect, and apologizes.) Gurudev(Smiling): "It's alright,Raghav. Go, bring the flowers now." (Raghav goes back and brings the flowers.But his mind was now occupied with only that one face — that goddess-like young woman.) "The next day,Raghav went to get flowers again... and he met the same young woman in the grove. He maintained his restraint, focused on his duty... but when that young woman was about to leave, Raghav also started following her with the flowers. Just then, that young woman comes in front of Raghav and bows to an ascetic —" Young Woman: "Pranam,Father." Gurudev: "May you be blessed,daughter." (Raghav is stunned— is this Gurudev's daughter? He thinks to himself.) "From that day on,Raghav started seeing that young woman every day at the same place. And finally, one day, Raghav mustered the courage to talk to her —" Raghav: "O Goddess,who are you?" Young Woman(Lowering her eyes): "I am Rishiputri(Sage's daughter) Neelima." Raghav: "I see you every day in this grove...I have fallen in love with you. I have never seen beauty like yours." (Neelima looks into his eyes for the first time...and is mesmerized for a moment. Then, shyly, returns to the ashram.) "Now they met every day...talked... and slowly their love deepened." "One day,when they were both sitting in the grove, Gurudev arrives there." Gurudev(In an angry voice): "Neelima!What are you doing?" (Neelima gets up,scared, and runs towards her father.) Gurudev: "Let's go from here.And Raghav! You were sent here to get flowers, not to... engage in love play!" Raghav: "As you command,Gurudev." (Gurudev takes Neelima and returns to the ashram.Raghav also returns.) Gurudev(Strictly): "Raghav,whatever was happening, it is inappropriate. Nothing like this should happen again." Raghav(Bowing his head): "Yes,Gurudev." "For a few days,they didn't meet... but where does love stop? One day they met again in the grove —" Neelima(With hopeful eyes): "You came,Raghav..." Raghav: "You came,Neelima..." (They talk for a long time.Neelima suddenly becomes emotional —) Neelima: "I love you very much,Raghav. I will never leave your side. I will live with you, I will die with you. It's impossible to live without you now." Raghav: "Me too,Neelima. We will get married very soon." "But destiny had something else in store.The next day, Gurudev sent Raghav to war. When Raghav returned about a month later, Neelima was missing. A few days later... he sees Neelima in the ashram with a man — she has a Mangalsutra around her neck, and sindoor on her forehead." (Raghav is shattered from within.) The next day,in the grove — Raghav: "Neelima,what have you done? You broke my trust. You said you loved me. You would marry me. Then what is this? Did you ever even love me or was it all a deception?" (Neelima was about to say something when Gurudev arrives there.) Gurudev(In a serious tone): "Neelima,we told you not to go to the grove. You are married now. Go, return to your husband." Gurudev(To Raghav): "Raghav,you have disobeyed the Guru's command. Now depart from this ashram." (Raghav bows and leaves.When he reaches his home, his parents, fearing society, also refuse to accept him.) Raghav: "I spent half my life in your and Gurudev's service...yet you didn't support me."
(Raghav's younger brother comes to him, crying —)
Younger Brother: "Brother...please don't go..."
(Raghav places a hand on his head, bows to his parents, and leaves the village. But... the villagers don't let him go. They tie him to the Banyan tree and kill him by stoning him to death.)
Raghav's last words — "I am Raghav...who served my parents, Gurus, and this kingdom since birth... I only loved, and didn't even demand that right. I just wanted to ask one question... didn't I even have that much right?"
"Those who once praised me, today became the cause of my death. Nothing in this world is unblemished. O Lord! Now call me to your side..."
(Raghav dies. No one performed his last rites. Not even his parents...)
Old Baba (With tears in his eyes): "This was the reason,son... that his soul became a Betal. He was betrayed in love, abandoned by his parents, scorned by his Guru, and treated with cruelty by society. He only wants one thing — liberation. And he won't get it until someone selflessly performs his last rites with love."
Neer (In a hurt voice): "Such cruelty...What was his fault, Baba? Why did society do this injustice to him?"
Old Baba: "Who knows,son... only the one above knows..."
Neer (In a firm voice): "Now both of us will give him liberation,Baba. We will perform his last rites. He will not wander anymore."
Old Baba (Shouting): "Wait!You are heading towards death! Don't go near that tree!"
Neer: "Whatever happens,Baba... we have to go there." (Neer and Agni leave the old Baba's house and head towards that old Banyan tree...)
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