King Vikram brought down the corpse hanging to the tree and set out for the cemetery as usual. While Vikram was walking along, Betal said, "Vikram, now I shall tell you a story and you should answer the question that I ask at the end. If you do not answer, your head shall break into a thousand pieces." Saying so, Betal began to tell the story..
Long ago, King Chatursen ruled over the kingdom of Magadha. Although the king took good care of his subjects, he was addicted to the game of dice. Very soon, he lost all his wealth and kingdom. King Chatursen had nowhere to go. He decided to leave Magadha and earn a livelihood in another kingdom.
On his journey, Chatursen happened to pass by a hermitage. There he saw a hermit meditating. King Chatursen knelt before the hermit in reverence. The hermit opened his eyes and said, "My son, who are you? You seem to be very tired and hungry. Why don't you eat something?" The hermit offered him some fruits and nuts in a lotus leaf. Chatursen replied, "O Reverend one! I am King Chatursen. But, I beg your pardon. Being a king, I cannot eat this kind of food and that too in such a manner." The hermit understood what Chatursen meant. In no time, he created a beautiful woman and ordered her to serve delicious food in golden plates.
The woman took Chatursen inside the hut and through it into a cave. Chatursen entered the cave and was surprised to see a grand palace. The king ate to his full and slept on a soft bed. When Chatursen opened his eyes, he was shocked to see himself lying on the ground. The grand palace and the beautiful woman have vanished.
He came out of the cave and questioned the hermit, "Why has everything vanished?" The hermit replied, "I have created the beautiful woman and the grand palace using the occult power. Any person who masters this mantra can have access to all the pleasures of life." Chatursen obliged the hermit to teach him the mantra. The hermit whispered the mantra in the king's ears and said, "Recite this mantra continuously for over forty days, standing on one leg in water." The king followed the hermit's advice. After forty days, Chatursen appeared before the hermit, "I have recited the mantra as said by you. But I am unable to create the beautiful woman and the grand palace.
What should I do to master it?" The hermit replied with a smile, "Now go and recite the mantra for forty days, sitting in fire." Chatursen strictly followed the hermit's advice. But still he was unable to master the mantra.
Betal ended the story here. He said to Vikram, "O King, tell me as to why Chatursen could not master the mantra. Answer me! Otherwise I shall break your head into a thousand pieces." King Vikram replied, "Betal, knowledge cannot be gained without attentiveness. Lack of concentration is the biggest weakness of man. Although King Chatursen recited the mantra as advised by the hermit, he could not master it due to lack of concentration.
His attention was always directed towards the pleasures of life he wished to obtain." Betal replied in astonishment, "King Vikram, I praise you for your sense of wisdom. But you have broken your vow for silence. So, I am forced to leave you." Saying so, Betal flew back to the tree.