It is said that an apple was the cause of discord between the Greek goddesses and this in turn led to the Trojan War. In Hindu Mythology, a mango caused the two sons of the god Siva to fight among themselves. The story of the Amshavatars too have fruit that played such a role. It wasn't intended to be so. But such things just happen.
After Bharatburi took the reigns of the kingdom into his hands, the kingdom continued to prosper. Bhartbuhari kept his word to his father and did not have any children. But he did marry. His wife was the jewel of his eye and he would do anything and everything to keep her happy. Bhartbuhari was a wise and just king but often he was blinded by his Queen's whims. Young Vikramadithyan began to observe is brother and then questioned the King's action. The King was ashamed and could not answer his brother.
"You the king.", said Vikramadithyan. "Your service to the people must be above everything else. You must not continue to serve your wife more than you serve the kingdom."
Vikramadithyan's words reached the Queen's ears and she was not amused. The Queen hardened Bhartbuhari's heart and compelled him to expel Vikramadithyan from the capital. The young prince moved to the lands on the outskirts of the city and began to live there.
As this drama unfolded within the palace walls, an old brahmin was consumed in unshakable meditation to the goddess Bhoomidevi. After a long while, the devi appeared to the brahmin and gave him a divine fruit as a gift for appeasing her.
"This is no ordinary fruit", explained the goddess. "Whosoever shall eat this fruit shall live a 100 years and his youth shall remain just as it was when he ate the fruit."
After the devi left, the old man pondered to himself. "What am I to do with such a fruit? I am an old man. What use it to me?"
The brahmin then thought it best to present the fruit to King Bhartbuhari. The King would then be able to live a 100 years with his current youth and vigor and thus serve the kingdom better. So the King obtained the fruit from the old brahmin.
The King had other plans. He gave the fruit to his beloved wife thinking she will have her beauty for a 100 years. The Queen secretly wooed a courtier at the palace. She thought that giving the fruit to him would make him like her more and so she gave him the fruit. The courtier in turn was in love with one of the palace dancers. And so the fruit reached the dancer. The dancer was again in love with a palace stable boy. The divine fruit reached the stable. The stable boy was again in love with the girl who cleaned the stables. And so she was presented the fruit. The girl put the fruit in the basket of dung that she carried and walked off.
The fruit being divine shone in the afternoon sun with all its radiance among the dung that laid in the basket. This curios sight caught the eye of King Bhartbuhari. He called the girl and asked her how she came to acquire the fruit. She told the king about the stable boy and how she got the fruit from him. The king then went to the stable boy and from there to the dancer and by-and-by pieced the puzzle together.
When he realized that his beloved wife betrayed him, his entire world broke down. He did not know what to do. After many painstakingly maddening days, he emerged from his quarters understanding one simple truth. Everything in this world is untrue. Everything is maya, a myth. He decided to leave all worldly pleasures and devote his life to appeasing the gods and being of service of man. He went out in search of his brother Vikramadithyan. Finally, Vikramadithyan got the fruit and was made the new king.
After Bharatburi took the reigns of the kingdom into his hands, the kingdom continued to prosper. Bhartbuhari kept his word to his father and did not have any children. But he did marry. His wife was the jewel of his eye and he would do anything and everything to keep her happy. Bhartbuhari was a wise and just king but often he was blinded by his Queen's whims. Young Vikramadithyan began to observe is brother and then questioned the King's action. The King was ashamed and could not answer his brother.
"You the king.", said Vikramadithyan. "Your service to the people must be above everything else. You must not continue to serve your wife more than you serve the kingdom."
Vikramadithyan's words reached the Queen's ears and she was not amused. The Queen hardened Bhartbuhari's heart and compelled him to expel Vikramadithyan from the capital. The young prince moved to the lands on the outskirts of the city and began to live there.
As this drama unfolded within the palace walls, an old brahmin was consumed in unshakable meditation to the goddess Bhoomidevi. After a long while, the devi appeared to the brahmin and gave him a divine fruit as a gift for appeasing her.
"This is no ordinary fruit", explained the goddess. "Whosoever shall eat this fruit shall live a 100 years and his youth shall remain just as it was when he ate the fruit."
After the devi left, the old man pondered to himself. "What am I to do with such a fruit? I am an old man. What use it to me?"
The brahmin then thought it best to present the fruit to King Bhartbuhari. The King would then be able to live a 100 years with his current youth and vigor and thus serve the kingdom better. So the King obtained the fruit from the old brahmin.
The King had other plans. He gave the fruit to his beloved wife thinking she will have her beauty for a 100 years. The Queen secretly wooed a courtier at the palace. She thought that giving the fruit to him would make him like her more and so she gave him the fruit. The courtier in turn was in love with one of the palace dancers. And so the fruit reached the dancer. The dancer was again in love with a palace stable boy. The divine fruit reached the stable. The stable boy was again in love with the girl who cleaned the stables. And so she was presented the fruit. The girl put the fruit in the basket of dung that she carried and walked off.
The fruit being divine shone in the afternoon sun with all its radiance among the dung that laid in the basket. This curios sight caught the eye of King Bhartbuhari. He called the girl and asked her how she came to acquire the fruit. She told the king about the stable boy and how she got the fruit from him. The king then went to the stable boy and from there to the dancer and by-and-by pieced the puzzle together.
When he realized that his beloved wife betrayed him, his entire world broke down. He did not know what to do. After many painstakingly maddening days, he emerged from his quarters understanding one simple truth. Everything in this world is untrue. Everything is maya, a myth. He decided to leave all worldly pleasures and devote his life to appeasing the gods and being of service of man. He went out in search of his brother Vikramadithyan. Finally, Vikramadithyan got the fruit and was made the new king.
