King Vikramaditya once again went to the Shishapa tree. He took down the corpse in which Vethala dwelt and placed it upon his shoulder. He then set out fearlessly through the cremation ground. As the king walked on in silence, Vethala said, “O King, you are resolute. To lighten the weariness of your journey, I shall tell you another story. Listen.”

“There was once a famous city named Champavati, ruled by King Pushpaketu. In that city lived a Brahmin named Hariswami, a man of good qualities who was held in honour by the king. By his virtuous wife, he had a son named Devaswami and a daughter named Somaprabha. The girl grew into a young woman of such radiant beauty that all who saw her marvelled at her.

“When Somaprabha had passed beyond childhood, she sent word to her father and brother through her mother. ‘I will marry only a man who is brave, learned, or skilled in magic. Do not give me to one who possesses none of these qualities, for I will not accept such a husband.’ Hariswami therefore began to search for a bridegroom who would satisfy her wish. Before he could find one, however, King Pushpaketu sent him to an island in the Dravida country to collect tribute.

“While Hariswami was there, a handsome young Brahmin approached him and asked for Somaprabha’s hand in marriage. Hariswami replied, ‘My daughter will accept only a brave man, a learned man, or one skilled in magic. Tell me, which of these are you?’ The young Brahmin answered, ‘I possess the science of magic.’ Hariswami then asked him to show what he could do.

“The young man immediately created a wonderful chariot capable of travelling through the sky. Seating Hariswami beside him, he carried him through the heavens and showed him distant and marvellous regions before bringing him safely back. Hariswami was astonished by what he had seen and gladly accepted the young man as a suitable bridegroom. He promised that Somaprabha would be given to him in marriage on an appointed day.

“At that very time in Champavati, another young Brahmin approached Devaswami and asked for his sister’s hand. Devaswami told him of Somaprabha’s condition, saying that she would marry only one who was brave, learned, or skilled in magic. ‘Then I am fit to seek her,’ replied the young man. ‘For I am brave.’ Satisfied with his words, Devaswami promised Somaprabha to him and fixed the very same day for the marriage.

“A third Brahmin, meanwhile, came to Somaprabha’s mother and made the same request. When she told him of her daughter’s condition, he declared that he was a learned man who knew the past, the present, and the future. The mother questioned him and became convinced of his knowledge. Without knowing what her husband and son had already done, she too promised Somaprabha in marriage, choosing the very same day.

“When Hariswami returned home, he told his family of the magician to whom he had promised Somaprabha. Devaswami then spoke of the brave man, while Hariswami’s wife told them of the learned man whom she had chosen. Each of the three had acted according to Somaprabha’s own wish. Thus, three bridegrooms had been promised the same young woman on the same day. Hariswami did not know what was to be done.

“When the appointed day arrived, all three young men came to Hariswami’s house. But before the question of the marriage could be settled, a far greater calamity befell the family: Somaprabha suddenly disappeared. They searched for her everywhere but she could not be found.

“Then the learned man said, ‘By my knowledge, I can discover where she has been taken.’ Having turned his mind to the matter, he said, ‘A Rakshasa named Dhumashikha has carried Somaprabha away. He has taken her to his dwelling in the Vindhya mountains.’ Hariswami immediately turned to the magician and asked whether they could reach that distant place.

“The magician called upon his art and at once created his sky-going chariot. Hariswami and the three young men entered it. In a short time they reached the Vindhya forest. Guided by what the learned man had revealed, they came to the dwelling of Dhumashikha. There they found Somaprabha held captive by the Rakshasa.

“When Dhumashikha saw them, he rushed upon them in fury. The brave suitor stepped forward to meet him. A terrible battle followed, fierce as the ancient combat between Rama and Ravana. The Rakshasa fought with great strength, but the young man did not give way before him. At last, the brave man struck him down and cut off his head with his axe.

“Somaprabha was freed and they placed her upon the magician’s chariot. Hariswami and the three suitors then returned with her to Champavati. The family rejoiced to see her safe again, but the question that had troubled them before her abduction now returned in a more difficult form. Each of the three young men claimed that Somaprabha should become his wife.

“The learned man spoke first. ‘It was through my knowledge that the way to Somaprabha was found. Therefore, Somaprabha should be given to me.’

“The magician answered, ‘It was my chariot that carried us through the sky to the Rakshasa’s dwelling and brought us safely home again. Therefore, Somaprabha should become my wife.’

“Then the brave man said, ‘I faced the Rakshasa and killed him with my own hands. Therefore, Somaprabha should be given to me.’

“The three continued to dispute among themselves. Hariswami listened but could find no answer that would satisfy them all. The learned man had discovered Somaprabha, the magician had carried them to her, and the brave man had slain the Rakshasa who held her. Hariswami remained silent.”

Having told the story, Vethala said, “O King, you have heard what each of these three men did. Tell me, then: to whom should Somaprabha rightly be given? If you know the answer and yet remain silent, your head shall split into a hundred pieces. But if you speak, I shall leave your shoulder and return to the Shishapa tree.”

Thus challenged, Vikramaditya could no longer keep his silence. “She should be given to the brave man,” said the king. “The learned man showed them where she was and the magician provided the means to reach her. But it was the brave man who stood before the Rakshasa, fought him with the strength of his own arms, and won Somaprabha back from him. Therefore, of the three, he is the one to whom she should be given.”

Hearing Vikramaditya’s answer, Vethala slipped at once from the king’s shoulder and returned to his abode in the Shishapa tree. Vikramaditya turned back through the cremation ground and went once more to bring him down.