CONCLUSION
by Unknown · from Twenty-Two Goblins
Adapted Version
Once, a brave King Victor lived. He carried a very heavy bundle. He walked a long way. He went to a quiet, old place. Tall, dark trees stood there. The night was very dark. No moon shone. King Victor saw the Tricky Monk. The monk sat under a big tree. He looked down the road. The monk made a magic circle. He used white powder. He used strange marks. He put a clay jug inside. Small lamps burned brightly. He made a small fire. He did strange, secret magic.
The Tricky Monk stood up slowly. He saw brave King Victor. "Oh, King," he said with a false smile. "You did a hard thing for me. You are a good king. You help others always. You do not stop. This is very brave of you." The monk smiled widely. He felt very happy inside. He thought his bad plan was working well. He took the heavy bundle. He took it from King Victor's shoulder. The monk thought he would surely win.
The monk put the heavy bundle down. He carefully put many flowers on it. He set the bundle inside the magic circle. He put grey ashes on himself. He wore a thin, dark cord. He wore old, dark clothes. He began his tricky magic. He said strange, secret words. He wanted to call a tricky spirit. He wanted spirit help for evil. He wanted to do bad things. He whispered more words.
Then the monk made a big show. He took out small, shiny stones. He took out sweet-smelling herbs. He offered these special things to the tricky spirit. He looked at King Victor with a sly grin. "Bow down now," he said loudly. "Bow to the spirit. Bow in a very special way. This is very important. You must show respect." He watched King Victor closely.
King Victor was very clever. He was not fooled easily. He remembered a wise whisper. The tricky spirit had warned him before. It told him about the monk's bad heart. The monk was trying to trick him now. King Victor looked at the monk's eyes. "Show me how to bow," he said calmly. "Show me the special way, please. I want to do it right." He waited for the monk.
The Tricky Monk smiled a wide, greedy smile. He thought he would surely win. He bent down low to show King Victor. He bowed in the special way. He touched his head to the ground. But the monk's heart was not good. His own tricky magic turned on him. It was a strong magic. Poof! The Tricky Monk vanished. He was gone in a puff of smoke. He was gone forever. The tricky spirit was happy. The bad magic was gone now.
Good spirits felt very happy. They sang soft songs. The tricky spirit felt happy too. It danced a little dance. The tricky monk could not hurt anyone now. His bad plans were over. Everyone was safe from him. They were very glad. A great peace filled the air. The danger was truly gone.
The tricky spirit spoke softly to King Victor. "The monk had a big secret," it said. "He wanted to be king of the fairies. He wanted to rule over them. He wanted great power for himself. He used bad magic for this. He wanted to trick many people. He wanted to be very strong. He was a very greedy monk."
King Victor had a special wish. He thought about his people. "Please," he asked the tricky spirit kindly. "Help my wise stories. Let everyone hear them. Let them be told far and wide. My stories teach good lessons. They teach people to be good. They teach right from wrong."
The tricky spirit smiled a bright, happy smile. "Yes!" it said with joy. "Your stories will be heard by all. They will travel to every land. People will be safe from bad things. They will make good choices always. Your stories will help them. They will guide their hearts. They will make the world better."
Then, Lord Shiva appeared in a flash of light. He was a great and very kind god. He looked at King Victor with pride. "Well done, King Victor!" he said with a booming voice. "You stopped the tricky monk. You saved many from harm." Shiva gave King Victor a shiny magic sword. It glowed brightly. "You will be a great ruler," he said. "You will be king of the fairies. You will always be close to me. Your heart is pure."
And so, King Victor lived happily ever after. He always did good deeds. His wise stories helped many people. They learned to be kind and brave. They followed his good example. The world was a better place.
Original Story
CONCLUSION
So King Triple-victory came to the monk Patience with the body on his shoulder. And he saw the monk along in the dark night, sitting under the cemetery tree and looking down the road. He had made a magic circle with yellow powdered bones in a spot smeared with blood. In it he had put a jug filled with blood and lamps with magic oil. He had kindled a fire and brought together the things he needed for worship.
The monk rose to greet the king who came carrying the body, and he said: "O King, you have done me a great favour, and a hard one. This is a strange business and a strange time and place for such as you. They say truly that you are the best of kings, for you serve others without thinking of yourself. This is the very thing that makes the greatness of a great man, when he does not give a thing up, though it costs his very life."
So the monk felt sure the he was quite successful, and he took the body from the king's shoulder. He bathed it and put garlands on it, and set it in the middle of the circle. Then he smeared his own body with ashes, put on a cord made of human hair, wrapped himself in dead man's clothes, and stood a moment, deep in thought. And the goblin was attracted by his thought into the body, and the monk worshipped him.
First he offered liquor in a skull, then he gave him human teeth carefully cleaned, and human eyes and flesh. So he completed his worship, then he said to the king: "O King, fall flat on the ground before this master magician in an attitude of reverence, so that he may give you what you want."
And the king remembered the words of the goblin. He said to the monk: "Holy sir, I do not know that attitude of reverence. Do you show me first, and afterwards I will do it in the same way."
And when the monk fell on the ground to show the attitude of reverence, the king cut off his head with a sword, and cut out his heart and split it open. And he gave the head and the heart to the goblin.
Then all the little gods were delighted and cried: "Well done!" And the goblin was pleased and spoke to the king from the body he was living in: "O King, this monk was trying to become king of the fairies. But you shall be that when you have been king of the whole world."
And the king answered the goblin: "O magic creature, if you are pleased with me, I have nothing more to wish for. Yet I ask you to make me one promise, that these twenty-two different, charming puzzle-stories shall be known all over the world and be received with honour."
And the goblin answered: "O King, so be it. And I will tell you something more. Listen. When anyone tells or hears with proper respect even a part of these puzzle-stories, he shall be immediately free from sin. And wherever these stories are told, elves and giants and witches and goblins and imps shall have no power."
Then the goblin left the dead body by magic, and went where he wanted to. Then Shiva appeared there with all the little gods, and he was well pleased. When the king bowed before him, he said: "My son, you did well to kill this sham monk who tried by force to become king of the fairies. Therefore you shall establish the whole earth, and then become king of the fairies yourself. And when you have long enjoyed the delights of heaven and at last give them up of your own accord, then you shall be united with me. So receive from me this sword called Invincible. While you have it, everything you say will come true."
So Shiva gave him the magic sword, received his flowery words of worship, and vanished with the gods.
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Story DNA
Moral
True wisdom and selflessness are rewarded, while deceit and ambition are punished.
Plot Summary
King Triple-victory brings a body to the monk Patience, who is performing a dark ritual to become king of the fairies. The monk, believing he has succeeded, instructs the king to bow to the goblin-possessed body. Remembering a prior warning, the king asks the monk to demonstrate the bow, then swiftly decapitates him, offering the head and heart to the goblin. The gods and goblin are pleased, revealing the monk's evil intentions. Shiva appears, blesses the king for his righteous act, grants him a magic sword, and prophesies his destiny to rule the world, become king of the fairies, and eventually unite with Shiva.
Themes
Emotional Arc
tension to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
This story is the 'conclusion' to a larger collection of 'Twenty-Two Goblins' (Vetala Panchavimshati), where the king is repeatedly tested by a goblin through riddle stories. The king's wisdom and adherence to the goblin's instructions throughout the previous stories are crucial context for his final action here.
Plot Beats (11)
- King Triple-victory arrives at the cemetery with a body, finding the monk Patience performing a ritual.
- The monk praises the king's perseverance and takes the body, believing his plan is succeeding.
- The monk prepares the body and performs a dark ritual, attracting a goblin into the body.
- The monk offers gruesome sacrifices to the goblin and instructs the king to bow in reverence.
- The king, recalling a previous warning from the goblin, asks the monk to demonstrate the specific bow.
- As the monk bows to demonstrate, the king decapitates him and offers his head and heart to the goblin.
- The gods and the goblin express delight at the monk's demise.
- The goblin reveals the monk's true intention was to usurp the king of the fairies.
- The king asks the goblin to ensure his 22 puzzle-stories are known and honored worldwide.
- The goblin grants the wish and promises freedom from sin and protection from evil spirits to those who hear the stories.
- Shiva appears, commends the king for killing the 'sham monk', and blesses him with a magic sword and a destiny to rule the world, become king of the fairies, and eventually unite with Shiva.
Characters
King Triple-victory
A man of regal bearing, likely of average to tall height and a strong, enduring build, capable of carrying a body on his shoulder for an extended period. His features would reflect a South Asian or Indian heritage, with a dignified and resolute expression.
Attire: Royal attire suitable for ancient India, perhaps a finely woven silk dhoti in a rich color like crimson or deep blue, paired with an angavastram (upper cloth) draped over one shoulder. Minimal but significant gold jewelry, such as armlets or a simple necklace, indicating his status without being ostentatious for a night journey. His clothing would be practical enough for travel but still convey his royal status.
Wants: To fulfill his promise to the monk, to gain knowledge or power (initially), and ultimately, to serve justice and ensure the well-being of his kingdom and the world by spreading the puzzle-stories.
Flaw: His initial trust in the monk's intentions, though quickly overcome by the goblin's warning. He might be seen as too trusting or naive at first.
He begins as a king fulfilling a difficult task for a monk, but through the goblin's intervention, he uncovers the monk's deceit, acts decisively to prevent evil, and is ultimately elevated by Shiva to become king of the fairies and eventually united with Shiva himself, gaining immense power and ensuring the legacy of the puzzle-stories.
Selfless, determined, intelligent, observant, and devout. He serves others without thinking of himself and is willing to face great dangers to fulfill his promises.
Monk Patience
A lean, ascetic figure, likely of South Asian descent, with a gaunt appearance from his practices. His body might be smeared with ashes, indicating his dark magical rituals.
Attire: Minimal and ritualistic clothing: a cord made of human hair wrapped around his body, and wraps of dead man's clothes. His body would be smeared with grey ashes. This attire is specifically for his dark magic ritual.
Wants: To become king of the fairies, a position of immense power, through dark magic and sacrifice.
Flaw: His overconfidence and arrogance, believing he could outsmart the king and the goblin. His desire for power blinds him to the true nature of his allies and adversaries.
He appears to be a spiritual guide but is revealed as a power-hungry sorcerer. His ambition leads directly to his downfall and death at the hands of the king.
Deceptive, ambitious, manipulative, patient (ironically), and ruthless. He uses others to achieve his own power-hungry goals.
The Goblin
A mischievous and powerful magical entity. While not explicitly described in its natural form, when possessing the dead body, it would animate it in a way that suggests its presence – perhaps with glowing eyes or an unnatural stiffness. In its true form, it would be a creature of ancient Indian folklore, possibly small, grotesque, with sharp features and a cunning expression.
Attire: As a spirit, it has no physical wardrobe. When possessing the body, it uses the body's existing state.
Wants: To be entertained by the king's stories, to test the king's character, and to ensure that justice is served against the deceitful monk.
Flaw: Bound by certain magical rules and promises, and perhaps susceptible to cleverness and righteous action.
It acts as a catalyst for the king's ultimate triumph, revealing the monk's true intentions and rewarding the king for his righteous actions. It grants the king's wish for the stories to be known and provides a blessing for those who hear them.
Cunning, wise, powerful, and appreciative of cleverness and justice. It is bound by certain rules but willing to reward those who act righteously.
Shiva
A powerful Hindu deity, typically depicted with blue skin, a third eye on his forehead, and a serene yet formidable expression. He would be muscular and majestic, embodying cosmic power.
Attire: Minimal, often depicted wearing a tiger skin or deer skin around his waist, symbolizing his mastery over nature and desire. He might have a serpent coiled around his neck as a necklace, and a crescent moon adorning his hair. Rudraksha beads as jewelry.
Wants: To maintain cosmic order, reward the righteous, and punish those who misuse power or engage in dark magic.
Flaw: None, as a supreme deity.
He appears at the climax to confirm the king's righteous actions, bestow blessings, and elevate the king to a divine destiny.
Just, benevolent, powerful, wise, and a destroyer of evil. He rewards righteousness and punishes deceit.
Locations
Cemetery Tree Ritual Site
A desolate spot under a large, ancient tree within a cemetery, illuminated only by the faint glow of ritual lamps. The ground is smeared with blood, and a magic circle is drawn with yellow powdered bones. Within the circle, there is a jug filled with blood and several lamps burning with magic oil. A fire is kindled nearby.
Mood: eerie, mystical, foreboding, solemn
The monk Patience performs a dark ritual to summon a goblin into a dead body, and King Triple-victory ultimately slays the monk here.