Prince (Juboraj) and a Brahmadaitya (a powerful spirit from Bengali folklore).
The Prince and the Brahmadaitya
Long ago, in the ancient kingdom of Chandrapur, there lived a brave and kind prince named Aditya. He was the only son of King Rudradev and Queen Mrinalini. The people of Chandrapur loved their prince because he was humble, wise, and always ready to help the poor.
However, the kingdom had a dark secret.
At the edge of the royal forest stood a gigantic banyan tree. The villagers believed that a powerful Brahmadaitya lived there. The Brahmadaitya was not an ordinary ghost. According to old stories, he had once been a learned Brahmin who possessed great knowledge. After his mysterious death, his spirit became a Brahmadaitya — strong, magical, and sometimes dangerous.
For years, no one dared to go near the banyan tree after sunset.
One evening, while returning from hunting, Prince Aditya heard a frightened villager crying for help. The man said that his young son had wandered into the forest and had not returned. It was almost dark. Everyone feared the child might have gone near the haunted banyan tree.
The villagers were too afraid to search.
Prince Aditya, however, was not afraid. "Fear cannot protect our people," he said firmly. Taking his sword and a torch, he rode toward the forest.
The forest grew darker and colder as he approached the banyan tree. The wind howled strangely, and the branches seemed to whisper secrets. Suddenly, a deep voice echoed from above.
"Who dares to enter my domain?"
The prince stopped but did not tremble. "I am Prince Aditya of Chandrapur. I seek a lost child. If he is here, I request you to return him safely."
A tall shadow slowly descended from the tree. The Brahmadaitya appeared — enormous, with glowing eyes and a sacred thread across his chest. Yet his face looked calm and intelligent rather than cruel.
"You are brave, young prince," the spirit said. "But bravery alone is not enough. If you wish to take the child, you must answer my three questions. Fail, and you will remain here forever."
The prince agreed.
The first question was: "What is stronger than a king?"
Prince Aditya thought carefully and replied, "Truth is stronger than a king. A king may rule people, but truth rules the world."
The Brahmadaitya nodded slowly.
The second question was: "What is faster than the wind?"
The prince answered, "The human mind. It can travel anywhere in a moment."
The spirit's glowing eyes softened.
Finally, the third question came: "What is more powerful than magic?"
The forest became silent. Even the wind stopped blowing.
Prince Aditya closed his eyes for a moment and said, "Compassion is more powerful than magic. Magic may control others, but compassion wins hearts."
For the first time, the Brahmadaitya smiled.
"You have answered wisely. Many warriors came here with swords, but none came with wisdom. The child is safe."
From behind the tree, the lost boy ran toward the prince. He was unharmed.
Before leaving, Prince Aditya asked, "Why do you frighten the villagers?"
The Brahmadaitya sighed deeply. "Long ago, I was a scholar. I was proud of my knowledge and insulted others. After my death, I was cursed to remain here until someone proved that wisdom without kindness is incomplete. Today, you have freed me."
As he spoke, a bright light surrounded the spirit. Slowly, the Brahmadaitya's form began to fade.
"Rule your kingdom with truth and compassion," were his final words before he disappeared forever.
Prince Aditya returned to the palace with the child. The villagers celebrated his bravery. From that day on, the banyan tree was no longer feared. Instead, it became a place where people gathered to tell stories about wisdom and courage.
Years later, when Prince Aditya became king, he ruled Chandrapur with honesty and kindness. His story was told for generations — the story of the prince who defeated fear not with a sword, but with wisdom and compassion.
And thus, the legend of the Prince and the Brahmadaitya became a tale of courage, knowledge, and the true power of a good heart.