Vikram & Betal – Edison Bulb
Like every time, King Vikram got hold of Betal and Betal persuaded Vikram that the journey was long and he would narrate a story and at the end of story he would ask for an answer. The condition would be the same (as in earlier stories). If Vikram speaks then Betal will fly back to his tree in the Jungle. But if Vikram knew the answer of the story, but remained silent then his head would be smashed into 1000 pieces.
Betal again started narrating his next story to King Vikram.
Long ago, there was a merchant named Arut. He was a rich person and had to travel to different countries for trade. He had a wife named Anmika. She was a devoted wife who had shown her support to him during his bad days. They had a daughter named Vernika. Their daughter was engaged to a boy named Avnik.
Once he had to go to a neighboring country for a trade related visit. The whole family had to do shopping for upcoming marriage of his daughter so they decided to go together.
While they were passing through a jungle they were surrounded by dacoits who captured them and brought them to headman named Ajatshatru. Ajatshatru was a merciless person who had killed many people in the past. He was a sadist who enjoyed playing games with people. He liked seeing confusion of people who were asked to make tough choice before they die. But he was a man of his words. If he made a commitment, he honored it.
He gave 3 options to Arut
- 1. They could let his wife free out of the jungle but in such case he would be killed and his daughter will have to stay with the jungle tribe serving all men for her entire life. His wife would be safe but his daughter honor and his own life was at stake.
- They could let his daughter free but she will have to cross the long jungle without any food and help. They would also kill his wife and he would be jailed for his entire life without knowing what happened to his daughter. Their honor was intact but his wife would be killed. Moreover he won’t know what really happened to his daughter. He could only pray for her safety.
- He was shown 4 electric buttons of which only one connected to a bulb in the next room. He could do whatever he wanted with electric buttons but he could go to the next room only once. He had to answer which button was connected to the bulb. He could do whatever he wanted in next room but he had to give his answer in 15-20 minutes. He could not see the bulb without going into the next room. He could not use any mirror or any other thing to see when the bulb lighted. He could know about the bulb only when he went inside next room. If he did not answer or gave a wrong answer both his wife and daughter would be asked to serve all men for a year and after that they will be killed in front of his eyes and he will be jailed for 10 years and then would be killed torturously. He was asked to play a game which had some probability of him being right but if it turned out to be wrong his wife and daughter honor as well as life was at stake. But if he won the game all of them would be set free.
Betal stopped after this story and told Vikram, “Hey Vikram, you are a man of wisdom. Here is a good father as well as a good Husband. He is given first two situations to select between honor and life. In the second situation his wife who supported him during his bad days dies for no fault of her.
In the third situation he is asked to play a dangerous game. He could be right but if he is wrong he will have worst of consequences. Both the honor and life of his daughter and wife could go and he faced the fear of a torturous death after long jail.
Should he play the game and leave everything at the mercy of God or should he choose any of the first 2 options? If yes, which one of the first two choices he should make and why?
Vikram wisdom was again being tested. On previous occasions (In story No 1, 2, 3) he was able to come up with a great solutions but this question was little tricky. Being a just and fair King himself he had to come up with something which was not only logical and agreeable but also human. He had to put himself in the position of Arut and decide what he would have done had it happened to his own family. He thought for a while and answered………….
PLEASE THINK FOR A WHILE ABOUT YOUR OWN ANSWER BEFORE VIKRAM ANSWER BELOW. IT WOULD GIVE YOU AN INSIGHT ABOUT YOURSELF
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Vikram answered
“Hey Betal, the consequences of playing the game are too harsh. But if there is a near 100% probability of winning a game then the game should be played. It saves both honor and life for all of them. I would advise him to play the game. But this is how he should play.
The bulb light up when correct button is pressed and after some time it also gets hot. Therefore, he should follow the below steps
- He should number the four buttons as 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- He should switch on the button No 1 and 2 for few minutes. He should wait for some time.
- He should then switch off the button number 2 and switch on button number no 3. In this position button number 1 and 3 are switched on and Button no 2 and 4 are switched off.
- He should immediately run to the next room after switching button No 3.
- He should touch the bulb to assess whether it is hot or not.
- His answer should be as below
- If the bulb is ON and is HOT: It is Button No 1. Since bulb is on hence it must be either from button No 1 and 3 (which are currently switched on). But button 3 was switched on was just a while ago. But the bulb is hot therefore; it is button No 1 which would have lighted the bulb.
- If the bulb is On but not HOT: It is Button No 3. Since bulb is ON hence it must be either from button No 1 and 3 (which are currently switched on). But it is not HOT. Had button no 1 switched on the bulb it would have become hot. Since it is not hot it is because button 3 would have lighted it since it was switched on just a while ago.
- If the bulb is OFF and is HOT: It is Button No 2. Since bulb is OFF hence it must be either from button No 2 and 4 (which are currently switched OFF). But button 4 was switched off right from the beginning. If button no 4 would have been connected to the bulb then it would have been cold. But the bulb is hot hence it would be button No 2.
- If the bulb is OFF but not HOT: It is Button No 4. Since bulb is OFF hence it must be either from button No 2 and 4 (which are currently switched OFF). Had it been switched on by Button no 2 it would have become hot. But it is not hot hence it is button no 4 which is connected to the bulb.
Betal heard and said,
“Hey Vikram, You are right. He played the game and played it with his mind and was able to save the life and honor of his family. I know you are a person with wisdom. But you forgot one thing, you spoke hence I am going back to my tree”.
Betal started flying and went back to his tree. Vikram got furious and started following him back to get hold of him. Vikram was adamant that he will again catch hold of Betal.
