Once upon a time, in the ancient city of Virat, there ruled a king named Vimalyash. He was blessed with a son named Pushpachool and a daughter named Pushpachoolä. The bond between the brother and sister was exceptionally strong, and they shared a deep affection for each other.

However, as Pushpachool grew older, he fell into bad company and became entangled in vices such as gambling and other undesirable habits. In his desperation to sustain his vices, he turned to burglary when he found himself short of funds. Initially, the people overlooked his actions due to his status as the prince, but as his wickedness grew with age, they could no longer tolerate his behavior. The people eventually brought their concerns to King Vimalyash's attention.

The king made several attempts to reform Pushpachool, but his efforts were in vain. Pushpachool remained stubborn and refused to change his ways. Ultimately, the king had no choice but to banish his son from the kingdom, along with his companions. Surprisingly, Pushpachool's wife and sister insisted on accompanying him, and with the king's permission, they departed together. From that moment on, Pushpachool came to be known as Vankchool.

Vankchool now found himself free to indulge in any activity he pleased. He joined forces with a notorious burglar and eventually rose to become their leader. Establishing a settlement deep within a forest, he began leading the life of a dacoit king, engaging in large-scale burglaries.

One day, a group of monks, led by a learned Ächärya, lost their way in the forest. In their search for an escape route, they stumbled upon Vankchool's settlement. Recognizing the imminent arrival of the monsoon season and the absence of nearby towns, the Ächärya requested Vankchool to allow them to take shelter in the settlement during the monsoon. Vankchool agreed on the condition that the monks would refrain from preaching to his followers. The Ächärya accepted the condition, and the monks stayed in the settlement.

When the monsoon ended, the Ächärya and the monks prepared to leave. Vankchool was deeply impressed by the monks' adherence to their promise. He decided to accompany them for a while and, before bidding them farewell, expressed his willingness to listen to their teachings. The Ächärya suggested that Vankchool take four simple vows as a token of their stay in his settlement.

The four vows were as follows: 1) Not to consume unknown fruits, 2) To step back a few feet before striking a blow, 3) To refrain from engaging in sexual relations with any queen, and 4) Not to consume the flesh of a crow. These vows were simple and did not interfere with Vankchool's daily life, so he willingly accepted them. The Ächärya emphasized that once he took these vows, he must observe them diligently without any lapses. Vankchool agreed wholeheartedly and pledged to uphold the vows at any cost.

Shortly after taking the vows, Vankchool embarked on a daring burglary far away from his settlement. Accompanied by three of his trusted colleagues, he successfully collected a substantial amount of valuable items. Hungry from their exertions, they noticed ripe fruits hanging from a nearby tree. Without knowing the type of fruits they were, one of Vankchool's colleagues plucked them and presented them to him. Although the fruits appeared tempting and juicy, Vankchool remembered his vow and refused to eat them until he knew their name. Unbeknownst to them, the fruits were from a Kimpak tree, which could cause instant death upon consumption. Unable to resist the temptation, Vankchool's companions ate the fruits and tragically perished on the spot. It was then that Vankchool realized how the seemingly simple vow he had taken had saved his own life. He felt a deep sense of gratitude towards the Ächärya.

On another occasion, Vankchool returned home after midnight to find a shocking sight. Upon entering his bedroom, he discovered his wife sleeping beside a young man. Overwhelmed by anger and betrayal, Vankchool decided to kill them both with his sword. As he raised his sword, he remembered his vow to step back before striking a blow. In doing so, his sword inadvertently struck the wall, producing a shrill sound. Startled by the noise, the young man woke up, and to Vankchool's relief, he realized that it was his sister, Pushpachoolä, disguised as a male. Pushpachoolä had attended a fun show in disguise and, exhausted on her way back, had unintentionally fallen asleep beside her sister-in-law. Once again, Vankchool recognized how this seemingly innocuous vow had prevented him from committing a grave mistake and taking the life of his own sister. He felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude towards the Ächärya and regretted not heeding his advice during the four months that the monks had stayed in his settlement. Vankchool vowed to follow the Ächärya's guidance in all aspects of his life should he ever cross paths with him again.

Vankchool realized that in order to truly transform his life, he needed to undertake one final daring burglary that would provide him with enough wealth for the remainder of his days. Ujjayini, a prosperous city at that time, became his target, and he set out to burglarize the royal palace.

Under the cover of darkness, Vankchool arrived in Ujjayini and stealthily approached the palace. Scaling a wall, he inadvertently entered the royal bedroom. Unbeknownst to Vankchool, the king had been preoccupied with state affairs, and the queen had been waiting for his arrival. Upon witnessing Vankchool's entrance, she was initially taken aback. However, captivated by his handsome and youthful appearance, she found herself drawn to him. Rather than raising the alarm, she made an offer of love to Vankchool. However, Vankchool remained steadfast in his vow not to engage in sexual relations with any queen and respectfully declined her advances.

Enraged by his rejection, the queen decided to teach Vankchool a lesson. She intentionally disheveled her hair, tore her clothes, and falsely accused Vankchool of attempting to rape her. She screamed for help, and the palace guards rushed to her aid, arresting Vankchool on the spot.

The following day, Vankchool was brought before the royal court, charged with attempting to rape the queen. Determined to uphold his vow, Vankchool chose to speak the truth. He confessed that his sole intention in entering the palace had been to commit burglary and that he harbored no ill will towards the queen. Initially, everyone deemed his defense unacceptable, and it appeared likely that he would be sentenced to death.

However, fate intervened. When Vankchool had entered the royal bedroom, the king had just concluded his work and was approaching the room. Upon hearing voices, the king concealed himself behind the door and overheard the entire incident. Consequently, he not only exonerated Vankchool but also offered him friendship. Vankchool eagerly accepted the king's offer and, bidding farewell to his former settlement, moved into an elegant palace in Ujjayini, where he embraced a highly religious and righteous life. His friendship with the king flourished over time, and Vankchool became one of the king's most trusted advisors.

Years passed, and Vankchool fell gravely ill. Despite the best efforts of numerous physicians, his condition showed no improvement. Finally, a person with specialized knowledge suggested that Vankchool's illness was incurable, except through the consumption of crow's flesh. The king was delighted upon hearing this news and promptly ordered the flesh to be brought to Vankchool. However, Vankchool was bound by his vow never to eat the flesh of a crow and steadfastly refused the remedy. Others pleaded with him, arguing that it was only for medicinal purposes, but Vankchool remained resolute.

At this critical juncture, Vankchool's close friend Jindas, who was always by his side during his religious endeavors, was summoned by the king to persuade Vankchool to break his vow for the sake of his health. However, Jindas advised Vankchool to uphold his vow. Realizing that his end was near, Jindas advised Vankchool to adopt all possible vows and constantly remember that he was a soul. Grateful for the counsel, Vankchool gladly followed Jindas' advice, taking on additional vows and embracing the awareness of his spiritual essence. With utmost equanimity, Vankchool approached the end of his life and attained heavenly liberation.

Thus, the life of Vankchool, once consumed by vices and criminal activities, took a transformative turn through his encounters with the wise Ächärya and the testing situations that followed. Through the Ächärya's simple vows and his own steadfast commitment to them, Vankchool's life was filled with remarkable incidents that demonstrated the profound impact of adhering to one's principles. His journey ultimately led him to a life of righteousness, friendship with a king, and a peaceful passage into the realms beyond.