Twenty-Two Goblins. Translated from the Sanskrit

A regal kingdom by the Godavari River is ruled by a mighty king whose daily routine is interrupted when a humble monk delivers a simple piece of fruit. The king’s careless act of sharing the fruit with a mischievous monkey reveals a dazzling gem, sparking a curious exchange between the monarch and his treasurer and drawing the monk into the king’s court with a mysterious request.

Bound by honor, the king ventures into a moon‑lit cemetery, following the monk’s cryptic instructions. There he encounters a hanging body that, when freed, erupts in an unexpected laugh, revealing the presence of a goblin. The encounter sets the king on a strange, solitary journey southward, where he must decide how to handle this odd creature and the riddles it poses.

The early chapters weave together humor, mythic imagery, and a sense of adventure, inviting listeners to follow a brave ruler as he steps into an unknown realm of enchantments and whimsical challenges.