Page 20 - GALIET THE KING AND THE CORPSE: The Four Cardinal Corners and the Quest of the Blue Cloak, the Mask and the Sword IV GALIET THE KING AND THE CORPSE: The Four Cardinal Corners and the Quest of the Blue Cloak, The Mask and the Sword

he is to undergo a metamorphosis from impermanence into permanence.
However, the perspicacious author has forewarned us of the dangers of this sort of life-giving mastery in Four Who Made a Lion. Like the fourth brother who gives life to the lion by giving it form, which in turn devours him and his siblings, Ksantisila shall suffer the same fate; he, too, is to be devoured by his own lion (Vetala). Likewise, as King Trivikramasena places the blame on the 4th brother, Vetala can potentially be blamed for allowing Ksantisila to inhale his spirit, under the spell of the magic circle, unless King Trivikramasena intervenes. But first, Vetala must test King Trivikramasena’s criteria and power of discernment by examining his nature, his wisdom and his perception of virtue if both are to earn salvation. Therefore, unlike Ksantisila’s circle, theirs is the circle that traces justice. In the end, Ksantisila shares the fate of the ignorant and imprudent 4th brother. Ksantisila is devoured by his hubristic action of trying to square a circle16 (an impossible geometry) and by trusting that Vetala will not divulge his plans. Finally, the magic circle of evil, ignorance and
16 The image of Ksantisila placing the 4 containers of blood on the cardinal corners suggests his attempt to square the circle, a metaphor of trying to become a perfect, divine being and master of the aerial spirits which is not his fate.
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