Srngaramanjari Katha

SR No.: 002914
Original Sutra Author: Bhojdev
Author: Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
Publication Year: 1959
Total Pages: 312
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 21 MB

Page 254

TRANSLATION
THUS ENDS THE FIFTH TALE OF DEVADATTĀ IN THE SRNGARAMANJARIKATHA COMPOSED BY MAHARAJADHIRAJA-PARAMEŚVARA-ŚRĪBHOJADEVA.
THE SIXTH TALE OF LAVAŅYASUNDARI "Moreover, o daughter! for those who try to secure their object even at the risk of self-sacrifice after taking refuge with a man of great valour and adventure, the fulfilment of their self-interests is not difficult. This I told you before, I shall illustrate it to you now":
(41) "Here there is a town called Ahicchatra, famous in the world, and presided over by great men like the rich merchants..... and others. There ruled for a long time king VAJRAMUKUTA enjoying the pleasures of kingship. He had defeated the circle of neighbouring princes with the support of his ministers in their service since his father's times, had gradually conquered all the arrogant enemies and was surrounded by a powerful retinue.
In the same town dwelt also an oilman by name GHUDA who was in affluent conditions because of his rich patrimony. He had a wife named LAVANYASUNDARI, young and beautiful, looking like a play-doll of Madana, the ornament of youth and loveliness even of loveliness. Her beauty was not unparalleled in her own class of people, but as it surpassed (the beauty of) all the other women it was an object of wonder to all the people. Enjoying amorous pleasures in her company his days passed happily.
Once while she was in her own house she came within the sight of the king who was roaming about. Seeing her, as if wonderstruck, stupefied, infatuated, and helpless due to the striking of the arrows of Love, he somehow reached his house. He wondered how she could be obtained, for he would surely not desire to live without getting her. When he came to know from the spies that she was the wife of GHUDA, the oilman, he considered how he could bring him under his subjection. He arrested him under the pretext of adulteration in oil. Though, he (the oilman) offered to pay fine in lakhs, he did not free him. On the other hand he tortured him by inflicting many punishments. LAVANYASUNDARI then understood the king's intentions, and said to her husband: "You must free yourself by giving whatever fine the king asks of you". Accordingly he said to the king: "Your majesty does not accept even gold drammas, please tell me then what else should I give you? Whatever you command I shall definitely give". The king asked for a hundred elephants knowing that it would be impossible for him to obtain them. Hearing this the oilman was very much