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CAMDALENA A.-sundarī was dressed as a man and brought to the harem. As the characters of the spectators are there in the garbhanātaka, a good deal of fun is created by Vidūşaka who often misunderstands the situation. The king broods over A.-sundari's beauty while the play is going on. The time for midday meals is announced, and all get up for bath.
II. The king tells Vidūşaka that Hemavati divulged their secret to the queen with the result that Mandāraka has been chained and Anandasundarī is confined in the ornament box by her. He reflects over the miserable lot which has befallen that beautiful girl on account of queen's jealousy. Vidūşaka blesses him with good luck. Then to divert king's mind, there enters the poet Pārijāta, alias Kaņķhīrava, vaunting his poetic abilities. In a high-flown style, full of long compounds, subtle allusions and mythological references, he praises the metropolis Sråkhalāvati and its specialities, the palace Damaruka, and the king Sikhandacandra of great glory and his virtues. The king is highly pleased and is ready to give any present, even his kingdom, to the poet who declines the offer by saying that he already possesses the kavita. mahā-sämrājya. To divert himself the king proposes to Vidūşaka that they should describe the various limbs of the heroine A.-sundarī; and they do so by singing the lines of a verse alternatively. The king is suffering acute pangs of separation which are heightened by midday announcements of bards: he realizes that the real remedy is to win queen’s favour.
III. The king feels happy now, because he has been able to win queen’s favour. With sly interpellations Vidūşaka wants to know how this could be achieved. The king narrates the details how he met her in the bed-room, how she was angry with him, how he lay prostrate at her feet like a servant, and how thus finally her heart was won over and she promised to celebrate his marriage with the heroine Ānandasundarī. The queen enters with the heroine and attendants, the former in wedding dress: the king must have an issue, so the marriage is approved by all. The queen bestows the heroine on the king, and the wedding ceremony is celebrated. The couple is blessed and greeted by all; and Vidūşaka exchanges a few bitter jokes with maid-servants. The king, heroine, Vidūşaka, etc. come to the Sủngāra-vana where the heroine is made acquainted with various trees etc. The evening and rising moon are announced by bards; the king and heroine retire to the bed-chamber.
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