Srngaramanjari Katha

Author(s): Bhojdev, Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 40

A SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
The Fifth Tale of Devadattā
Vişamaśīlā: Moreover, daughter, I have told you that to win over a person you should understand him first:
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King Vikramaditya of Ujjayini had a courtesan called Devadattă. One night as they were enjoying the moonlit night, the king asked her how courtesans should be dealt with and how they successfully acquire other's wealth. Devadatta showed her aversion to answering this question. To avoid the query and yet to entertain him, she started relating to him a strange incident she had experienced only the day before.
Devadatta said that while she was going from there to the main gate, all of a sudden she saw a wonderful horse, and a handsome young man mounted on it. He signalled to her and she mounted the horse. The horse flew up into the sky. After a long journey the horse came down and they dismounted. There was a mansion which they entered. She saw there a beautiful lady weeping. Another man came with a whip. They both asked Devadatta to act as a love messenger to bring about a union between the man with the whip and the lady. She refused and the man with the whip started beating her. Devadattă did not give in, but went on saying "The feet of the conqueror of the three worlds, King Vikramaditya, is my shelter." Surprisingly enough, as she called out to him, the others felt as if the king had come. They were scared to death and fled leaving her alone. She did not see where the horse went away, but she found herself again on the palace ground.
On hearing this narrative Vikramaditya repeatedly asked Devadatta whether it was true. And Devadatta swore by the king that it was entirely true. The king was pleased with her and told his elephant-keeper to give his second best elephant to her as a gift together with four crores of gold pieces, rich ornaments and garments.
Devadattă smiled and said to the king that she would take another elephant from him after they retired and then revealed to him the secret; "Sire, you asked me how my class of people acquire wealth well, this is how they get it".
"Well done, Devadattā", said Vikramaditya, "You have instructed me in a fascinating manner. You have well raised the traditional reputation of your class". So saying, being gratified, he doubled the gifts.
Viṣamaśilă: Thus oh daughter, acquisition of wealth is certain if you act according to the desire of other people. The truth is that there is nothing that flattery does not attain,
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