Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 46

A SUMMARY OF CONTENTS
her. But love had made her bold and she acknowledged her love for Chaddalaka and was ready to suffer any punishment. The king however, freed her asking her not to be so bold again. But to his surprise he saw her go to the house of Chadḍalaka.
The king now desired to break this bond of love. He therefore invited another handsome youth called Sundaraka to entice her. And she fell a victim to his charms. She invited him to her house and spent a night with him in dalliance. Sundaraka had brought a 'pattanika' with himself, in which all that passed between them was recorded. Next morning Aśokavati repented for giving way to a fleeting passion and thus being untrue to her true love. Sundaraka witnessed her repentance, and sad at heart returned to the king.
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To end the game the king then called Chadḍalaka when his minister Tikkapaika was present and showed him the 'pattanika". Chaddalaka understood that it was only a king's plot to break his love. But he wanted to test Aśokavati. He therefore, made a plan with Tikkapaika. According to the plan Tikkapaika put on the dress of a pasupata mendicant and came near the house of Aśokavati. She saw him and was surprised to see him in this attire. When asked to explain Tikkapaika said that as Chadḍalaka had died in a battle against the king of Kaccha he was aggrieved and has become a mendicant.
On hearing of the death of Chadḍalaka, Aśokavati, like a sheelephant struck by lightning, fell down dead. The news was conveyed to Chaddalaka. In the meantime there came to the assembly of the king the news of Aśokavati's death on hearing the canard of Tikkapaika. There was an uproar. Sundaraka considered himself to be the cause of her death and repenting of his wickedness put an end to his life by throwing himself into fire.
Chaddalaka also on receiving the news became mad with grief. He rushed to the cremation ground and lit a pyre for himself and threw himself into the fire.
The news of the death of three innocent people reached the king's ears. He realized his mistake and remorse filled his heart. He ran to the Goddess Asapura and desired to offer his head as well. She prevented him from the rash act, and at his request revived all the dead persons. The king then gave Aśokavati to Chaddalaka and made Sundaraka the master of four thousand villages.
Viṣamaśīlā: Thus, O daughter, there are cases where due to love, courtesans have lost their wealth and lives too. Therefore as a rule one should keep away from love as from a tiger.