Trishasti Shalaka Purusa Caritra Part 4

Author(s): Hemchandracharya, Helen M Johnson
Publisher: Oriental Research Institute Vadodra

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CHAPTER TWO The dwarf said, 'Until time to go to the king, we shall stay here, our minds charmed by amusement.' A royal servant said, 'Tell us some interesting story.' The dwarf said, 'Shall I tell you a kathā or vittaka ?' Questioned about the difference between a kathā and a vsttaka the dwarf said, 'A vịttaka is one's own experiences; a kathā is the adventures of men of former times.' Tell a vsttaka.' The dwarf related:
'Here in Bharata there is a large city Tāmralipti. A merchant, Rşabhadatta, with very excellent qualities, lives there. One day he went to the town Padminikhanda on business. There he saw Sāgaradatta's daughter, Priyadarśanā, and married her to his son, Virabhadra. With her Virabhadra experienced mundane happiness. Once upon a time, during the night he aroused her pretending to be asleep. “Do not disturb me. I have a headache." "Whose fault is that?" "Your fault," she said. Questioned by him about his fault, she said, “Why at such a time is there this artful talk on your part, husband ?” Saying, “I shall not do so again," he caressed her; and leaving her, when she had really fallen asleep, her husband went to a foreign country.'
After the dwarf had related this, he got up hurriedly, saying, 'Now the time for my attendance in the palace is passing. As he got up, he was asked further by Priyadarśanā eagerly, 'Tell where Vīrabhadra has gone. Surely you know, dwarf.' The dwarf replied, 'I do not talk with another man's wife, always afraid of a blemish on my own family. She said, 'Indeed, is your conduct suitable for a good family? To answer politely, certainly that is the first charactertistic of a well-born man.' 'I shall tell you tomorrow. Saying this, the dwarf went away. This story was told the king by his servants and he was astonished. :
The next day he (the dwarf) went to the nun's resthouse in the same way and told a story to them very eager.
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