Read the previous part here… When the cunning Padmāvatī heard this, she replied sweetly “My love, I have a question to ask you. Were you the one to guess correctly the subtle signs that I had made, or was it your friend Buddhiśarīra? ज्ञाता किं किम् उवा तेन सख्या मन्त्रिसुतेन ते ।एवम् उक्तवतीम् एतां राजपुत्रो …
Read the previous part here… This time, Buddhiśarīra didn’t wait for VajraMukuta to question him, instead, he took the prince aside and said “Don’t despair once again, my friend. By marking the old lady with three fingers dipped in red dye, she has conveyed that she has her period for the next three days, and …
Read the previous part here… The old woman nodded. “Of course I do – he stays in that mansion”, she said, pointing to the house opposite her hut, “and I am an attendant of his daughter. Today however, I have not gone there yet. My wicked good-for-nothing son stole my bag, that also had my …
Read the previous part here… She soon departed, led away by her attendants, but she left her heart there, beside the lake, for when she reached home, she lay down on her bed, her mind lost in thoughts of the prince, and stayed there for hours, until her eyes closed, to dream about him. The …
Read the previous part here… “O king! When people are learned, clever and full of wisdom, they spend their days learning and relishing the knowledge of the Shāstras”, said the Baitāl. “Only fools spend time sleeping and in waste. We have a long journey ahead, and so let me speak something of wisdom, rather than …
Read the previous part here… The yogi replied “I just have one task for you, o mighty king. But one, that only you can execute. A few hundred yards to our south, is a place where the dead bodies are cremated. In the middle of that ground is a banyan tree, on which a corpse …
Read the previous part here… “Oh great king, you have spoken the truth. One who possesses virtue, possesses everything. It is only virtue that stays with us – riches, power, prestige, all come and go. My king, each of these gems is invaluable, priceless pieces that have no equal. Each ruby is worth a kingdom, …
Read the previous part here… “I have now warned you of what is about to occur”, concluded the deva. “I will set out now, but do not be negligent. Things will start to happen…very soon.” The deva then left the scene, and King Vikram continued on his journey towards his capital. He was received with …
Read the previous part here… “If you command me, and promise me the reward, I will only enter this court after bearing a child by this yogi, and bring that child along, riding on his shoulders”, she declared. The king was astonished, but quickly agreed. He gave her a betel-nut as a token of their …
Read the previous part here… Meanwhile, rumors of Bhartharī’s abdication spread like wildfire, and soon reached King Vikram’s ears too. He was enjoying his journeys, but he knew that duty beckoned. And so King Vikram decided to return to the capital, and take back control of his kingdom. It was midnight, as King Vikram crossed …
