Tales from the Kathasaritsagara by Somadeva

Author:Somadeva [Somadeva]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Penguin
ISBN: 9789351182122
Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd
Published: 2000-10-14T00:00:00+00:00

The Princess Who Refused To Marry

‘There is a city on earth appropriately named Śūrapura for it is the dwelling place of heroes. King Mahāvarāha, destroyer of his enemies, ruled there. Because he had propitiated Pārvatī, his wife Padmarati bore him a daughter named Anaṅgarati. As Anaṅgarati grew up, she became proud of her beauty and though many kings asked for her hand, she refused to get married. She said, “I will only marry a man who is courageous and handsome and accomplished in at least one thing.”

‘Four young men from the south, who had heard about Anaṅgarati and had the qualities that she desired, arrived in Śūrapura to seek her hand. They were announced by the door-keeper and in Ana garati’s presence, Mahāvarāha asked them, “What are your names and what are your backgrounds? What are your skills?” The first one said, “I am a Śūdra named Pañcapaṭṭika and I can weave five sets of garments every day. I give one to a Brāhmin, the second I offer to Śiva, the third I wear myself, the fourth I would give to my wife if I had one and the fifth I sell and live off the proceeds.”

‘The second one said; “I am a Vaiśya named Bhāṣājña and I know all the languages of all the birds and animals.” The third one said, “I am a Kṣatriya named Khaḍgadhara and no one wields a sword better than I.” The fourth one said, “I am a Brāhmin named Jīvadatta and by the grace of the goddess, I can bring a dead woman back to life.” Then the Śūdra, the Vaiśya and the Kṣatriya praised their own courage, good looks and skill but the Brāhmin praised only his courage and his skill, saying nothing about his looks. The king told the door-keeper to take the four young men to his house so that they could rest.

‘Mahāvarāha asked Anaṅgarati, “Daughter, which of these four young men do you like?” and she replied that she did not like any of them. She said, “One is a Śūdra and a weaver. What is the use of his virtues? The second is a Vaiśya. Of what value is the knowledge of the language of birds and others? I am a high born Kṣatriya woman, how can I be given to him? The third one, the Kṣatriya, is equal to me in rank but he is poor and lives by selling his services. I am a princess, how can I marry him? The fourth one, the Brāhmin Jīvadatta, I do not like at all. He is ugly and he is unrighteous. He has fallen from his exalted position because he has rejected the Vedas. You should punish him instead of offering me to him as a wife! As a king, you are the protector of the four castes and the four stages of life. A king who upholds righteousness is far better than a king who wins battles. The king who upholds righteousness will rule over thousands of heroic kings who win battles.

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