Vasantasena-A Glimpse of Ancient India
By Raja Sharma
Copyright@2011Raja Sharma
Smashwords Edition
Preface
Vasantasena was an extremely beautiful courtesan in the ancient town of Ujjaini. This story is the story of her love and struggles.
To find her love and proper place in the society, she has to go through many ordeals in life. Originally, the story was written in Sanskrit language but in this English version all details have been provided.
This is the story of love, deception, and justice.
This book is dedicated to my wife, Sita, and my daughters, Marie and Sherry.
Raja Sharma
Chapter 1
Vasantasena
In ancient India, there was a very prosperous town named Ujjaini. The people in town had all the comforts and luxuries at their disposal. The town was a famous centre of trade, music, and literature. Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, and Shudra all lived together in perfect harmony. But, on account of excessive prosperity, many evil practices had made their place in this society. The power of the king was diminishing because of the power of the rich aristocrats. The security was not so good, and very often kings were replaced after internal uprisings. Gambling, stealing, cheating, and robbing began to spread in the society. The people near to the throne had their way in everything. There was the effect of the Buddhism but it was not protected by the king. Useless people and rogues had occupied the Buddhist monasteries.
The prosperity had brought along prostitution, with other evil practices. Liberal economy had weakened the characters of the people.
In this prosperous kingdom of Ujjaini, one night, the famous singer Vasantasena was running along the Royal Highway. The area was absolutely deserted and only the sound of her steps could be heard. Sansthanak, the king’s brother-in-law, was chasing Vasantasena, with her servants. He is shouting, “VashantShena Shtop!” He pronounces ‘sh’ in place of ‘s’. On account of this pronunciation, he was called Shakar by people.
Vasantasena is trembling with fear; she knows that it would be impossible for her to escape from the clutches of Sansthanak, once she fell into them.
Suddenly, Vasantasena shouted, “Pallavak…Pallavak! Madanike…Madanike!”
When she saw that there was no help nearby, she said to herself, “What will happen now? Where are my relatives? What should I do? I must protect myself!”
Now Shakar was near her and he said, “You…cheap singer! What do you think you are? I am king’s brother-in-law. No one will come to help you because I am King’s brother-in-law. No one can save you from my hands now!”
When she saw that there was no escape, Vasantasena said to Shakar, “Aryan, please forgive me. I am an unfortunate orphan!”
Shakar said, “That is why you are still alive!”
Vasantasena continued, “If you want my ornaments, I am ready to give all my ornaments to you.”
Shakar said, “I don’t want your ornaments, lady. Accept me and love me. I need you and your body.”
Vasantasena was furious, “You should be ashamed! I don’t want to listen to a single word now!”
Shakar said, “I need your love, your surrender.”
Vasantasena said, “One’s virtues cause one to be loved.”
Shakar said, “Now I understand why you love that Brahmin, Charudutta, who is poor and weak. His house is on the left side.”
Vasantasena felt some relief to know that her lover’s house was nearby. She thinks that he must meet her. Who can stop her in this darkness? She runs towards his house and in the darkness of the night enters the house. Shakar and his loyal soldiers keep on searching in the darkness.
Chapter 2
Charudutta is a very poor but respected Brahmin; he is the saviour of the poor. His poverty resulted from his regular help to the destitute and the poor. Charudutta’s father was a very rich trader. He had a big business house but with the time he lost his wealth. Son Charudutta was person with a very rich heart. His wife, Dhuta, was a very obedient and generous lady. They had a son named Rohsen.
When Vasantasena entered Charudutta’s house, his servant Maitraya and some maid-servants were coming out of the house; they were on their way to the temple to offer a sacrifice. The earthen lamp extinguished when Vasantasena pushed the door inside. Charudutta mistook her for somebody else. In the meantime, Shakar and his soldiers entered the house too.
Charudutta’s servant, Maitraya, said, “This is unjust! Today my master is poor so everybody is entering his house without permission!”
There was a maid-servant named Radanika. Shakar and his soldiers tease and insult her. Maitraya could not bear it and he said, “You can’t touch her!”
Maitraya is angry and he picks a stick from the ground. Shakar’s servant, Vitt, apologizes to Maitraya but Maitraya knows that the real culprit is the king’s brother-in-law, Shakar, whose real name is Sansthanak.
Maitraya says to Vitt, “It was not right of you to behave like this. Though my master, Charudutta, is poor, he is a highly respected person in our town. People take his name with respect. You have touched Aryan Charudutta’s servants and you have tried to kidnap Radanika, the maid-servant.”
Shakar said, “But we are looking for Vasantasena.”
Maitraya said, “She is not Vasantasena.”
Shakar came forward, “It was our mistake.”
Vitt added, “Please forgive us. Don’t inform Charudutta about this incident.”
Maitraya said, “All right. You can leave now.”
But Shakar does not leave; instead, he begins to compel Maitraya to handover Vasantasena to them. Shakar says, “Stupid page, tell your poor Charudutta that beautifully ornamented prostitute, Vasantasena, is in your house. Send her to me otherwise I will be his enemy and I will destroy him. I am king’s brother-in-law.”
Maitraya, somehow, sends them out of the house.
After that Maitraya enters the house and tells Radanika that Charudutta is already sad and this incident will add to his sorrows so they should not tell him anything. Radanika agrees.
On the other hand, in the darkness, mistaking Vasantasena for Radanika, Charudutta says, “Radanika, please take Rohsen inside and cover him with this shawl because it is very cold. Cold air will touch him.” Charudutta gives his own shawl to Vasantasena who, by this time, has realized that Charudutta has not seen her face. She takes the shawl and smells it. It was a scented shawl. She mutters to herself, “Charudutta still has a young heart.”
Charudutta orders her to perform the duty but she does not answer. She knows that she is not allowed to enter the house.
Charudutta says, “Radanika, why don’t you say something?”
Right at that moment, Maitraya and Radanika enter the room. Maitraya begins, “Aryan, Radanika is here with me.”
“Then who is she? I have maligned her with my touch!” says Charudutta.
“I have been purged. My wish has been fulfilled,” muttered Vasantasena to herself.
Charudutta looks at Vasantasena and says, “She is extremely beautiful like the full moon on winter nights. But I have touched her and it was not right.”
Maitraya says, “No, master, it is not like that. She is the famous singer Vasantasena. Since the last grand festival in the Royal Garden, she has been in love with you.”
Charudutta says, “Oh…she is Vasantasena, but I am a poor and helpless Brahmin. How should I express my love? I am helpless, Vasantasena, please forgive me. Even my house is not of your standard.”
Charudutta examines her from top to bottom: unique beauty, fair complexion, graceful body, intoxicating eyes, mesmerizing gait, and exquisite features. Everything in her seemed to be mesmerizing Charudutta. He controls himself.
Maitraya informs him that King Palak’s brother-in-law had visited their house and he wanted to take Vasantasena with him, against her will. He informs that Shakar had threatened him and it was not a good sign.
On the other hand, Charudutta is still lost in his world of magic; he is madly in love with Vasantasena. He says, “You keep on asking each other’s forgiveness and I salute you both. Please be happy!”
They begin to laugh.
Vasantasena begins, “Now I must take your leave. I will always remember this meeting. Please do me a favour, Aryan, keep my ornaments in your house. These robbers are chasing me for these precious things.”
Charudutta says, “Vasantasena, my house is not worthy of these ornaments.”
Vasantasena says, “This is not true. Treasure is always safe with a talented person like you and house has no importance. You are worthy from all angles.”
Charudutta says to Maitraya, “Take these ornaments.”
Maitraya accepts the ornaments and says, “Now these ornaments are ours.”
They know that he is jesting, but Charudutta says, “No… we will return these ornaments when you need them.”
Vasantasena wants to go home. With a sad heart, Charudutta tells Maitraya to convey Vasantasena safely to her house but Maitraya refuses because he knows that it would be appropriate if Charudutta escorted her to her house.
When Charudutta returns from Vasantasena’s house, he gives the ornaments to Maitraya and Vardhmanak to keep safely. He is lost in the beautiful thoughts of Vasantasena and sleep is miles away from him.
Chapter 3
The palace of Vasantasena is a wonder in itself; it is decorated like a new bride; there are many rooms with beautiful paintings on their walls, carpets of exquisite beauty on the floor, sweet smelling flowering plants and fruit trees in the garden. Every night here is like Deepawali and every day is like Spring. There are two decorated throne-like seats in one room. In the centre, there is a decorated couch and on that couch Vasantasena is playing on Veena (a musical instrument like Sitar). There is a beautiful aroma in and around the room. The ambiance is highly romantic. Prosperity is visible in everything that is there in the room. Vasantasena is submerged in thoughts while playing on Veena.
After a while, she calls her maid-servant, Madanike. Seeing Madanike, Vasantasena stretches her body and throws a flower at Madanike. Suddenly, the mother’s maid, Chetti, comes there and announces, “The mother has ordered that you should take a bath and freshen up to worship gods.”
Vasantasena says, “Tell mother, I won’t do anything today. I am not feeling well. I will not take a bath. Get the rituals done by the Brahmins.”
Chetti takes this reply and leaves. Madanike caresses her hair and says, “I am asking this out of my love for you. What has happened to you suddenly? Is your mind somewhere else? Are you in love with someone?”
Vasantasena said, “My friend, why do you think so? Why are you looking at me like this? Do you feel that I am in love?”
Madanike looked in her eyes and said, “I am looking at you with love and I am sure that you have fallen in love with someone.”
Vasantasena said, “Maybe you are right. You understand the feelings of others very quickly. You know everything.”
Madanike said, “I am happy that you liked what I said. Are you in love with a king?”
Vasantasena said, “No my dear, I want love, pure love, not trade. I have had my fill of business and now I want love. I want to surrender to someone.”
Madanike said, “Is he a Brahmin young man or a rich trader?”
Vasantasena said, “A rich man’s love is not reliable, it comes and goes. A Brahmin is always worthy of worship.”
Madanike insisted, “Then tell me who that fortunate man is who has stolen my best friend’s heart!”