The story of Mrcchakatika –– written much before the famous story, Shakuntala –– has been enacted several times through plays over centuries. Vasantasena is the story’s main heroine.
The story goes like this: Vasantasena runs away from an evil man named Sansthanaka and resides in the house of a Brahmin (a married man) called Charudutta. Vasantasena falls in love with Charudutta and leaves her jewellery in his place when she goes.
A thief named Sharvilaka steals the jewellery to give Vasantasena’s attendant, whom he likes, freedom. Charudutta’s wife offers her pearl necklace to compensate for the theft after it is discovered.
Vasantasena decides to return it to Charudutta with the hope of seeing him again. In his house, she meets Charudutta’s younger son Ronasena, who wants a little gold cart to play with, just like the one his friend has. Vasantasena is moved by his desire and fills his clay cart with jewellery.
Later, the story’s heroine is murdered by Sansthanaka, the evil man, and Charudutta, the good Brahmin, is blamed. The jewellery helps to implicate him. But our heroine isn’t completely dead yet. After many twists and turns, Vasantasena is resurrected from death by a monk who Charudutta once helped.
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