Story of king Vikramasinha, the hetæra, and the young Bráhman.
There was in Pratishṭhána a king named Vikramasinha, who was made by Providence a lion in courage, so that his name expressed his nature. He had a queen of lofty lineage, beautiful and beloved, whose lovely form was her only ornament, and she was called Śaśilekhá. Once on a time, when he was in his city, five or six of his relations combined together, and going to his palace, surrounded him. Their names were Mahábhaṭa, Vírabáhu, Subáhu, Subhaṭa and Pratápáditya, all powerful kings. The king’s minister was proceeding to try the effect of conciliation on them, but the king set him aside, and went out to fight with them. And when the two armies had begun to exchange showers of arrows, the king himself entered the fray, mounted on an elephant, confiding in his might. And when the five kings, Mahábhaṭa and the others, saw him, seconded only by his bow, dispersing the army of his enemies, they all attacked him together. And as the numerous force of the five kings made an united charge, the force of Vikramasinha, being inferior in number, was broken. Then his minister Anantaguṇa, who was at his side, said, “Our force is routed for the present, there is no chance of victory to-day, and you would engage in this conflict with an overwhelming force in spite of my advice, so now at the last moment do what I recommend you, in order that the affair may turn out prosperously; come now, descend from your elephant, and mount a horse, and let us go to another country; if you live, you will conquer your enemies on some future occasion.” When the minister said this, the king readily got down from his elephant, and mounted on a horse, and left his army in company with him. And in course of time, the king, in disguise, reached with his minister the city of Ujjayiní. There he entered with his minister the house of a hetæra, named Kumudiká, renowned for her wealth; and she, seeing him suddenly entering the house, thought, “This is a distinguished hero that has come to my house: and his majesty and the marks on his body shew him to be a great king, so my desire is sure to be attained if I can make him my instrument.” Having thus reflected, Kumudiká rose up and welcomed him, and entertained him hospitably, and immediately she said to the king, who was wearied,—“I am fortunate, to-day the good deeds of my former life have borne fruit, in that Your Majesty has hallowed my house by coming to it in person. So by this favour Your Majesty has made me your slave. The hundred elephants, and two myriads of horses, and house full of jewels, which belong to me, are entirely at your majesty’s disposal.” Having said this, she provided the king and his minister with baths and other luxuries, all in magnificent style.
Then the wearied king lived in her palace, at his ease, with her, who put her wealth at his disposal. He consumed her substance and gave it away to petitioners, and she did not show any anger against him on that account, but was rather pleased at it. Thereupon the king was delighted, thinking that she was really attached to him, but his minister Anantaguṇa, who was with him, said to him in secret: “Your majesty, hetæræ are not to be depended upon, though, I must confess, I cannot guess the reason why Kumudiká shews you love.” When the king heard this speech of his, he answered him: “Do not speak thus; Kumudiká would even lay down her life for my sake. If you do not believe it, I will give you a convincing proof.” After the king had said this to his minister, he adopted this artifice; he took little to eat and little to drink, and so gradually attenuated his body, and at last he made himself as dead, without movement, prostrate on the ground. Then his attendants put him on a bier, and carried him to the burning-ghat with lamentations, while Anantaguṇa affected a grief which he did not feel. And Kumudiká, out of grief, came and ascended the funeral pyre with him, though her relations tried to prevent her. But before the fire was lighted, the king, perceiving that Kumudiká had followed him, rose up with a yawn. And all his attendants took him home with Kumudiká to his lodging, exclaiming, “Fortunate is it that our king has been restored to life.”
Then a feast was made, and the king recovered his normal condition, and said in private to his minister,—“Did you observe the devotion of Kumudiká?” Then the minister said,—“I do not believe even now. You may be sure that there is some reason for her conduct, so we must wait to get to the bottom of the matter. But let us reveal to her who we are, in order that we may obtain a force granted by her, and another force supplied by your ally, and so smite our enemies in battle.” While he was saying this, the spy, that had been secretly sent out, returned, and when questioned, answered as follows; “Your enemies have overrun the country, and queen Śaśilekhá, having heard from the people a false report of your majesty’s death, has entered the fire.” When the king heard this, he was smitten by the thunderbolt of grief, and lamented—“Alas! my queen! Alas, chaste lady!”
Then Kumudiká at last came to know the truth, and after consoling the king Vikramasinha, she said to him; “Why did not the king give me the order long ago? Now punish your enemies with my wealth and my forces.” When she said this, the king augmented the force by means of her wealth, and repaired to a powerful king who was an ally of his. And he marched with his forces and those forces of his own, and after killing those five enemies in battle, he got possession of their kingdoms into the bargain. Then he was delighted, and said to Kumudiká who accompanied him; “I am pleased with you, so tell me what I can do to gratify you.” Then Kumudiká said—“If you are really pleased, my lord, then extract from my heart this one thorn that has long remained there. I have an affection for a Bráhman’s son, of the name of Śrídhara, in Ujjayiní, whom the king has thrown into prison for a very small fault, so deliver him out of the king’s hand. Because I saw by your royal marks, that your majesty was a glorious hero, and destined to be successful, and able to effect this object of mine, I waited on you with devoted attentions. Moreover, I ascended that pyre out of despair of attaining my object, considering that life was useless without that Bráhman’s son. When the hetæra said this, the king answered her; “I will accomplish it for you, fair one, do not despair.” After saying this, he called to mind his minister’s speech, and thought—“Anantaguṇa was right, when he said that hetæræ were not to be depended upon. But I must gratify the wish of this miserable creature.” Thus resolved, he went with his troops to Ujjayiní, and after getting Śrídhara set at liberty, and giving him much wealth, he made Kumudiká happy by uniting her with her beloved there. And after returning to his city, he never disobeyed the advice of his minister, and so in time he came to enjoy the whole earth.
“So you see, the hearts of hetæræ are fathomless and hard to understand.”
Then Gomukha stopped, after he had told this story. But then Tapantaka said in the presence of Naraváhanadatta—“Prince, you must never repose any confidence at all in women, for they are all light, even those that, being married or unmarried, dwell in their father’s house, as well as those that are hetæræ by profession. I will tell you a wonder which happened in this very place, hear it.