There was also in Takshaśilā another householder, who died leaving a son behind him. This son, while wandering about after the death of his parents, entered the house of Utpalavarṇā’s father, who proposed to him that he should take up his residence with him as his son-in-law, whereto he consented.
After the death of Utpalavarṇā’s father, her mother, who had food and clothing in plenty, experienced amorous desires. But she had scruples about inviting a stranger into the house, so she determined to allure her own son-in-law. Understanding the hints she gave him, he complied with her desires.
Being just on the point of being confined, Utpalavarṇā told her maid to call her mother. But when the maid came to the mother’s chamber, she found her and her son-in-law alone together, so she determined to wait [[207]]awhile. When the mother came forth from the chamber, the maid told her that Utpalavarṇā had ordered her to be called. When the maid got back, she found that her mistress had given birth to a daughter, and she was asked what had detained her. The maid replied, “May your mother and your husband remain well!” Being asked what she meant by that, the maid related what had taken place. Utpalavarṇā imagined that the maid calumniated her husband and her mother; but the maid said that, as she was not believed, she would make the matter manifest to her; so when the mother and her son-in-law were alone together, the maid called in Utpalavarṇā. When Utpalavarṇā saw those two together she thought, “Has this wretched woman seen no other man in Takshaśilā, that she keeps company with her son-in-law? And has this wretched man seen no other woman in Takshaśilā, that he keeps company with his mother-in-law?” Full of wrath, she cried aloud to her husband, “Wretched man, henceforth do what you please with her!” With these words she flung her new-born daughter to her husband. The babe glanced off from the father’s body and fell on the threshold, whereby its head was wounded. But Utpalavarṇā veiled herself and left the house.
Seeing a caravan starting for Mathurā, she joined it. The caravan-leader, becoming ardently enamoured of her on account of her beauty, asked her to whom she belonged. She replied that she belonged to him who gave her food and clothing. So he took her to wife, and when they at length came to Mathurā, he left her there.
When he had sold his goods, and had returned to Takshaśilā with the money, the other merchants exchanged hospitable invitations and entertained one another. As the caravan-leader offered no such entertainment, the merchants asked him why he did not do so. He replied, “Ye who have your housewives with you are indeed able to entertain, but as I have no one [[208]]who could undertake the trouble for me, I do not know how I can entertain.” The merchants were of opinion that, under these circumstances, he ought to look out for a damsel. He replied, “If I can find a damsel like my wife, I will marry her.” They begged him to describe his wife’s appearance. He did so, and they perceived that he had a jewel of a wife, but they said that they would bestir themselves to discover one like her. Perceiving that Utpalavarṇā’s own daughter answered to that description, they asked for the maiden’s hand on behalf of the caravan-leader. Her relatives said, “Honoured sirs, we are ready to give her; but in case he discovered anything to find fault with in her after you have received her from us, he might send her back and go away.” The merchants gave an assurance that this would not be the case, and then the girl was made over to them, and the caravan-leader married her.
Having disposed of his goods, he set off with the proceeds for Mathurā. Coming to a certain rock not far from the city, he left his goods there, together with the girl, saying that he was obliged to go for a short time to Mathurā.
There Utpalavarṇā greeted him and asked after his welfare. He began to complain that he had been robbed. She was delighted that he himself had arrived in safety, and said that the god of wealth would assist him later on. After some time he said, “O fair one, I must go to look for the goods of which I have been robbed.” She gave her consent. Scarcely had he gone when one of the friends of his youth arrived and asked Utpalavarṇā where he had gone. She told him that he had gone to look for the goods which had been stolen from him. Thereupon he informed her that her husband had never completed a journey with such freedom from loss as on this occasion, and that he had deceived her. Moreover, he related to her how her husband had brought with him [[209]]from Takshaśilā a Gandhāra[3] woman whose feet she was not worthy to wash. When the friend had affirmed the truth of his assertions she remained sitting in silence.
When the caravan-leader came back she passed over the slight and asked him if he had recovered his goods. He replied that he had. Then she said, “O master, you have deceived me. Your goods have not been stolen. I have heard that you have brought with you a Gandhāra woman from Takshaśilā. Bring her here. For soon come to an end the means of him who resides in two places.”
“O fair one,” he replied, “that is true, indeed; but have not you heard that in the house of a man who has two wives the soup is often cold, and therefore cannot be relished, and that in that house are found strife, discord, and bickering?”
“O master,” she said, “pay no heed to that. It shall not be so. Only bring her here. If she is like a younger sister, I will look on her as a sister. If she is like a daughter, as a daughter will I regard her.”