Part 25: Marriage with Vegavatī

One day Śauri had been asleep and when he woke up he did not see the gazelle-eyed maiden and, crying pathetically, he remained distracted for three days. Vārṣṇeya saw her standing in a grove and said to her: “Because of what fault have you disappeared so long? Tell me, proud lady.” She said: “For your sake I made a particular vow. I have been in a vow of silence for three days, lord of my life. After worshipping this deity, celebrate the marriage again. For that is the rule in this (vow).” Śauri did so. She made Yādava drink wine by saying, “This was left from the sacrifice to the goddess,” and he experienced very great sensual pleasure like a Kāndarpika god.^[1] He went to sleep with her at night and when he woke up he saw a different woman. He said, “Who are you, fair lady?”

She said: “In the city Suvarṇābha in the southern row there was a king, Citrāṅga, whose wife was Aṅgāravatī. They had a son, Mānasavega, and a daughter, Vegavatī, who I am. After installing his son on the throne, Citrāṅga became a mendicant. Your wife,^[2] master, was kidnaped by my brother, shameless, for dalliance and she was addressed with various pleasing words through my mouth. But your wife is very virtuous. She did not consent to that. She honored me with friendship and she instructed me to bring you. When I had come and had seen you, I did such a thing,^[3] wounded by love. You are my lawfully married husband and I am a maiden of good family.”

When the people saw Vegavatī at daybreak, they were all astonished. With her husband’s permission she told the people about Somaśrī’s kidnaping.