Tales from the Kathasaritsagara

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These are just some of the many tales that make up Somadeva's Kathasaritsagara, a classic work of Sanskrit literature that is full of memorable characters. Within the pages of this book, you will encounter demons and demigods, faithful guards and foolish villagers, golden swans, magic pots and even automatons made of wood! Adapted and wonderfully retold by Rohini Chowdhury, this is a timeless classic that will entertain and enchant readers everywhere.

The principal character whose exploits string the Kathasaritsagara together is the heroic prince, Naravahandatta, as he fulfils his prophesied destiny to become the emperor of all the vidyadharas. As he travels to distant lands and encounters various dangers and surprises, he is told several stories by other characters. Some of these are well-known ones that appear in other classical Indian texts, such as that of Vikramaditya (Trivikramasena in this text), the legendary emperor of ancient India and his trials with the vetala, the ghoul who asks him challenging questions about dharma, right judgement and the correct understanding of one's duties. Many others are short and anecdotal and tell of folk wisdom, folk tales, and amusing observations about foolish persons and their absurd actions, as well as accounts of clever and cunning merchants, Curiosity, breaking the rules, and adventurously going ahead and doing what they have been told and warned not to often seems to pay off for humans. I particularly warmed to the story about "The Mouse Merchant' and his remarkable entrepreneurial spirit in trading a dead mouse in a series of improbable exchanges until he determinedly became a rich and respected merchant.

We have to remember that the nature and purpose of stories is to share human experience, so we can learn from the follies and mistakes of others, as well as from their wisdom. The ancient stories of the Kathasaritsagara were literally a treasure of shared encounters and wanderings, of travels and imaginative retellings as the people of those long-ago days tried to expand their circle of knowledge beyond the borders and boundaries of their own lives. The essentials of human nature remain the same, across time and place, centuries and continents.

**Contents and Sample Pages**