[Pramāṇa](https://indike.org/pramana/) › [Studies](https://indike.org/pramana/ins) › [Literature, language and dating](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature) › [A History of Indian Literature](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927) › v2.c19.s3.t2.249 # A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.249 A History of Indian Literature v2.c19.s3.t2.249 - **Language:** English ### [v2.c19.s3.t2.249](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.249) Kusa, the son of King Okkāka, is as ugly as he is clever and wise. As he wishes to marry, he makes a most beautiful image of a woman in gold, and declares that he will only marry a girl who is as beautiful as the golden image. The image is taken from town to town, and at last Pabhāvatī, the daughter of the Madda king is discovered, who is as beautiful as the image. She is given in marriage to Kusa. Owing to the prince's ugliness, however, the queen-mother makes the condition that the married couple shall, till the conception, meet only at night. However, they cannot overcome the desire to see each other, and by various means they at last succeed in seeing each other, which results in the princess's return to her parents, because she cannot bear such an ugly husband. But Kusa is filled with longing for his wife, and determines to win her back at all costs. He sets out on the journey to Sāgala, where the princess is staying. There he attracts the king's attention, first as a musician, by his beautiful lute-playing, then as a potter by marvellously formed figures, next as a basket-maker by valuable fans, again as a gardener by a magnificent garland, and finally as a cook by preparing a bone in such a way that a pleasant fragrance is diffused through the whole town; he succeeds in coming into the presence of the princess, but is each time repulsed by her with scorn and contempt. Then Sakka sends seven kings who court Pabhāvatī, and King Madda is in great perplexity; for if he were to give his daughter in marriage to one of the kings, the others would make war on him. Therefore he explains to the princess that he will have her cut into seven pieces, in order to give each of the seven kings a piece of her. In her terror she flees to Kusa, who is staying in the palace as a cook, and throws herself at his feet on the dirty floor of the kitchen. Kusa, the artist, now proves himself to be a great hero also. In the twinkling of an eye he conquers all the seven kings and captures them; but as he is just as good as he is clever, he causes the king to give them his seven unmarried daughters in marriage. He himself returns home with his newly-recovered Pabhāvatī.¹ - [Previous: v2.c19.s3.t2.248](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.248) - [Next: v2.c19.s3.t2.250](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.250) - [Up: v2.c19.s3.t2](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2) ## Cites (1) - [Sagala](https://indike.org/pramana/inp.site.sagala) --- Source: [https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.249](https://indike.org/pramana/ins.literature.winternitz-1927.v2.c19.s3.t2.249) · Pramāṇa