The World of Courtesans c9.52

c9.52

A very elaborate version of this story also appears in the *Brihatkathashlokasamgraha*, XVI-XVII. The story relates that Naravahanadatta was dropped by Vidyadhara Amitagati into an unknown country A dense forest surrounded the place. After crossing the forest, he came to a garden and asked the gardener the name of its owner. The poor man was nonplussed when this question was put to him. He was sure that the questioner was joking. Naravahanadatta was disappointed. He came to a second garden provided with a huge gateway (*torana*). In this country-house he found a man seated on a slab of stone provided with a pillow. The man was strumming a *vina*. This *nagaraka* was so absorbed in music that he did not at first see Naravahanadatta approaching him, but when Naravahanadatta addressed him he got up and welcomed the stranger. He offered him a seat by his side. Naravahanadatta asked him the name of the country and the man said that he must have fallen from heaven to ask such a question, or perhaps he was trying to deceive him!