The World of Courtesans c9.61

c9.61

Naravahanadatta got up in the middle of the night and saw the *vina* of Vinadattaka in the room It was wrapped in figured silk (*chitrapatta*) and hanging on a peg. He wanted to practise a little on it, since this was something he had not been able to do for a long time. He took down the *vina*. Slowly with the upward and downward movement and without touching it with his fingers, he tuned it. The soft melodious music created a stir among the sleeping inmates of the house They thought it was the goddess Sarasvati playing the *vina* If the beginning was so beautiful, the end was bound to be absolutely wonderful. Naravahanadatta heard their voices and quickly kept the *vina* where it was before and went to sleep. When the crowd entered his room, they found nothing out of the ordinary. They consoled themselves with the belief that the goddess Sarasvati could not reveal herself to such petty fellows like themselves!