Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.433

c5.433

Though Devasmitā saw through the false and treacherous heart of the bogus anchorite, without expressing it she talked in all respect with her. Believing that she had succeeded in her mission she told Devasmitā about the four youths who had come from Kaṭāhadvīpa, and Devasmitā welcomed the idea very gladly. Devasmitā got some liquor and mixed poison in it. When it was night one of the Vaiśya youths came, and after rendering him unconscious by administering the poisoned liquor to Devasmitā stripped him of all his clothes and ornaments, got him scratched on the brows by the bitch and threw him into a cow dung heap. Before it was dawn next day he returned to the anchorite’s house, took a bath and dressed himself up in decent clothings. His other three companions also visited Devasmitā one after the other in the next three days, and they too underwent the same experience as the first one. Lastly the bogus sannyāsinī also was got down and Devasmitā cut her limbs and sent her away. And, after this Devasmitā put on the garb of a merchant and went to Kaṭāhadvīpa and identified her husband from among a thousand merchants. Guhasena too felt his own doubts about her identity. But, without revealing her identity she saw the king and told him that she had certain matters to submit before the prajāpariṣat (popular assembly). The King accordingly convened a session of the assembly and Devasmitā identified the four youths who had tried to seduce her and submitted all details regarding the episode. The King then gave her a lot of money, appointed the four youths as her servants and sent her back home with Guhasena. (Kathāsaritsāgara, Kathāmukhalambakam, Taraṅga 5).