Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c7.2476

c7.2476

KĪRTIṢENĀ. A heroine who has firmly established her reputation in Sanskrit literature. An exceptionally good woman, Kīrtiṣenā was the daughter of a merchant called Dhanapāla in Pāṭaliputra, and was married by another merchant called Devasena. Once Devasena left the country for purposes of trade, and during his absence from home the mother-in-law of Kīrtiṣenā shut her up in a dark room. But, with the help of an iron rod, which fortunately came to her hands she made a hole in the room at night, and through it escaped from captivity. Hungry and thirsty, Kīrtiṣenā travelled a long distance in the forest, and at night climbed a tree and rested thereon. Presently a Rākṣasa woman with her children came to the foot of the tree.