Ratnavali is a Sanskrit drama about Princess Ratnavali of Simhala.  The play has been credited as the work of a master playwright, the 7th-century poet-king Harshavardhana of Kanauj. It is the story of a young named princess Ratnavali, who gets shipwrecked on the way to her wedding and how she finds love in the end. 

Synopsis 

Princess Ratnavali was the daughter of Vikramabahu, the king of Simhala. Vikramabahu’s niece, Vasavadatta, was married to King Udayana of Kaushambi. When the king heard that his niece had died in a fire, he proposed a marriage between Ratnavali and Udayana, to keep the relationship between the two families alive. But unknown to him, Vasavadatta had not died. Rumours of her death had been spread by Udayana’s minister, Yaugandharayana, as he wanted Ratnavali and Udayana to get married. What happens to Ratnavali, Udayana and Vasavadatta, forms the crux of the story. 

Themes involved 

Royal alliances 

Royal marriages were among the most sought-after alliances between kingdoms in ancient times all over the world. In this story, King Vikramabahu’s niece, Vasavadatta, was married to King Udayana of Kaushambi. Through this marriage, Vikramabahu formed an alliance and friendship with Udayana. When Vikramabahu heard that his niece had died in a fire, he mourned for her. At the same time, he did not want to lose his relationship with Udayana. If Udayana decided to marry a princess from another kingdom, her father would be an ally of Udayana’s instead of Vikramabahu. Hence, he proposes a wedding between his daughter Ratnavali and Udayana, to keep the relationship between the two kingdoms alive. 

Consequences of acting without approval 

A loyal minister always thinks about the well-being of his king and kingdom. Hence, when a prophecy predicted that the union of Ratnavali and Udayana will bring prosperity to Udayana, Yaugandharayana, the king’s minister, worked hard on arranging the match. He told Vikramabahu that Vasavadatta had died and accepted the marriage proposal from Ratnavali without informing Udayana. Yaugandharayana’s intentions may have been good, but his one action caused mishaps and confusion, which may have permanently strained the relationship between the two kingdoms. In the end, due to his complete trust in his minister, Udayana called him and gave him a chance to explain. This highlights their relationship and indicates that the king understood Yaugandharayana’s good intentions. With the character of Yaugandharayana, the playwright shows the terrible consequences of acting on someone’s behalf without his knowledge or approval. 

The insecurities of a queen 

It is shown that Vasavadatta and Udayana loved and cared for each other. Yet, when Ratnavali was introduced to Vasavadatta as her new companion, the queen feared that Udayana may take a liking to her. Hence, she promised herself that she would never allow them to meet. This shows that queens, even though they ranked high, next only to the king in the court, constantly feared a change in their husband’s affections. When Vasavadatta sees Ratnavali and Udayana together, she becomes heartbroken and orders that Ratnavali should immediately be locked in her inner chambers, until further notice. Later, Vasavadatta learns that Ratnavali is her cousin and sympathizes with her for all the troubles she had to undergo. When it is revealed that Ratnavali would bring prosperity to her king and kingdom as per the royal prophecy, the queen lets go of her insecurities and requests Udayana to accept Ratnavali as his wife. Through Vasavadatta, the writer shows how a good queen sacrifices her happiness and insecurities for the greater good of her kingdom. 

Adaptation 

Ratnavali has been adapted thrice into Indian cinema. Movies with the same title were released in  1922, 1924, and 1945. 

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Did you know Bankim Chandra Chatterjee was only twenty-eight years old when he wrote his second Bengali novel, Kapala Kundala? It is considered one of his finest works. Since its publication, Kapala Kundala has been translated into various languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Sanskrit, and German. 

Synopsis 

Kapala Kundala is set during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. A boat, returning from a pilgrimage, loses its way and seeks refuge at a strange island. When the fog clears, the boat sets sail again, abandoning a passenger named Navakumar on the island. There, he meets a kapalik, a devotee of Goddess Kali, and a young maiden, Kapala Kundala. How these meetings change the lives of Navakumar, Kapala Kundala and the kapalik forms the rest of the story. 

Themes involved 

Human Sacrifice 

Navakumar first meets the kapalik while looking for shelter on the island. The kapalik offers his cottage as shelter, and food to Navakumar that night. The next day, when Navakumar asks the kapalik to help him to return home, the kapalik asks Navakumar to follow him. On their way through the forest, a beautiful young woman named Kapala Kundala emerges from between the trees and warns Navakumar that the kapalik plans to sacrifice him to Goddess Kali. When Navakumar refuses to go with the kapalik, he is forcefully dragged to the place of sacrifice. Chatterjee sheds light on the kapalika tradition, where a kapalik performs human sacrifice to please Goddess Kali. When Kapala Kundala, the foster daughter of the kapalik, saves Navakumar, the kapalik becomes enraged at his daughter for interfering with his sacrifice and vows revenge. 

Religion and Revenge 

Navakumar was married to a girl named Padmavati when they were both still children. When Padmavati’s father converted to Islam, Navakumar’s father spurned Padmavati and refused to acknowledge her marriage to his son.  Padmavati later changes her name to Mati Bibi and meets Navakumar, after the events of the island have taken place. When she tells him about their childhood marriage, Navakumar refuses to accept her as his wife since he is now married to Kapala Kundala. Mati Bibi then disguises herself as a man and decides to get revenge on Kapala Kundala. Through Mati Bibi, the writer shows how misplaced anger can make people take drastic decisions that ruin their lives. Since childhood, Mati Bibi had seen Navakumar as her husband. Thus, when unfortunate circumstances separated them, she was unable to move on from her feelings and directed her anger towards Navakumar’s wife, who had played no part in her suffering.  

Marriage and Trust 

In ancient times, a women’s name was changed by her in-laws after marriage. This practice is still prevalent in some parts of the nation. In this story, the writer highlights this practice as Kapala Kundala’s name is changed to Mrinmayee after her marriage to Navakumar. The writer also shows the importance of trust in a marriage. Navakumar sees Kapala Kundala with Mati Bibi, who is disguised as a man, at midnight in the forest. He grows enraged and his distrust is further fuelled by the kapalik, who convinces Navakumar to sacrifice Kapala Kundala to Kali for her unfaithfulness. Blinded by his anger, Navakumar is quick to agree. It is only when he confronts Kapala Kundala that he remembers this is the girl who saved his life and that it was foolish to trust the kapalik over his  wife. This realisation rebuilds Navakumar’s trust, which not only saves his marriage but also Kapala Kundala’s life. 

Adaptations 

Kapala Kundala was adapted into four Bengali films of the same name in 1929, 1933, 1952, and 1981. It was also adapted into a Hindi movie in 1939 and a television series that aired on DD National. The novel was also adapted by Amar Chitra Katha as a comic, written by Debrani Mitra. 

Read the entire story of Kapala Kundala on the ACK Comics app!

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Manonmaniam, an immortal epic play in verse, was written by P. Sundaram Pillai (1855-1897), in 1892. Sundaram Pillai was a noted Tamil scholar, professor of philosophy and served as a high-ranking official in the old Travancore maharaja-ruled state. Considered as the pioneering play in Tamil literature, Manonmaniam is about a princess who finds love in the middle of a web of political intrigue and betrayals. 

Synopsis 

Manonmani was the only daughter of Jeevakan, the Pandya king. Jeevakan relied on the guidance of his teacher, Sage Sundara, to rule his kingdom. Sundara’s influence over Jeevakan caused jealousy in the king’s chief minister, Kudilan. As Jeevakan had no son to succeed him, Kudilan also wanted his son, Baladevan to marry the princess. One day, Sage Sundara decided to go on a pilgrimage. This was the moment Kudilan had been waiting for. In the sage’s absence, Kudilan began to gain influence over the king. Whether he succeeds in his plans or not, forms the rest of the story. 

Themes involved 

The courtier’s deception 

In a monarchy, only the king made the final decision regarding his kingdom and people. Hence, a courtier always wanted to gain some influence over the king, so that he could indirectly influence his important decisions. In this story, we come across Kudilan, as a cunning courtier, who wants to reach the king’s ears for the same reason, but his attempts are thwarted by the king’s teacher and advisor, Sage Sundara. Hence Kudilan makes his best attempts in the story to turn the king against Sage Sundara. To strengthen his position in the court, Kudilan also plans to marry his son to the king’s only daughter, Manonmani.  Kudilan also tries to betray his king to the enemy to save himself. The character Kudilan was created to show how dangerous was to have a cunning advisor in the court.     

The position of a princess 

The second theme the story deals with is the position of a princess in the court. Manonmani, as the only child of the king, with no brother to succeed after her father, becomes a valuable pawn in a court full of wilful courtiers. She also has to make some unhappy decisions for the well-being of her father and kingdom. For instance, Manonmani was not eager to leave her birthplace Madurai to move to a new city, Tirunelveli. She even tries to counsel her father against it. When Jeevakan refuses to listen, she agrees for the sake of her father. Later, after Jeevakan loses his kingdom, he wishes that Manonmani should marry Baladevan. Though the princess never wanted to marry Baladevan, she finds herself unable to refuse her father’s request. With Manonmani, the writer tries to show how a princess was expected to put the happiness of her father and her kingdom before her own. 

Loyal friendships 

Manonmaniam highlights the importance of having loyal friends, especially for a king. The readers can witness the concern Sage Sundara has for Jeevakan and how often he guides him to the right path. We also see the loyalty shown by an elephant as it carries the wounded Jeevakan from the battlefield and takes him to the sage’s hermitage. The courage shown by Jeevakan on the battlefield earns admiration from the rival Chera king, Purushothaman. It is Purushothaman who reveals the deception of Kudilan to Jeevakan and offers his friendship to the Pandya king. With these characters, Sundaram Pillai shows how a king should always surround himself with loyal friends and advisors. 

Adaptation 

The play was adapted into a Tamil movie titled ‘Manonmani’ in 1942. The movie received positive reviews and ran for more than 25 weeks. It was also adapted as a comic by Amar Chitra Katha, titled ‘Manonmani’. 

Read the entire story of the epic in Amar Chitra Katha’s title, Manonmani, available on the ACK Comics app!

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It’s hard to pick a favourite Amar Chitra Katha title. There are over 450 titles across numerous genres, each more exciting than the other! Instead, we let you, our dear readers, pick the favourites. Here is a list of some of the best selling books and most popular titles of all time from our collection:

The Special Shiva Collection

An all-time highest-selling book among the Amar Chitra Katha packs, The Special Shiva Collection provides a comprehensive group of books that tell the most iconic stories of Shiva. This book set contains ten titles, all of which narrate the tales of different phases in Shiva’s life. From Shiva’s love for Sati, to Parvati’s devotion for Shiva, from the exploits of his two mighty sons, Ganesha and Kartikeya, to the story of Ayyapan, his son with Mohini, the collection offers the readers their favourite tales of Shiva’s family. Through its tales, this collection takes the reader on a magical journey across places like the Thanjavur temple, the mythical cities of Tripura and the centuries-old caves of Elephanta. Furthermore, these books also include some of the most popular Shiva stories from the epics, the Mahabharata as well as the Ramayana, all of which celebrate the wisdom and power of Shiva, the Destroyer. This collection offers a peek into Shiva’s endless love for his devotees, his eternal fight against the demons that threaten peace and his determination to assist those in need, and teaches the value of being strong and kind.

Jataka, Panchatantra and Hitopadesha Collection

The first set of comics under Amar Chitra Katha’s highest selling books of all time is the ‘Jataka, Panchatantra and Hitopadesha Collection.’ Containing over 20 titles, this collection tells old fables through various people and animals with the aim of inculcating good virtues. The stories are witty, yet each leaves readers with some morals applicable to everyday life. These stories are nostalgic for many and the characters come to life through the illustrations. Tales of bravery, courage, counsel and caution can all be found in this collection. Panchatantra stories serve as a manual to a prospective king, revolving around simple day-to-day events but imparting a strong message at the end. Kids love these folktales as they are fun to read, timeless, universal, and easy to understand; vital to every child’s learning even today. Jataka stories are popular folktales of the previous lives of Buddha. Every story sets an example of the impact of deeds and misdeeds, helping kids learn the importance of being virtuous, understanding friendship and relations, choosing the right path, being truthful, and more. Hitopadesha is a collection of Sanskrit fables, which are several centuries old. These fables have been passed on from generation to generation, and are filled with old wisdom that has stood the test of time and will always be relevant.

The Complete Mythology Collection

Another one of Amar Chitra Katha’s most sold books of all time is ‘The Complete Mythology Collection.’ This collection is a favourite and a must-read. Consisting of 73 legendary mythological stories of India, about numerous popular heroes of Indian mythology and the tales of their wisdom, valour and triumph, the collection highlights a plethora of traits and virtues that will inspire the readers. From Veda Vyasa’s great epic, the Mahabharata, to his disciple Jaimin’s legendary work, Chandrahasa, this collection will introduce you to some of the most well-known Indian mythological stories. What sets this collection apart is that it encompasses stories of various mythological characters taken from different eras. From the puissant Bahubali to the virtuous Gandhari, the loyal Ganesha to the fierce Durga, and the twin divinities Ashwini Kumars to Prahlad, the earnest devotee of Vishnu, this collection has stories that will transport you to a world of myth and wonder. It also highlights some of the most iconic incidents from the life of Krishna including the killing of Jarasandha, Narakasura, and Shishupala. Apart from the tales of various characters from the epics, this collection contains the Gita, the philosophical dialogue from the Mahabharata, where Krishna counsels Arjuna about life as well as his duty as a warrior so that he can fight the war with full moral conviction. The discourse sets the principle of life, making it a great read for young readers.

The Ultimate Collection

The behemoth set of books which include 10 extra specials, aptly named ‘The Ultimate Collection,’ contains some of ACK’s finest works. Expect more than 200 quintessential Indian stories for kids in one magical box set! Amar Chitra Katha’s Ultimate Collection is a treasure chest of virtually every bestselling title from India’s favourite storytellers. The collection includes the iconic Mahabharata, classic stories of Akbar and Birbal, iconic tales of Indian gods and kings from Shiva and Krishna to Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka, and much, much more. Broken down into three categories: Epics and Mythology, History, and Literature, any appetite for comics will surely be satisfied. Celebrating the vast Hindu pantheon of divinities and celestial beings, our mythological stories explore the origins of these intriguing characters and their motivations and aspirations. Spanning the seven worlds from Swarglok to Yama’s abode down below, these stories take place across the cosmos, building fully realised worlds filled with wonder and magic that will amaze readers of all ages and backgrounds. It has classic books that preserve the golden history and heritage of India, simplifying events to make them more lucid for every reader’s understanding. These are the best stories for kids to be introduced to moral values and ethics while teaching them the importance of patriotism and sacrifice. This series forms a microcosm of India’s past, tracing the country’s evolution right from the Harappan era all the way to our freedom struggle in the 21st century. The collection also houses amazing retellings of some of Indian literature’s best contemporary and classic stories, making it one of our highest selling book collections of all time and one of the all-time best selling books in India. 

The Mahabharata Set

The Mahabharata and the Ramayana are the two great epics of ancient India. The Mahabharata is a multifaceted story, with numerous characters and infinite learning. In brief, it is the story of the battle of Kurukshetra, fought between two cousin clans, the Pandavas and the Kauravas, for the throne of Hastinapura. Full of twists and turns, it is packed to the brim with action, betrayal, deceit, brotherhood, faith, loyalty, trust, disgust, anger and more. The Amar Chitra Katha Mahabharata set highlights every minor and major event of the epic, spread across 42 books split into three volumes. Perhaps the most popular Indian story ever told, the Mahabharata is essential in understanding Indian culture and philosophy. With Amar Chitra Katha’s stamp of approval, assuring readers of in-depth research by our eminent editorial team, and stunning artwork brought to life by our expert artists, this collection is a must-have for every Indian household looking to explore their roots. The comic-style narration makes the epic easier and more accessible to readers, as well as one of the most sold books of all time. 

Valmiki’s Ramayana

Next on the list of our all time highest selling books, we have the other major Indian epic, Valmiki’s Ramayana. The story is considered the perfect mythological story for imparting and learning good values. Ramayana is the story of Rama, the prince of Ayodhya and the seventh incarnation of Vishnu. Known as Maryada Purushottam or the perfect man, Rama embodied all that made for a righteous king. The story of Rama’s childhood, his exile, Sita’s abduction, Hanuman’s devotion, and the war against Ravana, form a heroic tale that teaches numerous values and can be found in this 6 volume set, split up into easy-to-digest bites. Readers see so many shades of human emotions and flaws, as well as compassion and empathy throughout the volumes. Starting off with the characters’ childhoods and seeing them grow throughout the comics makes the stories even more personal and touching. This set is bound to immerse children in the colours of Indian mythology and guide them to a higher standard of living, it’s no surprise why the set is so popular and one of the highest-selling of all time. But why leave all the fun for kids? Everyone can relearn the life lessons found within these books and apply them to their life!

Uncle Pai’s Favorite 50

Anant Pai, the founder of Amar Chitra Katha, aimed to educate children about our country’s rich history, heritage, literature, mythology and culture. In honour of Uncle Pai’s vision, Amar Chitra Katha brings you Uncle Pai’s Favorite 50 collection. Handpicked by our founder, this collection comprises stories from a wide range of genres. It includes heroic tales of courage, fascinating mythological legends, Indian classics retold and much more. This ultimate collection takes you from stories of great figures like Buddha, Chanakya, Akbar, and Bhagat Singh, to fun animal tales from the Jataka and Panchatantra. It immerses readers into our rich culture with tales of Ram, Krishna, Hanuman and Shakuntala, while also providing them with the comfort of light-hearted tales of Birbal and Baddu and Chhotu. Some of these stories were written by Uncle Pai himself, which, alongside the superb art and iconic style characteristic of Amar Chitra Katha, makes this collection all the more special. Uncle Pai’s Favorite 50 encompasses the best of Amar Chitra Katha. A curation of stories that have now become a staple in Indian households, the collection has something for all types of readers, from all age groups. This diverse range of genres is sure to appeal to all. All this and more make this collection one of the all-time best-selling books in India.

The Essence of India Collection

A treat for Amar Chitra Katha fans, The Essence of India Collection is a compilation of evergreen stories of India. It is a journey through our country’s fascinating mythology, riveting history and rich literature. This set contains titles that narrate the lives of great men and women from different eras, such as Ashoka, Bhagat Singh, Shivaji, Rana Pratap, Jagdish Chandra Bose and Rani of Jhansi. The tales of valour, sacrifice, and determination of these historical heroes are sure to inspire generations to come. This collection also takes the reader on a tour of evergreen stories of India such as our great epics the Ramayana and the Mahabharata as well as the treasure trove of mythological legends from the Puranas, with titles such as Tales of Vishnu, Shiva Parvati, Shakuntala, The Gita, etc. Along with these magical stories, the collection also provides light-hearted reads with titles like Jataka Tales, Raman of Tenali, and Birbal the Wise. A truly complete collection, this set is sure to appeal to readers of all age groups and foster a long-lasting interest in India’s rich culture and heritage. There is little wonder that this collection is one of the all-time best selling books in India.

Head to the Amar Chitra Katha Shop and order your favourite ACK collection now! 

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It is a widely known fact that the Mughal Emperor Akbar was illiterate, but scholars flourished during his reign. It is fascinating to note that at the time of his death, in 1605, the imperial library of Akbar contained twenty thousand volumes. This was mainly because of Akbar’s interest in gaining knowledge and his enthusiasm in surrounding himself with wise men who provided him with the knowledge that he failed to gain through formal education.

Scholars at the court of Akbar

Akbar’s capabilities as a ruler were exemplified by people he surrounded himself with. Among these were notable administrators like Man Singh, Khwaja Mansur, Amir Fathullah Shirazi, Todar Mal, and students like Nizam-ud-din Bakhshi. He also had the first Grand Mufti of India, an Islamic scholar, a historian and translator, Abdul Qadir Badayuni in his court. Akbar’s ingenious minister, Raja Todar Mal, introduced the Patwari system which is employed even in modern India.

Akbarnama, written by a learned courtier of Akbar, Abul Fazl, describes the increase of literature during the reign of Akbar. Abul Fazl served as the court chronicler at the Mughal court and also a personal confidant of Akbar. Subjects of intellect and philosophy were encouraged with a rise of students who migrated from Persia to the court of Akbar. Abul Fazl’s elder brother, Faizi, was also a distinguished scholar who gave more expression to his feelings in the first Qasida – an Arabic poem, which he wrote in praise of Akbar. Scholars from Samarkand and Bukhara encouraged the study of logic. Thanks to the efforts of those scholars, and also the interest Akbar displayed, the spread of education saw a brand-new footing in Mughal India.

Translation of Akbar’s favourite books

Akbarnama narrates that emperor Akbar immensely enjoyed listening to for stories across genres. He had a personal storyteller who would entertain him using various voice modulations and hand gestures. Akbar enjoyed taking note of these stories. He got numerous books translated and closely supervised and cross-checked the translations of the texts. He was so particular at it that he even berated courtier Badayuni once for changing the meaning of the initial text and interpreting the message suitable to his understanding.

Akbar cherished stories of various religions, from the tales of Amir Hamzah, uncle of the Prophet Muhammad, to the greatest epic, the Mahabharata. He had also asked the Jesuit priests, who were present at his court, to figure out the Persian translation of the life story of Jesus Christ. The book was called Mirat al-Quds, which means the Mirror of Holiness. Akbar’s library contained many Persian translations including the Mahabharatha, the Bhagavata Purana, Stories from the Panchatantra, and Harivamsha.

The flourishing of learning centres 

Mental sciences became crucial within the Mughal Empire. When the curriculum was standardised, these traditional studies occupied a very important place within the syllabus. The court of Akbar always had scholars who were well-versed in philosophy, astronomy, geometry, astrology, arithmetic, the preparation of talismans, incantations, and mechanics.

India, during the Mughal era, developed a stable and strong economy which resulted in a commercial expansion and greater patronage of culture. Akbar established the library of Fatehpur Sikri exclusively for women. He proclaimed that schools, educating both Muslims and Hindus, should be established throughout the realm. He promoted bookbinding, making it an artistic skill. Holy people of many faiths, artisans, writers, poets, architects, calligraphers, painters, and musicians, among others, visited his court from across the globe for interesting learning and discussion. Akbar’s courts at Delhi and Fatehpur Sikri became centres for education and training. Timurid and Perso-Islamic culture began to merge and blend with indigenous Indian elements, and a definite Indo-Persian culture emerged by the influence of Mughal style arts, painting, and architecture.

Read the complete story of the great emperor in our title Akbar available on the ACK Comics app, Kindle, Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

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Swapnavasavadattam

The text for this classic work of the enigmatic writer, Bhasa, was long considered lost, until it was discovered in Kerala in 1912.

Udayana, the king of Vatsa, falls deeply in love with Vasavadatta, the princess of Avanti, eloping together, and returning to his capital, Kaushambi. Post the wedding, Udayana becomes so besotted with his new wife that he starts neglecting his royal duties, causing the kingdom to suffer. In addition, a hostile enemy seems poised to attack Kaushambi.

Udayana’s loyal minister, Yaugandharayana, decides that Udayana needs to form an alliance with a strong neighbour, but for that, he would have to marry the princess of that kingdom. Knowing how much Udayana loves his queen, and desperate for a solution, Yaugandharayana takes Vasavadatta into his confidence and comes up with a plan. But for the plan to work, Vasavadatta needs to die!

The real Udayana was a historical king of Vatsa, near today’s Allahabad, and a contemporary of Buddha. His capital was, like the story suggests, at Kaushambi. His character appears in a lot of the literature of the time, as does that of his wife, Vasavadatta. There is a huge collection of stories called the Kathasaritsagara, which contains accounts of Udayana’s military exploits.

Ratnavali

The plays Ratnavali and Nagananda were written by Emperor Harsha, who ruled a vast kingdom in 7th century CE, spanning most of present-day North, West and Eastern India He was not only a great warrior but also a gifted poet and playwright.

In Ratnavali, Harsha takes a stab at retelling Bhasa’s tale. Ratnavali is the story of the romance between King Udayana of Kaushambi and the eponymous princess. Udayana is married to Queen Vasavadatta, and the play contains an elaborate plot to convince her to agree to his marriage to her cousin, Ratnavali. Udayana is the protagonist in another of Harsha’s plays called, Priyadarshika. This time, the subject is the marriage of Udayana to a princess named Priyadarshika.

Harsha’s Nagananda tells the story of Prince Jimutavahana, a Bodhisattva, or a previous incarnation of Buddha. The story is taken from the Jataka tales but features Hindu gods like Gowri, Shiva’s consort, and Garuda, Vishnu’s mount. The play combines not just the mythologies of Buddhism and Hinduism but also the philosophies, as is evident in events such as when the newly-married prince, Jimutavahana, decides to give up his own life to save that of a Naga, thinking it is the right thing to do.

Vasantasena

Vasantasena is a retelling of the play Mrichhakatika, meaning ‘The Little Clay Cart’ by Shudraka. Little is known about Shudraka, except that he is thought to have been a king.

The Vasantasena in this story is not the same as Udayana’s queen from the earlier entries in this list. Here, Vasantasena is a dancer in the court of King Palaka of Ujjaini, who falls in love with the poor but noble Charudatta. Unfortunately, for her, Samasthana, the king’s powerful and evil brother-in-law., also has an eye on her, and isn’t too happy about her affair with Charudatta. Eventually, there is an attempt on Vasantasena’s life, with the blame being thrown on the innocent Charudatta, who is declared guilty and set to be executed. Thankfully for him, at the very last minute, Vasantasena re-emerges, saving his life, and exposing Samasthana’s wickedness to the world at large.

Read more stories from ancient Indian literature in Amar Chitra Katha’s ‘Great Indian Classics‘ now available on the ACK Comics app, as well as Amazon, Flipkart, and other major e-tailers. 

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Malavika

The story of Malavika is taken from Kalidasa’s earliest play, Malavikagnimitram. It recounts the deep love King Agnimitra had for our heroine. Agnimitra was a king of the Sunga dynasty and ruled over Vidisha, near Bhopal in present-day Madhya Pradesh. Agnimitra was completely smitten by Malavika, his queen’s handmaiden. His queen, naturally, was furious when she learned of it, and decided to imprison Malavika. 

Urvashi

Urvashi is a re-telling of Vikramorvashiyam, meaning ‘Urvashi Won By Valour’. Urvashi was an apsara or celestial dancer who fell in love with a mortal king named Pururavas. Pururavas, well-known for his bravery, was a descendant of Shakuntala and Dushyanta’s son Bharata, and an ancestor of the Pandavas and the Kauravas. Pururavas and Urvashi first met when Urvashi and her companion Chitralekha were kidnapped by demons. Pururavas rescued them, and that was when he and Urvashi fell in love. Back in heaven, Urvashi was so distracted by thoughts of Pururavas that she made a mistake in her steps while dancing. Her guru cursed her, banishing her from heaven. Taking pity on his favourite dancer, Indra, the king of the gods, modified the curse – Urvashi could go live with Pururavas but the moment he set eyes upon their child, she would have to return to heaven.

Shakuntala

The story of Shakuntala is taken from Kalidasa’s classic play, Abhijnanashakuntalam, meaning ‘the recognition of Shakuntala by a token’. Though the story of Shakuntala is also found in the Mahabharata, Kalidasa’s play adapts the narrative into a lyrical romance, while in the Mahabharata it serves to describe the founding of the Kuru kingdom.

Abhijnanashakuntalam was the first Sanskrit play to be translated into English, in 1789, by Sir William Jones. 

Shakuntala was the daughter of the apsara, Menaka, and the sage, Vishwamitra. She was brought up in the forest by the sage, Kanva. It was there that she met Dushyanta, the king of Hastinapura. They fell in love and were married. But Dushyanta could not stay away from his responsibilities as a ruler for too long and had to leave for Hastinapura. He left his ring with Shakuntala, as a token of their marriage.

With Dushyanta gone, Shakuntala spent her time immersed in dreams of him. One day, as she sat thus, she completely failed to attend to the irascible Sage Durvasa who was visiting the ashram. Furious at being slighted, he cursed her, saying that Dushyanta would forget all about her, until he saw the ring. Shakuntala journeyed to Hastinapura, to meet Dushyanata. On the way, the ring slipped off her finger and was lost in a river. When she arrived in court, Dushyanta had no recollection of her. Heart-broken, Shakuntala returned to the forest. 

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