The Kathá sarit ságara; or, Ocean of the streams of story

About this book

A large Sanskrit story cycle, it links legends, romances, and marvels through tales nested inside other tales. Its many strands follow the fortunes of princes, merchants, ascetics, and beings from the divine realm rather than one uninterrupted plot. When Hemaprabha dreams of crossing a river and meeting Shiva, her companion reads the vision as a sign that the curse behind her forest life may soon end. Elsewhere, Ratnavati’s appeal to Shiva brings her robber husband back to life, and he leaves crime behind for service as a king’s commander.