King Virasena ruled the kingdom of Kannauj. He had a handsome son whom he made the viceroy of Virapura city. One day as the Prince was riding through the city, he saw a beautiful woman. She was Lavanyavati, the wife of a merchant’s son. He fell in love with her, and on getting back to his palace, he sent a very love-lorn letter to her through one of the palace maids. Lavanyavati also had fallen in love with the handsome prince, but she refused to accept the letter and returned it, saying that she was a faithful wife and would only do what her husband wished. The messenger told the Prince. He wondered as to how to solve this problem. The messenger suggested that perhaps a trick would obtain what they could not get by force. “That’s how the jackal killed the elephant,” said the sly messenger. The Prince wanted to know about that.
The Merchant’s Wife
