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The Little Clay Cart [Mṛcchakaṭika]Sūdraka

The Little Clay Cart [Mṛcchakaṭika]

by OpenStories

Original author: Sūdraka

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"The Little Clay Cart [Mṛcchakaṭika]" by Sūdraka is a ten-act Sanskrit drama possibly from the 5th century CE. Set in ancient Ujjayini, it tells the story of Cārudatta, a noble but impoverished Brahmin, who falls in love with Vasantasenā, a wealthy courtesan. Their romance faces danger when a vulgar courtier aggressively pursues Vasantasenā. The play blends love, comedy, and political intrigue while breaking tradition by focusing on fictional characters rather than mythology and featuring peasants speaking various dialects.

The Little Clay Cart [Mṛcchakaṭika], by Sūdraka. Republished by OpenStories from Project Gutenberg eBook #21020.

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  • 24chapters
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24 Chapters

  1. 1.Epilogue: Departures of the Translation From Parab's Text630 words
  2. 2.Preface660 words
  3. 3.Introduction: I. the Author and the Play3,112 words
  4. 4.Act I: , entitled The Gems are left Behind. Evening of the first96 words
  5. 5.Act II: , entitled The Shampooer who Gambled. Second day.--The107 words
  6. 6.Act III: , entitled The Hole in the Wall. The night following the93 words
  7. 7.Act IV: , entitled Madanika and Sharvilaka. Third day.--Sharvilaka88 words
  8. 8.Act V: , entitled The Storm. Evening of the third day.--Charudatta89 words
  9. 9.Act VI: , entitled The Swapping of the Bullock-carts. Morning of142 words
  10. 10.Act VIII: , entitled The Strangling of Vasantasena. Fourth80 words
  11. 11.Act IX: , entitled The Trial. Fifth day.--Sansthanaka accuses113 words
  12. 12.Act X: , entitled The End. Sixth day.--Two headsmen are conducting519 words
  1. 13.Prologue: Benediction upon the audience1,121 words
  2. 14.Act THE FIRST: The Gems Are Left Behind4,816 words
  3. 15.Act THE SECOND: The Shampooer39 Who Gambled3,744 words
  4. 16.Act THE THIRD: The Hole in the Wall3,635 words
  5. 17.Act THE FOURTH: Madanika and Sharvilaka4,434 words
  6. 18.Act THE FIFTH: The Storm3,785 words
  7. 19.Act THE SIXTH: The Swapping of the Bullock-Carts3,024 words
  8. 20.Act THE SEVENTH: Aryaka's Escape850 words
  9. 21.Act THE EIGHTH: The Strangling of Vasantasena5,522 words
  10. 22.Act THE NINTH: The Trial4,992 words
  11. 23.Act THE TENTH: The End5,342 words
  12. 24.Epilogue: 178.9. S266 words