IVIRICCHAKATIKA, (Skt. nircchokotika, clay cart). 'Fhe title of a Sanskrit play of the sixth century attributed to a king named Sudraka, but probably written for him by the poet Damlin (q.v.). The play. which is in ten acts• is one of the most exquisite of all the Sanskrit dramas. The scene is laid at Ujjain (q.v.), and its central theme is the noble love of the rich courtesan Vasantasena for a mer chant named Carudatta, who has been reduced to poverty. Pursued by Sansthanaka, the King's brother-in-law, Vasantasena seeks refuge in Caru datta's house. and the pair fall in love. Escorted to her home by the merehant, she leaves her jewels with him on the pretext that she dares not keep them about her. The gems are stolen by a Brahman who is in love with Vasantasena's maid• the soubrette of the play. When Carudat ta perceives this loss, he and his wife sell all that remains to them and thus make good the treasure; hut the Brahman, on the advice of his sweetheart, surrenders the stolen jewels to their owner. and Vasantasena thus discovers the depth of Ca)•udatta's love for her. In the merchant's home she sees his little son weeping because he can have hut a clay cart, while a neighbor's child has one of gold. She heaps the toy full of jewels for hint, and this incident, one of true pathos, gives the play its name. Again pursued by the
brother-in-law of the King, she repulses him. Enraged, he chokes her into insensibility. and leaves her for dead. covering, her with leaves. She is. however, discovered and revived by a Buddhist monk whom she had saved from a quarrel. Sansthanaka accuses Calm datta of Vasantasena's nmu•der'. Ile is con demned and led forth to execution. .fust as the sword is raised, Vasantasena appears, her lover is saved, and, as polygamy is possible in the Ifindu drama, the lovers are united. As a pic ture of Hindu life of the period. luxurious and corrupt. hut with noble and unselfish motives. the Cloy Cart is of great value. The 11 rieehakatika has been edited by Stenzler (Bonn, 1847), Goda lade (Bombay, 1890), Vidyasag,ara (Calcutta 1898), and Parab (P,onthay, 1900). It has been translated into German by 11;thtlingk (Saint Petersburg, 1877). Fritze (Chemnitz. 1879), and Kellner (Leipzig, 1894) : into Dutch by Vogel (Amsterdam. 1897) : and into English by Wilson in his Select Specimens of the Theatre of the Hindus (3d ed. London, 1871). Con sult L6vi, ThCritre Indices (Paris, t890).