In the ancient land of Videha, O king, there was a renowned city called Mithilavati. Within this city ruled a king named Gunadhipa, who was blessed with abundant wealth and grain. Seeking prosperity and the means to sustain his livelihood, King Gunadhipa took up residence in the region of Mithila. One day, driven by the pursuits of kings, he ventured into the forest to hunt. There, deep in the wilderness, he encountered a magnificent tiger. Fascinated, the king followed the tiger’s trail, journeying ever deeper into the woods. As he pressed on, hunger parched his throat and fatigue weighed heavily upon him, leaving him distressed and weary. In the midst of his struggle, the Kshatriya king heard a sound and, acting swiftly, killed a splendid deer to satisfy his hunger. As he did so, a voice addressed him, promising, “I will quickly grant you what you desire.” Yet another voice reminded him, “O king, you have consumed a thousand coins of mine. At the end of the month, repay me a hundred coins, O householder.” On another day, King Gunadhipa found himself at the seashore, where he beheld the striking image of a goddess. With deep reverence, he worshipped the Gandharva maiden, whose brows were beautifully arched. Pleased in his heart, he stood before her with joined palms, and the goddess herself appeared before him. “Choose a boon,” she graciously offered. The long-lived king made his request known, and the goddess, hearing his words, laughed gently and addressed his longing. Granting his wish, she said, “So be it.” Thereupon, the king entered the water, floated away, and returned to Mithila. Upon his return, the lord of virtues, accompanied by his faithful servant, heard of these events and responded accordingly. A plea was made: “Accept me, O lord of virtues, in a Gandharva marriage.” The request was repeated: “O Punyade, accept me today; then I will unite with you.” The king replied, “Listen, you and my servant, for a long time, O Suram.” At this, the passionate woman, feeling ashamed, recounted her story to the king. She confessed, “Having long sought the company of the gods, blinded by desire, I came to you. But I was cursed by the lord of gods to become one who enjoys the company of men.” Hearing her tale, the righteous king, the very embodiment of virtue, responded with compassion: “Ciramdeva, the Kshatriya, behaves like my own son.” Ashamed, the goddess adopted the demeanor of a daughter-in-law. At this moment, the vetala, servant of Rudra, spoke to the king. The king asked, “O Vetala, tell me the auspicious reason for this, for truth and righteousness are dear to me.” The vetala replied, “The highest duty of kings is remembered as benefiting all. Hear now the deed performed by the servant, which I shall recount to you. All service and means of livelihood were performed as by others, not by men.” Afterwards, the king came to understand the truth of these words, especially when a great crisis arose. At this point, one skilled in knowledge addressed the king with another tale. “O king, in the delightful city of Kamapura, there once ruled a mighty king named Virasimha. In that city also lived a merchant named Hiranyadatta, who was filled with pride in his wealth. He lived in constant comfort, delighting in the blossoms of spring. One day, as a modest woman was passing by, the strong son of Dharmadatta beheld her. She, endowed with virtue and modesty, spoke to him in a secluded place: ‘If marriage takes place, I will come to you on the tenth day.’ Content with her words, he agreed and returned to his own house. Meanwhile, the merchant Madapala and the daughter of Manigriva were also involved in these affairs. Yet, on the ninth day, before the agreed time, her master forcefully took the woman away.” Thus, O king, the stories of virtue, desire, and fate unfolded in the lands of old, teaching the ways of righteousness, duty, and the unpredictable turns of destiny.