Summary of Mrichcchakatika by Sudraka

 Mrichchhakatika  is a ten act Sanskrit play written by the ancient playwright Sudraka. Also called as 'The Little Clay Cart', this play is a Prakarana  which consists of different elements like romance, humor, political tension. The play is set in Ujjaini, during the reign of king Palaka. The protagonist of the play is a poor Brahmin named Charudatta, who has run out of his entire wealth because of massive charities. The heroine of the play is Vasantasena, a wealthy courtesan. The play is based upon the love story of the two protagonists.

      The play starts with a short benediction to Lord Shiva, which is commonly seen in most of the Sanskrit plays. The Sutradhara introduces the characters of the play and gradually the play gains momentum. The poor hero Charudatta is seen to be crying about his state of  poverty as he is now unable to help people through charities. Charudatta is happily married to Dhuta and has a son named Rohasena. Yet he is fond of the courtesan Vasantasena. Vasantasena is a wealthy and a self-confident woman, who knows to limit her boundaries. She is in love with Charudatta since the first time she saw him. Her heart yearns for the nobel Brahmana and she is the first one to confess her love. Her character is the perfect portrait of an independent woman, who knows what she wants, and doesn't let herself to be labeled as everybody's property. The king's brother-in-law Samsthnaka is after Vasantasena, and tries to pursue her by the hook and the crook.

     One evening, while Vasantasena is carrying her jewellery, she is being followed by Samsthanaka and his men. The modest Vasantasena, to save herself from the goons take refuge in the house of Charudatta, and gives her casket of jewelry to him promising to come back to take them again. However, a thief named Sarvilaka steals the jewelry from the house of Charudatta, in order to buy the freedom of his lover Madanika, who is a slave of Vasantasena. To repay the loss of valuables and the trust that Vasantasena entrusted in Charudatta, he sends a necklace belonging to his wife Dhuta to Vasantasena. 

       Next day, Vasantasena visits Charudatta and she is entitled as his mistress. She meets Charudatta's son Rohasena, who is crying for a golden cart like that of the rich neighbor's kid. Overruled with motherly emotions, Vasantasena drops her entire jewelry inside Rohasena's little clay cart. With this, she gets to enjoy the taste of motherly affection. In the morning, Charudatta sends a carriage for Vasantasena to drop her at the Pushparandaka. However, she gets on the carriage of Samsthanaka without realising it. 

     On the other hand, a political revolt is taking place at the back drop, which is led by Aryaka. Aryaka is captured in the dungeon by the ruling king in a fear of being uprooted from his position. Sarvilaka, who earlier stole Vasantasena's jewelry helps his friend Aryaka to get out of the prison. Charudatta finds Aryaka hiding in the carriage that he is travelling in. Charudatta decides to help the rebel and the guards let the carriage pass inside, because of the utmost respect that they have entrusted in Charudatta. 

    When Vasantasena reaches the garden, the evil Samsthanaka is delighted to see her in his carriage. He tries to pursue her once again, and when his companions leave his company and go away. Samsthanaka then tries to strangle Vasantasena in order to take away her life, and hides the body under a pile of leaves. He then accuses Charudatta of committing the crime, in order to seek vengeance. 

    Charudatta tries to prove his innocence, however it seems like every evidence points against him, from his presence in the garden on that very day to Rohasena's possession of Vasantasena's jewelry. As a result, Charudatta is accused guilty and ordered to death by the king Palaka. 

    Just as Charudatta is taken for the execution, Vasantasena appears on the scene and surprises everyone. Charudatta's execution is ceased and he is freed, along with Dhuta who tries to kill herself in a pyre of funeral. Charudatta then accepts Vasantasena as his wife and the three forms a family. 

   Later, Vasantasena narrates the entire story of her near-death experience  in the court. The new king Aryaka takes over the former king Palaka, and he orders the arrest of Samsthanaka for the crime he committed against Vasantasena. Charudatta is offered an important position in the king Aryaka's court. Samsthanaka begs for forgiveness from Charudatta, who listens to his pleas and orders the guards to free Samsthanaka. 

With this the play comes to an end. Of all the Sanskrit dramas, Mṛicchakaṭika remains one of the most widely celebrated and often-performed in the West. It is worth mentioning that unlike other classical plays in Sanskrit, the play doesn't borrow its story from epics or mythology. The characters are drawn from the ordinary world, with people like gamblers, courtesans, thieves etc in it.   Sudraka's rich imagination blends with the bold characters  which makes the play unique than the rest