Reconstructed content

Relationships of chief characters in the Brihatkatha (as evidenced by the derived

texts Brihatkathashlokasamgraha, Brihatkathamanjari, and Kathasaritsagara).

Although several derivative works are extant, they differ so greatly that they cannot
be used to reconstruct the Bhatkath in a literal sense. However, some strong
inferences can be made about its content based on their similarities.[8]
Udayana

Due to a dohada ("pregnancy craving"), Mgvat, pregnant with Udayana, is either

covered or immersed in red. A monstrous bird mistakes her for raw meat and carries
her away, later dropping her. She is cared for in a hermitage, where she raises her
son.[9] Udayana obtains a wonderful lute, elephant-taming skills, and confidants; he
and his mother eventually return to their home, Kaumb.[10]

Udayana is later captured by Pradyota, the King of Ujjayin. Here, he teaches the
lute to Pradyota's daughter, Vsavadatt, and they fall in love.[11] Eventually they
escape to Kaumb, where Udayana's rightful kingship is restored, and they are
married.[12] But fearing Udayana is getting soft, and desiring an additional political
alliance, Udayana's ministers make him believe that Vsavadatt is dead, and effect
his marriage to Padmvat.[13]

Though he is later reunited with Vsavadatt, Udayana remains childless. Later, as

a boon of Kubera, Vsavadatt becomes pregnant with Naravhanadatta (his name
means "given by Kubera"),[14] who is fated to become the emperor of the
Vidydharas.
Naravnhanadatta
Udayana's life serves as the prelude to the central story of his son,
Naravnhanadatta. Unlike his father, who appears in several works unrelated to the
Bhatkath, Naravnhanadatta is known only from texts demonstrably linked to the
Bhatkath