The poet fisher-lad (Chapter 017)

Family: Vārāṇasī · Role: poet and son of Dharmikā · First appears: Chapter XVII

After Dharmikā and the fisherman’s wife gave birth, Goshṭhila exchanged their children: the boy was raised by the fisherwoman, while the fisherman’s daughter was raised as Dharmikā’s child. When he grew up, he learned to read and write and became known for making verses as the verse-writing fisher-lad. Goshṭhila later told Dharmikā that her son was alive and a poet.

At Vārāṇasī, Sūryanemi recognized him as a foretold threat and ordered his capture. The fisher-lad escaped into the water and was carried by the Nāgas to their residence; they misled the king’s searchers, who then went to the Pingala-wilderness. There, Pingala was killed when his dogs mistook the youth’s clothes for him.

After wandering, the fisher-lad found The poet fisher-lad’s uncle (Chapter 017) and stayed with him. His uncle taught him a spell that could change his sex, saying, “Now, go away, and be fearless and free from anxiety.” The fisher-lad used it to take a woman’s form and return to Vārāṇasī; when an opportunity arose, he killed Sūryanemi in a secluded place, changed back into a man, and informed Goshṭhila before assuming royal power.