Shridaman

Shridaman is a delicate twenty-one-year-old merchant, deeply immersed in classical learning. He hails from a Brahman family in the village of Welfare of Cows in Kosala, with a father who also pursued the merchant trade while being well-versed in Vedic texts. Shridaman embodies the attributes of a scholarly mind, which draws him to his opposite, Nanda. Their friendship is unwavering, and it is through Nanda that he is introduced to sensory pleasures and meets his future wife, Sita. An incident at the Kali temple, where they witness Sita's ritual ablutions, causes Shridaman to fall hopelessly in love with her. Benefiting from Nanda's childhood acquaintance with Sita, he is able to meet her. Shridaman's admiration for Nanda's physical prowess and straightforward nature, alongside his love for Sita, compels him to acknowledge her longing for Nanda, culminating in his self-sacrifice at Kali's temple. He exhibits loyalty and devotion, accepting an existence that merges his essence with Nanda's. His honesty and fair-mindedness drive him to agree to a murder-suicide pact to resolve the conflict between the friends and ensure his child's future happiness.

Shridaman's physical appearance is typical of a scholar, characterized by a sharp nose, gentle eyes, thin lips, and a spreading beard, which are all complemented by his disproportionately large head, reflecting his cerebral nature. Often immersed in deep contemplation, he sometimes underestimates bodily desires, leading to an abrupt awakening in his relations with Sita. Prone to melancholy, Shridaman is inclined to ponder ultimate questions, foreshadowing his downward spiral towards suicide and a fatal duel with Nanda. His mental and emotional complexity often drives him into brooding, contrasting sharply with Nanda’s simplicity.

Nanda

Nanda, eighteen, is a shepherd and blacksmith with a dark skin tone, a flat nose, and a muscular, imposing frame. Sharing the same trade as his father, he bears a distinctive "lucky calf lock" on his chest. Despite his rough exterior, Nanda is deeply loyal to his friend Shridaman, whose intellectual prowess and slender elegance he admires. Although he resolves to avoid any inclination towards Sita, Shridaman's wife, Nanda harbors a secret desire for her, which reciprocates her attraction to him. Following his self-immolation before Shridaman's corpse at Kali's temple, Nanda cheerfully embraces his new identity, adhering to the hermit's judgment regarding his rights to Sita. After an unfavorable verdict, he choses self-imposed exile. Nanda consents to Shridaman’s decision for mutual death by heart wounding and agrees to Sita’s choice to die on the funeral pyre, hoping for resolution and a better future for Samadhi.

Defined by simple virtues, Nanda stands out with his darker complexion, thick lips, and goat-like nose, exemplifying rugged masculinity. His physical strength and direct approach to life's challenges set him apart from Shridaman’s complex and troubled nature. Nanda’s forthright manner and joyful laughter provide a stark contrast to Shridaman's often moody demeanor. His sense of honor and responsibility equals Shridaman's, willingly undertaking the acts of self-sacrifice and conflict resolution.

Sita

Sita, often referred to as "Sita of the beautiful hips," is a young maiden who marries Shridaman. Characterized by innocence and piety, she dutifully complies with the marriage arranged by her parents and Shridaman's. Shridaman introduces her to sensory pleasures, but she soon recognizes his cerebral nature outshines his physicality. This realization fuels her secret longing for Nanda's physique, desiring a union of her husband's intellect and Nanda’s body. Her inadvertent revelation of this longing to Shridaman leads her to plead with Kali for the restoration of the friends' former lives, driven by guilt and a desire for a perfect husband, prompting the transposition of their heads. Despite enjoying a night with...