King Udayana was in a dilemma: he had won the love of the beautiful Ratnavali, but how could he break the heart of his queen, Vasavadatta? Was a chance shipwreck going to wreck the peace and happiness of his home as well? Sagacious statesmen, loyal friends and even talking birds help in a romance which reveals all the subtleties of palace life so familiar to that master playwright, the 7th century poet-king Harsha of Kanauj.