BRIDE OF THE FOREST
The myth of Drishadvati appears in the Mahabharata as the story of the salvation of kings by a maiden. While tales of surrogacy abound in the Indian epics, this is the first known example of a womb-on-rent. This strange story. . . of a girl whose fertility was bartered repeatedly in exchange for priceless horses. . . has intrigued modern scholars, playwrights and authors for its cultural significance. While earlier adaptations have cast its theme as the exploitation of a helpless woman, Bride of the Forest presents it as the story of girl who is surprisingly radical in her ultimate rejection of patriarchy.