A famous figure in Sanskrit literature. She was the daughter of Dhanapalita, a merchant in Pataliputra. She was married to another merchant named Devasena. Once, while he was in another city, her mother-in-law imprisoned her in a dark room. But using a piece of metal, she dug her way out. She was tired and hungry and roamed a long way into the forest. She spent the night in the hollow of a tree. Later that night, a rakshasi reached there with her children.

During that time, the king of Vasudattapura was suffering severe headaches since a bettle had gone in through his ear and was breeding there. Many healers had given up trying to treat him. The rakshasi began telling her kids on how to cure the king. She said that the king should rub his hair and scalp with ghee and lie down in the sun. Then a tube should be pushed inside the ear, with the other end in a pot of water. The beetles would be lured out by the ghee and fall into the water.

Kirtisena heard this, went to the king in the guise of a healer and cured him. She resided there for a few days as the king’s friend. Later, her husband reached there and they were reunited. The king gifted them handsomely as per Kathasaritasagara Madanamanjukalabaka Taranga 3.