Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study)

by Shri N. M. Kansara | 1970 | 228,453 words

This is an English study of the Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala, a Sanskrit poem written in the 11th century. Technically, the Tilaka-manjari is classified as a Gadyakavya (“prose-romance”). The author, Dhanapala was a court poet to the Paramara king Munja, who ruled the Kingdom of Malwa in ancient west-central India. Alternative titles: Dhanapāla Tila...

Gandharvaka presents a portrait of Tilakamanjari

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GANDHARVAKA PRESENTS A PORTRAIT OF TILAKAMANJARI (pp. 162 ff.)—While all were deeply engrossed in listening to this romantic episode of Samaraketu's life, a maid of honour, Vajrargala, entered with a portrait which she

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194 unfolded and handed over to Prince Harivahana, requesting him to feast his eyes on it. The prince was delighted to find that it was a portrait of a girl and studied it. After showing it to Samaraketu, Kamalagupta and other companions, he asked the attendant as to where she got it from. She reported that it was found with a handsome boy of fifteen who seemed to be a traveller as he inquired of her about the country. Having been informed about King Meghavahana and Prince Harivahana, he showed his eagerness to see them both and present the portrait."He is just following me,"she added. Within a moment they saw the boy entering the court. Having duly saluted the prince, who received him ○ gladly, the boy asked him whether he liked the portraites and whether there was any artistic flaw in it. The prince admitted that it was a superb piece with its background of natural scenery of a lake and the trees on its bank and with the princess accompanied by her friends and maids of honour, except for the fact that there was to be expected a figure of atleast one young man, which would have enhanced its beauty. The boy explained that it was omitted intentionally. Elaborating further he said: "There is on Mount vaitadhya a wonderful Vidyadhara city

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195 called Rathanupuracakravala, ruled by the vidyadhara emperor Cakrasena. His crowned queen Patraleka begot a daughter who was named Tilakamanjari. Passing her childhood in play, she gradually became well-versed in fine arts and attained youthful age and began to enjoy the company of her female friends and companions in the gardens and ponds on the slopes of mounatins like Malaya, Himalaya and on the shores of oceans and lakes.But she would not,even in a dream, think of associating with males, inspite of many attempts by her companions who narrated to her the wonderful incidents about handsome and valonous young princes of various countries. Observing such a mental condition of the princess her parents, -the royal Vidyadhara couple, were much worried about her. Once during the night her Queen Mother Patralekha invoked the goddess Prajnapti Vidya and sought her advie in a dream ce in the matter. The goddess revealed to her/that her daughter was really a friend of the goddess Sri in the former birth and that a prince of a human emperor was destined to be her husband. At this the queen directed her nurse Citralekha to use to an advantage Tilakamanjari's hobby for painting and show to her the portraits of handsome princes and narrate to her their pedigrees and

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196 prowess, so that she might, by chance, fix her heart upon one of them. My mother Citralekha, then, directed her attendants in all directions with express orders to fetch portraits of various princes. As I was standing nearby, she asked me to go to the Suvela mountain and deliver in the name of Queen Patralekha, a message to her father Vicitravirya. The message read thus :"When in the divine temple [you came to hear about Gandharvadatta, who was said to be the crowned queen of King Kusumasekhara of Kanci, a a doubt had developed in your mind due to similarity of names. She is the very same daughter of yours. I have confirmed this myself when 1 saw her personally and consoled her about the well-being of all her relations. When asked in secret she has herself narrated all the incidents beginning with the sack of the city of vaijayanti upto her consequent sojourn at the Vaikhanasa Ashrama and her marriage with King Kusumasekhara. There is thus no further room for doubt." Citralekha further conveyed to me that I should spend a night there, pay homage to Gandharvadatta the next morning and return immediately. I shall try to come back to you after the task is finished. Please, tell me if you have to send some message with me," said Gandharvaka. Prince Harivahana, however, replied that he had nothing to convey

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197 in the southern direction, but that he should not forget this acquaintance in the days of his distress. He, then, asked him to carry a message of Samaraketu to Malayasundari, the daughter of Queen Gandharvadatta and King Kusumasekhara of Kanci. The boy Gandharvaka --, -took leave of the prince and went away. , then,

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