4.20. Character description of Gandharvadatta

Gandharvadatta, the pricipal consecreted queen of King Kusumasekhara of Kanei, is but a divine damsel unhappily, though safely, transported to the human world in her early childhood consequent to an unfortunate attack on her father's celestial city by an enemy. Separated as she is from her kith and kin at a very early age, her life is one 291 of mental misery "in the midst of all physical comforts that can attend on a queen of the southern half of India. 292 In her childhood at Prasantavairasrama she was reated up as a foster-daughter by Kulapati Santatapa, and later on offered f 287. Tilakamanjari,pp.366-367. 289. ibid., p.374(9ff.). 1 291. ibid., p.262(13-16). / 288. ibid.,p.370(2-3). / 290. ibid., p.423(5ff.). / 292. ibid,,p.224(4).

949 by him in marriage to King Kusumasekhara. 293 Naturally she commanded the highest respect of, and royal honours from, 294 the king who intensely loved her. It is perhaps due to her being separated from her celestial environment at a very tender age that she has forgotten all about her ■ supernatural powers as a Vidyadhara woman. As a queen, she conducts herself with pefect dignity and shows due humbleness and courtesy towards saints, whose as to help she seeks to know/when she will be again united with 295 her kin. As good wife and a practical counsel she does not consent to giving away Malayasundari in marriage to Vajrayudha as a price of military peace. When she is proved right and the king repents to know that Malayasundari attempted at suicide, she is a bit angry with the king, but does not express it and simply conveys it in a dignified way by a brief remark expressing her unworthiness to offer advice. $ In view of the prediction of Muni Mahayasas, she is the happiest one when she eagerly awaits humeze■■h, of as a loving mother-in-law, the early arrival of her would-be son- -in-law Samaraketu, the then honoured bridegroom of her beloved daughter Malayasundari. 293. Tilakamanjari,p.343(9ff.). / 894ankkaamp 294. ibid., p.262(11);-262(17-20); 263(1-2); 322(20ff.); 343 295. ibid., p.272(12ff.) ./ 296. ibid., p.327(21ff.)/(14ff.).