Chapter 16 - The Tilakamanjari as a Sanskrit novel

956
The speech by Vajrargalā addressed to Harivahana 1322 is
a report incorporating a short dialogue between herself and
Gandharvaka. The long-drawn adjectives qualifying Meghavāha-
na, though unnatural, are meant to impress upon the mind of
Gandharvaka the majesty of the king.
323 By far the most successful dialogue is the one between
Vicitravīrya and Malayasundarī where every sentence of the
latter enhances the suspence while intended to be an answer
to a query from the former. The sentences are short and sha-
rp and there is a dramatic element in it.
The monologue comprising Tāraka's pretended invocation
324 to the boat is a master-piece of paronomasia and highly
interesting in the situation, intended as it is for Malaya-
sundari. Similarly, the sentences expressing the annoyance
of Gandharvaka as his aeroplane is abruptly stopped and the
325 angry speech of Mahodara in reply are not dialogues but
rather monologues, as they are too long to be termed excha-
nges.
I
In fact sharp and real dialogues are few and far between
in Sanskrit prose-romances; like medieval European Romances
they predominate in narrative and descriptive passages. Whe-
rever the dialogues occur they are generally too long and
breath-taking to give a semblance of day-to-day human talk.
322. TM(N), pp.162(17)-163(22)./323. ibid., pp.270(9)-274(8).
324. ibid., pp.283(5)-286(6).. /325. ibid., pp.381(16)-383(6).