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 (鈥減rose-romance鈥�). 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: Dhanap膩la Tila...
4. Motifs (8): The naval expedition
This expedition, though intended to bring the restive feudatories round, is poetically meant to provide the requisite opportunity to Samaraketu to reach the
302 Ratnakuta island where he happens to see Malayasundari. Dhanapala here illustrates the working of the element of fate in that the island was the only fit and predestined place for the love-at-first-sight of this pair. In her previous birth as Priyamvada, she was intimately connected with the island as it was she who had built the 22 temple thereon. It was but meet that the merit earned by this pious deed must help her being united with her lover, though in a latter birth, at that very place in accordance with the forecast by Jayantasvami. This is how tha fate in the form of the strange music of the Holy-Bath Ceremony drew Samaraketu to the island. And he could not be drawn to it unless he is brought near the place for some other purpose which must be in keeping with the martial qualities of young Samaraketu. Hence the naval expedition.