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...
4.6. Character description of Vajrayudha
In Vajrayudha we have a commander-in-chief of the forces of King Meghavahana of Ayodhya. Naturally he is highly skilled in all types of weapon, and his onslaught is never fruitless. 149 By nature he is short-tempered. But in times of war he is very considerate and shows his favour to 151 his subordinates before issuing passing orders to them. But due to his quick-temperedness, he is prone to forget the ultimate interest of his master in the thick of a battle when challenged by a superior enemy and would rather be overpowred by a sense of jealousy and eagerness to prove his own 152 valour. It is needless to say that he is a genuine soldiers, and a brave and noble one at that%3B he does not mince words in praising swooned Samaraketu for his matchless bravery and 147. Tilakamanjari,p.384(11-14). 149. ibid., p.81(8), 151. ibid., p.86(17). / 148. ibid.,p.383(18-22). / 150. ibid., p.83(1). / 152. ibid., p.91(14ff.).
924 treats him with honours due to a prince. 153. 'Curiously enough, 154. he seems to be conscious about his humble pay. Young Samaraketu is easily impressed by then magnanimity of this earstwhile enemy of his and readily reconciles to his suzerainty over the southern Indian peninsula, on behalf of King Meghavahana whose principal military adviser he takes Vajra- 156 yudha to be. A prediction by some astrologer, that he is going to be a minister of the emperor of the Vidyadharas, seems to have inspired him to ask for the hand of Malayasundari from her father King Kusumasekhara of Kanci against whom he had marched at the express command of King Meghavahana; He was prepared to order cease-fire if the princess was given in marri- 157. age to him as a price of peace. One wonders if he was authorized to make such an (off the record ?) settlement: Or was it that an imposition of such a humiliation on King Kusumasekhara would serve the purpose of bringing him to book on behalf of King Meghavahana ? It is not clear if he was prepared to exempt King Kusumasekhara from compulsory tributes to his master. Anyway this doubtful offer of cease-fire quite fits in with his character of a professional soldier. (924)