Essay name: Tilakamanjari of Dhanapala (study)
Author:
Shri N. M. Kansara
Affiliation: Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda / Department of Sanskrit Pali and Prakrit
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.
Chapter 8 - The Plot and the Motifs
3 (of 57)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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- 278 all these characters or motifs are so skillfully intro-
duced that one does not easily realize their significance
till the story progresses to a considerable length.
The Bālāruṇa ring is sent by Meghavāhana to Vajrāyudha
his Commander-in-chief who has started on a campaign against
King Kusumasekharâ of Kāñci. Meghavahana's army is attackēd
during the night by Samaraketu (the son of King Candraketu
of the Sinhala country) who has come to Kāñcī to assist
him against Vajrayudha. Samaraketu's forces are routed
due to the magic power of the Bālāruṇa ring and Samaraketu
is captured alive. The mystic power of the ring inspires
him to pay a visit to King Meghavāhana, who appoints him
as the principal friend of Prince Harivāhana.
*
Prince Harivāhana falls in love with Tilakamanjarī at
the sight of her portrait which is presented to him by
Gandharvaka who leaves him with a promise to return after
delivering a message to the Vidyādhara King VicitravÏrya
and to Gandharvadattā. But Gandharvaka does not return
and Harivāhana feels restless and love-lorn. At last he
sets out on a sight-seeing tour of his father's domain
during which on the strength of his musical talent he
tries to tame a mad elephant which flies and kidnaps him
to Vidyadhara region of Mount Ekasriga. Suspecting some
some superhuman agency under the guise of the flying
