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 (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.
Chapter 8 - The Plot and the Motifs
42 (of 57)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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317
(ii) The sack of Vaijayanti is a purely military
affair, without ethical overtures, and provides the link
connecting the divine birth of Gandharvadatt膩 with her
plight in the form of an unequal marriage with a human being.
Again it links her with the Vidyadhara Emperor Vicitrav墨rya
whose devotion to the Lord Jina helps everybody even remo-
tely connected with him. His love for Gandharvadatt膩 is
all the more intensified due to the misfortune that has
befallen her and separated her from him in her very child-
hood. The father's specially tender affection for his poor
dear daughter benefits even the grand-daughter and the
would-be-grand-son-in-law, by the divine assistance it
brings into action.
(15) KIDNAPPING OF YOUNG GIRLS
Dhanapala has utilized this motif in the case of ten
young girls, but it is meant to be effective in two cases
only, viz., Malayasundari and her mother Gandharvadatt膩.
(i) Malayasundari is stealthily carried away, from the
bed-room in her palace at Kanci, by the Vidyadharas in
order to make her dance before the idol of Lord Jina Mah膩-
vira on the occasion of its Holy-Bath Ceremony. Eight other
princesses have also been brought there, but there names
are mentioned just to give company to Malayasundari and
provide an opportunity to the poet to parade his knowledge
