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 15 - The Tilakamanjari as a Prose Poetic work
100 (of 188)
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I 792 out the reason why Vajrāyudha marched against King Kusuma-
sekhara of Kāñcī, 400
the poet draws a picture of the precau-
tionary measures undertaken by the latter who shut himself
securely in his fort and began to solicit reinforcements
401 from the neighbouring princes. This description expands
the fundamental determinant, and serves as the background
of the night-attack, by describing how the besieging forces
daily clashed with the rival forces protecting, and fighting
402 from inside, the fort. This background is beautifully su-
403 mmed up by the poet in the following words:
भयानकानि � कुतूहलकराण� � क्रोधजनकान� � हासावहान� �
विनोदभूतान� � २५� निर्वेददायीनि � प्रतिदिनमायोधन�-
न्यभवन � एव� � कांचीग्रहणरणविध� वधिरूढगाढा भिनिवेशयोरभिनवेक
ढदम्पतिकरपल्लवयोरि� तयोः कियानप्यतिपपात कालः �
[bhayānakāni ca kutūhalakarāṇi ca krodhajanakāni ca hāsāvahāni ca
vinodabhūtāni ca 250 nirvedadāyīni ca pratidinamāyodhanā-
nyabhavana | eva� ca kāṃcīgrahaṇaraṇavidhā vadhirūḍhagāḍhā bhiniveśayorabhinaveka
ḍhadampatikarapallavayoriva tayo� kiyānapyatipapāta kāla� |
] A brief picture of the normal routines in the camp, �
such as the change of guarding duties, gaiety of the festi-
val of Cupid and the relaxing commander listening to the
404.
songs of women, during the midnight hours skillfully pro-
vides an atmosphere of carefreeness and peace calculated to
enhance by contrast the effect of surprise and suddenness
of the night-attack by Samaraketu.
400. TM(N), p.82(7ff.):
चरणतलमृदित भुजबला बलिप्त भूपा� शिरः शेखर
काञ्चि मण्ड लाभिमु� मचलत्।
कुसुमर्श खरनामा� मवनिपा� मुन्मूलयितुकाम�
[caraṇatalamṛdita bhujabalā balipta bhūpāla śira� śekhara
kāñci maṇḍa lābhimukha macalat|
kusumarśa kharanāmāna mavanipāla munmūlayitukāma�
] 401. ibid., p.82(12-23).
403. ibid., p.83(16-20).
/ 404.
/ 402. ibid., p.83(3-18).
ibid., pp. 83 (20) -84 (9) �
