Madanrekha Akhyayika

SR No.: 002639
Original Sutra Author: Jinbhadrasuri
Author: Bechardas Doshi
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad
Publication Year: 1973
Total Pages: 304
Language: Sanskrit, Hindi
Classification: Book_Devnagari & Literature
File Size: 15 MB

Page 36

argued that the beast bad come to him of its own sweet will and hence there could be no question of returning the elephant as if it was stolen. King Nami thereoupon invaded Sundarśanapura for the sake of vindicating his honour, King Candrayaśas was advised by his minister to confine his forces to the fort, and avoid joining an open battles. King Nami had consequently to lay a siege around the city-walls, outside which the battle raged daily thereafter.
Meanwhile, Madanarekha, now the nun, came to know about the military conflict between her two sons. She took permission of the Head Nun of her order and went to her son king Nami, whom she informed that his adversory was pone else but his very elder brother. King Nami, however, was not convinced and asked her to bring king Candrayaśas there to corroborate the truth. Madanarekha went to the latter who immediately recognized her as his mother and readily went with her to meet his younger brother king Nami. Both the brothers met in affection and the hostilities ended there and then. King Candrayaśas then renounced the world and made over the kingdom to his younger brother Nami, who then entered the city of Sudarśanapura where he was greeted by the rejoicing citizens.
V. The Plot and the Motifs :
The plot of the MRA is quite simple, and does not involve any complexity whatever. It runs in a straight line inasmuch as the events follow one another in a chronological order and there is practically no boxing of the narratives, since there is only one plot concerning the life of Madanarekhā. Only once in the last Ucchvāsa does the poet need to shift the focus from one event to another when he has to inform what happened to Candrayaśas, after he has come to an end up to date with reference to the whereabouts of the just-born child of Madanarekha. Thus, the plot is of the nature of a simple story narrated in the usual traditional manner beginning with once upon a time there was ........,' et cetara.
This is but natural as the structure of the plot is moulded in accordance with the compulsions of the story-content, which too is very simple and straightforward. There are hardly any events that might contribute to an elaborately planned plot-structure. King Maniratha's glance happens perchance to fall upon beautiful Madanarekbā, the wife of his younger brother. He takes passion for her, tries to seduce her at first gradually through presents, messenger and personal entreaty. When she refuses to submit, he murders her husband. Madanarekhā escapes and on her way gives birth to a child who is found by a king who raises him as his own son and at a proper age makes over the kingdom to him. King Maņiratha