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44
CAMDALEHA
a Saṭṭaka. I could get two MSS.' of the latter; and its contents are analysed below.
I. After the nandi verses, in which are invoked Parvati and Madana, the Sutradhara, who is out to please the audience, hears the Nati describing the spring behind the curtain. As she compares spring with Saṭṭaka, he takes a hint and decides, in consultation with her, to enact the same, depicting amorous sentiment, especially in separation. He explains to her that the Saṭṭaka to be staged is the Simgara-mamjari (Sk. Śṛngāra-mañjarī) which gives rise to great wonder, which has well-shaped characters, and the limbs of which are set at various places (vihaa-samthavia-saalamga, p. 2). Its author is Viśveśvara, the son and disciple of Lakṣmidhara of great learning; and it is being staged at the behest of the learned assembly which has rightly judged its merits. Sutradhara feels highly pleased that his beloved well suggested what he had in mind.
In a park, then enters the king, Rajasekhara, praising sleep which acquaints one with abnormal experiences (in dream). He is yearning for an unknown person. Inquired by Vidūşaka and with intervening remarks from him, the king narrates to him his latest dream. He saw therein a girl of exquisite beauty, and felt very happy almost like Indra; the girl appeared to be in a mood of disappointment; Vasantatilaka, maid-servant of the queen, led her in saying that it was time for royal assembly; and she went out with heavy steps, looking at him. The king, who is suffering from pangs of separation, expresses his fear that the queen might come to know about this. He is assured by Viduşaka that he might soon meet that girl; but he is pessimistic, for he knows neither her name nor place. He has now come to the park where he had seen her. Vasantatilakã comes there; the king suspects whether she overheard his talk; Vidūşaka holds a subtle and shrewd conversation with her; and therein it is disclosed that she did overhear the passionate expressions of
1 The colophon of the мs, reads saṭaka.
2
Both of them belong to the Government collection in the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Poona 4; their Nos. are: 810 of 1886-921 and 435 of 1892-95. The latter is a good Ms. containing the Prakrit text which has interlinear Sanskrit chaya in red ink on some three pages at the beginning and some six pages in the middle. It is dated Saka 1639, i. o. A. D. 1716-17, and thus almost contemporary with
the author.
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