Jain Journal 1988 10

Author(s): Jain Bhawan Publication
Publisher: Jain Bhawan Publication

Page 16

OCTOBER, 1988
descriptions are inverted with pleasing precision and naturalness. While Mandana can afford to be pedantic, it is ease and lucidity that constitute the hallmark of his prose. His skill in mastering appropriate upamānas lends added charm to it.
The chief characteristic of Mandana's prose is to focus on the totality of the object under description. This he achieves through his penetrating observation, innate appreciation and apt phraseology, which, even if sprinkled with long compounds, is never divorced from clarity and effect. Even pithy sentences are used to the intended effect. A reference to some of the sketches would drive home the point.
The depiction of moonshine that turns everything white and thereby serves to create confusion of sorts, is attractive. While it turned the sky into a white canopy, Parvati and Laksmi had difficulty in spotting their spouses, and the abhisărikās could be detected by the sound of their anklets only. (p. 8) So thorough was the spread of moonlight that the rivers scoffed in whiteness at the milky ocean and the cuckoos put the swans to shame. The pen-sketch of the Acraya invited to interpret Siva's Dream, though brief, embodies his equipments in the science. With striking upamānas, the poet has been able to spotlight his various traits, especially the faculty of separating grain from the chaff (nīrakşiraprthakakarana). The description of Dvarika and its pleasure garden breathes life. It is poetic, detailed but lucid. Poetry lends additional charm to the description. (pp. 22-24)
However, the typical description in the CM is based on the timeworn devices of śleșa and parisamkhyā. Here Mandana seems to follow into the foot-steps of stalwarts like Bana and Haricandra. This is how he seeks to depict the various facets of the metropolis Vijayavardhana.
yatra pakşiņo vicārajña haṁsāh sumatayo janāśca...... yatra vāpikāh sakamalāh sarvajanāśca...... yatra kridāmayūrāh sakalāpāh paurāśca.... yatra trutirgandhikahat?esu na tu janapritisu......yatra hşdayabhedomuktā phaleșu na tu nägareşu......yatra bhango vilasinibhrūvallarișu na tu süresu ......yatra vinitah puravasinah krpalukrşivalakšetre kalamādayasca...... yatra jīvanadah sadā lokā payodāśca...... yatra urmivatyo nadyah na tu janatah...... yatra trāso ratneçu ratnavedivireva dršyate na ca kasyāpi vairinah. (pp. 2-3)
Mandana is adept in handling the metre. The verses in CM are couched in a variety of metres but upajāti and mâlinī carry the palm. Mandana is equally at home with anuştup and sārdūlavikridita.