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dancing master, there present, told him that those arts were not well cultivated by the dancing girls, as they, being actuated by mercenary motives only, spent most of their time in the company of their paramours. He then introduced to the prince one of his pupils Manjari, as being a good dancer and an excellent actress. Her beauty was to his liking and in order to indicate that she had his approval he touched her with the end of his cane. When the officer attending upon the prince observed his inclination towards Manjari he gave a long lecture showing the undesirability of association with dancing girls, and recommending association with concubines. Whereupon the mother of the dancing girl Manjari severely and sarcastically criticised the speech of the king's officer maintaining the superiority of association with dancing girls. Here upon the dancing-master intervened, preventing Manjari's mother from pursuing the topic, and requested the prince to see his pupils and others act a scene from Ratnâvalî, a drama of Shrî Harsha. The prince consented, saw the performance, pronounced his criticisms on it and gave a proper present to the dancing master. The prince then incidentally described the pleasures of hunting to the audience with great vivacity. After some time the prince returned to his capital, but the memory of Manjari did not leave him, and, whenever he was so minded he would discuss her exquisite beauty with his officer. In the meanwhile Manjari sent a female messenger to the prince with a love-message, informing him of her love-lorn state. The prince ordered Manjarî to be brought to him. Manjari came, pleased him with various love-sports induced him by her blandishments to make her various presents, and finally left him when he was too impoverished to meet her demands (737-1056).
Vikarâla here concludes her lecture to Malatî desiring her to follow her advice if she would amass immense wealth. Mâlati then returns home impressed with the efficacy of Vikarala's advice (1057-1058).
In conclusion the author says that any one who reads this poem would not fall a victim to the deceit of rogues, panderers and procuresses (1059).
This is the bare outline of the poem stripped of all its poetical embellishments. The poet has beautified this simple
Shree Sudharmaswami Gyanbhandar-Umara, Surat
www.umaragyanbhandar.com
