Mallikamakarandanatakam

Author(s): Ramchandra Mahakavi, Punyavijay
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 28

Introduction
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Compared with Makaranda, the Hero, Citrāngada, his rival fares badly. He is a Vidyādhara prince possessing great treasures. Candralekhā is determined on marrying her own daughter, Mallikā, to him. Mallikā's repulsion of him and preference for Makaranda outrages his sense of his own importance for he believes that his position as Vidyādhara prince and his wealth entitle him to receive Mallikā's love. He is no match for Mallikā or Makaranda in wordy or verbal warfare. His threat of killing Makaranda to frighten Mailikā into loving him and not that contemptible man' miserably fails. He displays some practical, worldly wisdom when he speaks of the one-sided love and consequent mental torture', or when he says, “It is not correct or proper to use force when the desired object could be achieved by peace or negotiations". The fact however remains that he is not shrewd enough to see through the plot of Gandhamusikā or judge men and women correctly.
Candralekhā, although she belongs to the class of semi-divine Vidyadharas, has all the attributes of a mortal being. Blinded by passion she enjoys the delights of love with a forester youth. She deserts her new-born daughter. Her misconduct invites the wrath of her husband and parents and is disowned by them. She is bept on marrying her daugher to a very rich Vidyadhara prince. She tries every means - persuasion, punishment, threats but her daughter remains firm in her resolve to marry her man, Makaranda. She is hard-hearted and attempts to remove her daughter's lover from the scene by killing him but she fails in her attempt. She unabashedly invites Vaisravaņa to enjoy love's dalliance with her. Ultimately, when the young lovers are married she is forced to acquiesce in their marriage.
Compared with Kalidāsa's Parivrajikā in Malavikagnimitra or Bhavabhūti's Kamandaki in Malti-Madhava Gandhamüşikā pales into insignificance. Ramacandra depicts her as 'Prakarināyaka'. She is held in high esteem by Candralekha and the Vidyadhara-prince, Qitrāngada, the powerful suitor of Mallikā. Manoramā, wife of the merchant Vaisravana, who is extremely grateful to Makaranda for restoring the ‘Parrot' to his original form as Vaigravaņa propitiates Gandhamüşikā. At her request she agrees to bring about the union of Makaranda with Mallikā. Apparently she takes upon herself the task of doing away with Makaranda and marrying Mallikā to Citrāngada but secretly devises a plot to get the lovers united. She succeeds in her plot. Candralekha and Citrangada have no option left but to acquiesce in the lovers' union.