Sambodhi 1975 Vol 04

Author(s): Dalsukh Malvania, H C Bhayani
Publisher: L D Indology Ahmedabad

Page 41

The Treatment of Suspense in Dhanapala's Tilakmañjari
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Dhanapala's conscious effort at enhancing the curiosity of the audience is most transparent when lie poses a series of questions relating to the plot and its progress. 5 And, when, through the reply of Gaodharvaka, he comments on the parrot-episode, one can easily gather that most probably these comments are aimed at the implausibility of the parrot-episode in Bānas Kadambari in contrast to the one Dhanapala has himself utilised 50 The series of solutions and their points of implausibility are skillfully employed to augument the effect of suspense. The real cause is revealed when Gandbarvaka relates about his having incurred the curse from Mahodara.61 And the conscious plan in the plot is suggested when the poet indirectly consoles us that the rest of the incidents beginning with the departure of Gandharvaka to his meeting with Samaraketu at Mount Ekaśnga will be narrated in due course. G2
The hint about the attempted suicide by the princess, now relaxing by the side of Harivāhana creates curiosity which is doubled by the verse of the panegyric who allegorically reminds the prince about the delav being caused in entering the city of Ratha nūpuracakravala.99 The lengthy description of the Vaitādhya mountain only serves to heighten the effect of already roused curiosity till the poet himself at last feels it is sufficiently aroused, 64 and proceeds to pick up the thread of the narrative from the point at which Harivahana was kidnapped by the flying elephant, and indi. cates the missing links in the story narrated so far. The leisurely unfolding of the story is in the manner of dangling a carrot in front of a donkey impelling it to go on and on. Likewise, the poet promises that the story to be unfolded henceforward is also full of pleasant surprises and expresses confidence as to his capacity to hold the joterest of the audience by his narrative skill.65
A faint indication of the solution of the mystery of the flying elephant is given in the reflections of Harivahana, and the element of destiny is put forth to rationalize the accident of the flying elephant carrying the prince particularly to the region of the Vaitādhya mountain.07
The suspense based on the unexpectedness of the situation is fully explioted by the poet for propounding the typical Jainistic ideas about the nature of the worldly happiness and this in its own turn also serves to heighten our curiosity. 68
The poet again betrays his consciousness as a narrator when he discloses the connection of the portrait of Tilakamanjari with his arrival at the Vaitadhya region which is recognized to be identical with the one seen by him in the portrait, 69
The induction of the long narrative preludero related by Malaysundarı with the comment that it comprises a series of tragic incidents 71 is a common device aimed at fapning the curiosity of the audience and