Sambodhi 1975 Vol 04

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

Page 44

N. M. Kansara
consciously indicates his future plan by assuring us, through the words of Bandhusundari, that though drowned Samaraketu will be saved and he would set out in search of Malayasundari.107
The rationality of the poet is remarkably noteworthy when he brings the hopelessly desperate lovers, viz., Samaraketu and Malayasundary, verv near to each cther without their knowledge when the former has been passing his night alone in the temple of Cupid in the Kusumākara park at Kancı,209 while the latter reaches the door of the temple and bows down to the deity from outside lest somebody niight notice her as she is out to commit suicide 109
Dhanapala is highly conscious of his plot-construction in so far as he tries to carry his audience with him by recapitulating the past events as The narrative progresses from point to point. That is why he takes such an opportunity of summing up the incidents beginning with Malayasundari's transportation to the temple at Ratnakuta and ending with the end of her unconsciousness consequent to the strangling during her attempt at suicide by hanging herself.110 Again, Dhanapāla draws our attention to certain missing links through the reflection of Malayasundari,111 to enhance the suspense and indicate the course of future events yet to be narrated. Simi. lary, the recapitulation by the poet about the events after Malayasundari's atternpt at hanging herself11e supplies the missing links in the narrative much in the manner of a veritable Viskambhaka in a Sanskrit drama.
The use of identical situations in which the companion forcibly makes one of the lovers bow down to the other, as in the cases of Samaraketu 119 and Malayasundar 114 would naturally tickle the audience. So would a sort of a telepathic Instinct of both the lovers to commit suicide 115 create tragic interest in them. The recounting of past events through the answers of Samaraketu to the question of Malayasundari, has also been used by the poet to bring the narrative uptodate, though he further keeps up the interest by leaving the problem of Samaraketu's rescue from the ocean unsolved.
The dramatic irony in the doubt expressed by Samaraketu as to his future unlon with Malayasundry is meant to keep the audience guessing about the future hurdles that might be coming in the path of their happy unlon, such as the transportation of Malayasundari to the hermitage of Kulapati santātapa and the night-attack by Samaraketu who is thereby captured alive by the forces of Vajrāyudha. The link in the path of their marriage is provided when King Kusumasekhara comes to know how Prince Samaraketu rescued Malayasundari while she had thrown herself in the deadly noose and was being gradually strangled in her bid to commit suicide in the garden 116