Srngaramanjari Katha

Author(s): Bhojdev, Kalpalata K Munshi
Publisher: Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Page 63

40
SÃNGĀRAMANJARIKATHÅ
to different situations. The author also explains through his characters how the sudden changes in the attitudes and behaviours
nen are due to the subtle influences of attachments, prejudices and the like. Thus in the very beginning it is said: 6 fa sfarप्राणिविज्ञेयाश्चित्तवृत्तयः । । रुद्रादिवारणवदन्यमनस्काश्च बहुप्रकाराः पुरुषा भवन्ति । यदि कश्चिद्भीरुरपि शौर्यं प्रकटयति। लुब्धोऽप्युदात्तायते। उदात्तोऽपि कदर्यवद् व्यवहरति । दुर्भगोऽपि सुभग इव चेष्टते। वणिगपि विटायते। विटोऽपि वणिज्यते। दरिद्रोऽपीश्वरायते। कश्चिद्धर्मरुचिः, कश्चिदर्थपरः, कश्चित् कामप्रधानः । तदेवं चित्तवृत्तीनां वैचित्र्ये सति 494 9727 farraferarti 24 T UT farafatcai 79T FHO TISHIFT etc. (p. 8).
Ravidatta (of the first tale) is a wealthy and educated young man, inexperienced in the ways of life. He fights shy of himself when he feels the first attractions of love. But once he gathers courage and goes to the courtesan, all his reserve and shyness disappears, he loses control of himself and does not know where to stop. The courtesan's insults do not awaken him to his senses and he ends his life as a mad man.
Vikramasimha is a prince, rich, charitable, bold, noble and pleasure-loving. He dares ask Mālatikā to invite him even when she was at the house of Vasudatta. He has patience too to wait for her till she is free. When he is immensely pleased with her, he bestows gifts upon her, but when due to some reason he is offended he stops giving her presents and going to her place.
Madhava is even more high-strung. When the bawd and the courtesan try to keep him back against his wishes he goes to the extreme of cutting off the bawd's nose and ears, and feels satisfied after doing that. Vinayadhara punishes the bawd in a similar manner; but while Mädhava does it in an outburst of righteous anger, Vinayadhara is a shameless person who plays a roguish trick to gain his own end. Suradharman (of the fourth tale) is a real dhūrta. To conceal his treasure he acts like a mad man and the clever Devadattā has to go to the extent of feigning death to deceive him. But when Suradharman is ultimately robbed off his jewel and thrown out of the house, he has no grievances and goes on his way.
Somadatta (of the seventh tale) is intelligent and calculative. Infatuated by Karpūrikā's charms he gives out the secret of the pigeon, but being once deceived he is stung to the quick and takes proper revenge. Pratāpasimha (eleventh tale) is beastly. Ugly and senuous he is roused to anger quickly at Malayasundari's teasing him. He pounces upon her like a tiger and injures her. He openly acknowledges the outrage and is glad when the king punishes the courtesan.
King Vikrama features in three stories (5th, 6th and 13th). He is noble, straightforward and sincere. He believes Dava fantastic experience (fifth tale), and is pleased with her. When he