Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 64

A CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THE SMK
comes to know that it was a fabricated tale narrated to please him he appreciates her ingenuity and is doubly gratified. With Lavanyasundari he is true and considerate. He makes sincere efforts to test her love. When Lavanyasundari dies he prepares to put an end to his own life too. He offers his all to her but when in the end, the truth is revealed, he generously offers to held Lavanyasundari. In the last story about Muladeva also, Vikrama is deceived by his own queen. When Müladeva impresses upon him the fact that the latter was wrong in holding that women were not fickle, he accepts it and justly punishes his queen.
Chaddalaka is a sincere and true lover. He understands that the king has made efforts to separate Aśokavati from him. He is anxious to test her not because he doubts her but because he wishes to prove her fidelity to the king. When unfortunately Aśokavati dies, he cries like a child and puts an end to his life as well. Sundaraka is a conscientious youth who undertakes the unpleasant task of coming between the two lovers only to please the king. When Aśokavati repents of her mistake, Sundaraka is sorry about it; and when he hears of her death, he feels so guilty that he puts an end to his own life.
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The best delineated character is that of Ratnadatta. A Vaiśya by birth, he hates to join his father's business knowing that it is censurable. He wishes to join the services of the sovereign king. When another king offers him half his kingdom, he refuses. He is a gallant but he had decided not to be enslaved in the snares of any courtesan. He understands Lavanyasundari's love for him, but leaves her to pursue his own desires. He goes to serve the sovereign, but is bold enough to ask him not to interfere in his personal matters. He is an avadhanin being able to perform many acts simultaneously without forgetting any one of them. He is well-versed in many subjects and can put them to good use unlike Ravidatta. He is an example of a proud and ambitious youth who is indifferent to the human frailties like love and attachment.
The women characters are not so interesting. They represent 'types' more than the male characters. Their stations in life do not give much scope for developing their personalities and their actions are always prompted by motives. Therefore there is not much difference between one ganika and the other. But the courtesans may generally be divided into two classes; ganikas adept in the profession of harlotry and sticking fast to their conventions, and those remaining constant in their love.
Besides these main characters there are other important female characters like the 'mothers' of the courtesans. Their very names like Viṣamaśīlā, Bhujangavāgura. Makaradamṣṭra and Ekadaṁṣṭrā are