Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 65

ŚRNGÅRAMAÑJARIKATHA
sufficient to show them in bad light. In literature we have picturesque descriptions of beautiful heroines, but a description such as that of Vişamasilā is rarely to be found. It may be an ugly picture, but, all the same, it is realistic and vivid. She may be taken as a typical ‘mother' or procuress.
In physical form she is hideous, old, hunchbacked and worn out. She is besides cunning, cruel, greedy and deceitful. She is indeed an eye-sore to the young men who come to her house. But she is an important person in the courtesan's house. Śộngāramañjari is instructed by Vişamasilā; Lāvanyasundarī goes to the bawd Dhondhā for counsel; Davadattā's mother makes Suradharman give up the precious jewel; and Karpūrika's mother makes Somadatta reveal the secret of the pigeon and the pigeon as well. For their cruelty, the 'mothers' are sometimes justly punished. Vinayadhara punishes Anangavati's mother and Madhava, Kuvalayāvali's mother.
Bhoja's skill in characterization is indeed displayed in the delineation of these bawds, for though they are minor characters, their portrayal is complete. Sentiments
The theme of the book is the courtesan's love, and therefore the sentiment of śrngāra overshadows other sentiments. But there are sentiments like humour and pathos which help in diversifying and thereby developing the main erotic sentiment.
Häsya or humour is supplied by the instances in which the bawd or the courtesan is cheated. Thus in the 'tale of the Serpent Vinayadhara brings a dead serpent, places it on the body of the bawd and pinches her nose and lips. When the bawd cries aloud, he comes and pretending to kill the serpent, cuts off her nose and lips quickly before the truth could be found out. In one sentence the whole action is beautifully described: ततो दामीभिर्झगिति प्रबोधिते दीपे सर्पमवलोक्य च्छेदं प्रयच्छामीति तेनाभिहिते 'प्रयच्छ प्रयच्छ' इत्युक्ते 'क्व प्रयच्छामि'
# 37717' scufufaahtisfy HETEZİ HIFi f a I (p. 90). The irony is that Vinayadhara is thanked for saving the life of the 'mother' and felicitations are offered while the bawd suffers in pain all her life.
In another instance, Somadatta takes revenge on Karpūrikā. He brings along with him his royal brother's wealth and men to serve his purpose, and tells her a fib that it is due to a siddhi he obtained at the “riparvata. In exchange for a pigeon and all the wealth previously earned by the courtesan he most solemnly gives her the siddhi he had obtained by saying: येयं मया श्रीपर्वते सिद्धिरामादिता T TH TETT: TITII (p. 44).