Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 74

A CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THE SMK
51
destroyed by the Păşandas, bewitched by the Rāgins, cheated by the Vidagdhas" and so on. Besides this reference we find the mention of Anucara, Sarvarika, Khala and Dindika also.
The Vayasya and the Anucara are the male counterparts of the Vayasyā and the Anucari. The Anucara is not only a devoted friend of the nāyaka but is only slightly inferior to him in virtues.65 Dhūrta is a hypocrite, a perfect swindler. He frequents the courtesans' quarters and is a past-master in cheating the courtesans and their 'mothers'. In this work, in order to indicate the glory of the unconquerable Visamasila it is said about her. मलदेवं मुलहारं व्याहरति ।
T&TT TTfHT HETtefarofati (p. 17). Mūladeva 66 is the classical Dhūrta of the popular tales. Saśin is an alternative name for Śaśa who is a Vita and a bosom companion of Müladeva.67 A Vița is generally described as a sensualist or a rogue who is impoverished in the pursuit of a fast life. He also frequents the courtesan's quarters and therefore is usually an aide to the hero in furthering his romantic
65. Mandāra-maranda-campū, p. 79, HA TT : faf9727 TUT: 1 66. Müladeva, who is also called Karnisuta, is referred to in the Mrcchakatika of
Sudraka as an author of aphorisms on theft (Act III). Bāņa, in his Kadambari refers to him with his companions thus: Fustaneja afafafayaran TETTTYTATTI (p. 40) on which, the commentator writes (p. 41)
: #: FUTETTE : 1 Buat TEYT सखायौ द्वौ विपूलाचल संज्ञको। शशो मन्त्रिवरस्तस्य" इति बहत्कथायां कथा निबद्धा। In the Dhurtākhyāna of Haribhadrasūri (c. 800 A.C. edited by Upadhye, A. N., Bombay, 1944), which is a story of five rogues recounting their own fantastic experiences, there is the mention of Mūladeva, also called Mülaśrī, as the master of the rogues, and his friend Saśa. Kşemendra, in his Kalāviläsa describes this Master of Dhūrtas in the company of his friends instructing a merchant's son in the art of roguery and hypocrisy as practised by cheats, harlots, traders and others.
स्फटिकासनोपविष्ट: सह शशिना निविभागमित्रेण ।
कन्दलीमख्यैः शिष्यैः परिवारितपादपीठान्तः ।। The Kathāsaritsagara has stories about Müladeva and he is placed in the court of Vikramaditya. Both these characters figure together in the present work (thirteenth tale). Further details regarding Múladeva can be gleaned from De's paper on Bhāna, JRAS 1926, and, M. Bloomfields' 'The Character and Adventures of Müladeval in the Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, Vol. 52 (1913), pp. 616 ff..
See 'Dhurtākhyāna', A Critical Study, p. 23. 67. The hero of südraka's Bhāna (in the Caturbhāni) is Śaśa. He introduces himself as a friend of Müladeva
स एवास्मि मुलदेवसखः शशोऽहम् । In the above-quoted verse from Kalāvilāsa (Note 2, p. 89) we see that śaśa is called Saśin and Kșemendra consistently uses this alternate name. Therefore in the SMK where the corrupt reading is Tsit it has been corrected to fit and not to TT keeping the name Sašin in view.