Srngaramanjari Katha

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

Page 76

A CRITICAL APPRECIATION OF THE SMK
53
Che reference in this text compares the bawd Vişamaśīlā to a group of dindikas who accumulate wealth by "draining the purses of others" (Trafer"). Explaining the words we may conjecture that the dindika was the fore-runner of the pickpocket of today. Granthi may either refer to the knotted money bags or to the knot tied at the belt of the lower garment; and the clever dindika must have been adept in taking away the money by sleight of hand.
To the class of the dindika also belongs the Khala, the rogue. In the Desopadeśa75 he is described as a dishonest man without any principles.
The Kadarya is the close-fisted miser. A vivid and interesting picture is given of him in the Desopadeśa.76 The avaricious and miserly wretch does not even bear to spend his wealth after his own people. He is afraid of taking nicely to the visitors lest they should stay with him. His wealth is no blessing to him, but it worries him all the time. The courtesan therefore is rightly advised to stay away from him.
There is a reference in the text to the Sämvarikas (p. 21). This may mean magicians. For iaf i and at in writing can be variants for शाम्बरिक and शम्बर, श and स as well as ब and व being interchangeable. 'Sambara' means māyā and magic, so sārivarikas are magicians or miracle-workers. But as the magicians (Frufast:) have already been referred to immediately above, an emendation has been suggested, namely, hiarafat: meaning astrologers. And with the drift of the passage the emendation would not be inconsistent as Vişamasilā may be described as not only fearless with regard to human enemies like the magicians but she would be indifferent even to the influence of the stars.
The common meaning of Bhujanga is paramour. Halāyudha?? defines the word as Veśyāpati. The words Pāşanòa, Rägin and Vidugdha convey the ordinary senses.
These are the different types of personalities mentioned in the SMK which have been defined and described in works on poetics, erotics and other literary works. From the numerous references it can be inferred that these classes of people constituted a considerable element in society.
The words like Vita and Dhūrta have been retained as such in translation and elsewhere for they convey particular meanings and are difficult to be rendered into English.
76. p. 3.
75. p. 1, 2. 77. Abhidhanaratnamåla, II, 227 a.