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The Sanskrit interactiun in the literary style..
(Civakan with lofty and stone-like round (muscular and well fleshed) shoulders full of colden jewels, was neither distressed when he was imprisoned by Kattiyankāran who wore jewels casting flickering rays, nor happy when he was released by Cutancanan who wore beautiful dangling garlands. His heart unaffecte 1, he considered both as the fruits
of previous births). The following verse shows how his excellent qualities are even praised by his enemy Kațsiyankāran :
arul valiyāņmai kalviy alak ariv ilamaiy ükkam tiru maliy ikai pēkan tin pukal nanpu curram oruvar iv ulakil yarë civakan okku nirar
perit arit ivanaik konrāy perukenac cirappuc ceytan 1 (In this world who can be compared with Civakan in his compassion, strength, prowess, knowledge, beauty, wisdom, youth, perseverence, charity, indulgence, undying fame, and in having worthy friends and well wishers. It is great that you killed him. Accept these presents. Thus praised Kattiyarkāran)
Civakan is also often praised by his friends for his excellent qualities. The attributes they give him such as 'kuņattoțu malintavan'a ( he who is full of good qualities) and 'vapakk aruñ cilaiyinān')3 (he who has a bow which cannot be bent (by his enemies) ), show his reputation among his friends in all respects. Thus, Civakan is elevated to be a Dhirodātta type of hero.
It is of interest to notice that the characters of Caccantan and Kattiyakāran have also been developed on the lines indicated in Sanskrit works. Caccantan is depicted as a Dhira-laita. Though the character of Kovalan in the Cilappatikāram has a certain resemblance to that of Cacantan the way two characters are depicted is different. Kývalan is introduced in the Cilappatikáram for the first time with the following lines :
man täytta pukalinān mati muka mațavār tam pan täytta moliyinar ayattup pārättik kantattum cevvēl enr icai pökkik kätalar koņtēttun kilamaiyan kövalan enpān manno
Kovalan's expanding fame made the earth all too small to bear it. Moonfaced maidens, skilled in song and sweet voice, fondly said to each other, 'O, He is Subfahmanya incarnate!' and revealed their excessive love for him when they spoke in praise of him in their own gatherings.) 5
1 Cc. v. 1165. 2 Ibid, v. 1817. 3 Ibid, v. 1817. 4 Cilappatikāram, Munkala-vālttup-pāțal, lines 36-39. 5 Translated by V. R Ramchandra Diksitar, "The Silappadikaram", Oxford, 1939, p. 89. Sc-13
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